South Carolina H 4017: Legends of...Concert Series/ Auntie Karen Foundation

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4017 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 20, 2025) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4017

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

to recognize and honor karen alexander-Banks, 
founder and ceo of the auntie karen foundation, for her twenty-first legends of 
concert series. 

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to learn of the great 
work being done by Karen Alexander-Banks and the Auntie Karen Foundation for 
residents and students across the Palmetto State through the Legends of…Concert 
Series; and

Whereas, a global 
nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, the Auntie Karen Foundation was founded 
on October 31, 2001, by Ms. Alexander-Banks with a mission to create and 
implement a series of reproducible community outreach programs designed to 
empower, enlighten, and educate children and adults through the arts; and 

Whereas, the Legends of…Concert 
Series was created to keep the legacy of African American music alive by 
celebrating the achievements of legendary award-winning recording artists of 
jazz, rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues fame. Series events take place at the 
prestigious Koger Center for the Arts in Columbia; and

Whereas, the concert 
series is designed to not only entertain but also enrich the cultural landscape 
by promoting the arts as a source of inspiration and unity. The series attracts 
people from across the State and from neighboring states such as Georgia, North 
Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee; and 

Whereas, the concert 
series was inaugurated in 2004 with four-time Grammy winner Roberta Flack. The 
2005 concert featured jazz artist Dianne Reeves, the 2006 concert showcased the 
artistry of seven-time Grammy winning jazz vocalist Al Jarreau, and Patti 
Austin presented a remarkable performance in 2007; and

Whereas, since 2006, 
the Legends of…Concert Series has included a Legends of Master Class, a one-day 
event created by Karen Alexander-Banks in partnership with Richland School 
District One and the University of South Carolina School of Music; and 

Whereas, other Legends 
of…Concert Series artists included: Joe & Take 6 (2008), George Duke & 
Rachelle Ferrell (2009), Ashford & Simpson (2010), Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds 
(2011), Ramsey Lewis & Patti Austin (2012), Gladys Knight (2013), "A 
Tribute to George Duke" featuring Kirk Whalum, Layla Hathaway & Jonathan 
Butler (2014), Chaka Kahn (2015), Al Jarreau with The South Carolina 
Philharmonic (2016), "A Tribute to Prince" featuring Sheila E & Morris Day 
and The Time (2018), the Isley Brothers (2019), Stephanie Mills & Peabo 
Bryson (2020), Vanessa Williams with the Colour of Music Orchestra (2021), 
Jeffrey Osborne & Lalah Hathaway (2022), and "A Tribute to Al Jarreau" 
featuring Kirk Whalum, "A Tribute to Al Jarreau" featuring Regina Belle, Chris 
Walker & Bob James (2023), "A Testament To Our Faith" Legends of Gospel 
featuring Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, and Hezekiah Walker (2024); and

Whereas, this year's 
concert will take place on February 21, 2025, and is titled "21st 
Annual Auntie Karen Legends of…Concert with PJ Morton." The event will celebrate 
twenty-one years of dedicated service from the Auntie Karen Foundation and its 
volunteers, partners, and sponsors. It will honor the rich legacy of African 
American music while bringing world-class performances to South Carolina; and 

Whereas, the members of 
the South Carolina House of Representatives greatly appreciate the Auntie Karen 
Foundation's focus on attracting tourism to the city of Columbia and building a 
vibrant and equitable cultural community. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize 
and honor Karen Alexander-Banks, founder and CEO of The Auntie Karen 
Foundation, for her twenty-first Legends of…Concert Series.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution 
be presented to Karen Alexander-Banks. 

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This web page was last updated on February 20, 2025 at 04:07 PM