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WHEREAS, Comcast has partnered with the Smithsonian Channel to provide a Pittsburgh premier public screening of the Legend of Lead Belly at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18 at the Senator John Heinz History Center; and,
WHEREAS, Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter was born into poverty in 1889 in the post-war South and, despite growing up in an environment of racism and with a poor education, became one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century; and,
WHEREAS, the Smithsonian Channel, in its February 23 airing of Legend of Lead Belly, will trace the life and career of Lead Belly, a man praised by critics and revered by artists, whose unique music influenced countless industry legends, from The Beatles to Led Zeppelin to Nirvana and beyond; and,
WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Terika Dean, director of the Lead Belly Estate and a relative of Huddie Ledbetter;
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Wednesday, February 18 to be "Lead Belly Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.