RESOLUTION NO. 230221

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Sponsor: Mayor Quinton Lucas

RESOLUTION - Declaring March 16, 2023, as The McFadden Brothers Day, to commemorate their historic contributions to Kansas City's 18th & Vine Historic District Jazz Heritage.

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WHEREAS, Lonnie McFadden was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 1, 1956, and Ronald McFadden was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 24, 1957; and

WHEREAS, Ronald and Lonnie McFadden's father, Pops McFadden, began teaching his sons tap dancing at the ages of three and four; and

WHEREAS, by the ages of six and seven, Ronald and Lonnie McFadden gave their first recital at the Muehlebach Hotel, an hour-long show that consisted of the brothers singing, tap dancing, doing comedy bits, and playing piano and organ; they grew up in show business, playing their way through the smoky nightclubs and theaters that were part of the culture in every large city across the country in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s; and

WHEREAS, as teenagers, Lonnie starting his own band, "Lonnie and The Band" that included Ronald on the alto sax. It was during this time that Lonnie became a songwriter and arranger, and Ronald became a choreographer. After Lonnie and The Band had run its course, The McFadden Brothers act was born; and

WHEREAS, Ronald and Lonnie played major jazz festivals in Europe and Japan, appearing on the same bill with such jazz greats as Miles Davis and Wynton Marsalis, and made many local and national television appearances; and

WHEREAS, The McFadden Brothers have performed with some of the biggest names in show business, including Sammy Davis, Jr., Tony Orlando, Lee Greenwood, and Gladys Knight. They were the featured act with Wayne Newton for more than two-and-a-half years; and

WHEREAS, the McFadden Brothers have an authentic connection to Kansas City, Missouri, and are truly of Kansas City's 18th & Vine Historic District; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE...

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