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WHEREAS, on April 23, 2004, the Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers 50 Year Celebration Bluegrass Benefit Concert will play on behalf of Catholic Charities' St. Joseph House of Hospitality, which serves men 50 years of age or older who are capable of living independently, but are unable to support themselves; and
WHEREAS, bluegrass musician great Mac Martin, also known as William D. Colleran in his non-bluegrass life, was born, raised, worked and has picked in Pittsburgh all of his life; and
WHEREAS, Mac Martin has been playing bluegrass music since the genre was defined in 1945; and
WHEREAS, in 1954, Mac Martin founded the Dixie Travelers with fellow Pittsburgh musicians Fiddlin Mike Carson and Banjo Billy Bryant, and together they have recorded 10 long play albums, with many of the cuts from these albums having recently been reissued on CD; and
WHEREAS, in October 2001, Mac Martin was included in a Tribute by the International Bluegrass Music Association, which honored bluegrass music's "First Generation" - the individual artists who were the first creators and practitioners of bluegrass music; and
WHEREAS, on Friday, April 23, 2004, at 7:30 p.m., the sounds of fiddle, banjo and soulful harmony will fill Synod Hall in Oakland when Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers will play for the benefit of St. Joseph House of Hospitality; and
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh commends the St. Joseph House of Hospitality for excellent care in our community and thanks Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers for creating memorable bluegrass music for the past 50 years and continuing to this day.