2025 -- S 0223

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING RANDALL ASHE FOR HIS EXCELLENCE AS A JAZZ MUSICIAN,

THEATER PERFORMER, AND FOR HIS LONG CAREER OF PUBLIC SERVICE

     Introduced By: Senator Tiara T. Mack

     Date Introduced: February 10, 2025

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

     WHEREAS, Randall Ashe is a talented jazz musician who has used his extraordinary

abilities to not only entertain people, but to break the barriers of racism and poverty to improve

the lives of countless people who have been blessed to be in his presence and to interact with him;

and

     WHEREAS, Randall Ashe was born in Providence, where he attended Providence public

schools, the Community College of Rhode Island, and the Berklee College of Music in Boston;

and

     WHEREAS, As an especially talented and gifted young musician and theater performer,

Mr. Ashe traveled from the age of 13 throughout the Northeast, playing his music in venues of all

sizes in places like Newport and Montreal, with groups and entertainers such as Trio Lac, Earl

“Father” Hines, Bill Doggett, Big Mama Thornton, Max Roach, and other influential musicians;

and

     WHEREAS, Randall Ashe’s gift for performing also extended to the theater. At the age

of 13, he performed at the Providence Playhouse, with roles in three of their productions,

including Finian’s Rainbow, Native Son, and Tobacco Road. Tragically, the specter of racism

that he often faced while performing his music at various nightclub venues, would rise up again

when the Providence City leaders in 1953 shut down the production of Tobacco Road due to its

theme of interracial romance; and

     WHEREAS, In spite of the overwhelming racism, Mr. Ashe persevered, and thanks to the

superb mentorship and tutelage he received from talented artists such as George Geer on the

drums, Camillo Naclerio on the Saxophone, and Joe Viola of the Berklee College of Music,

Randall Ashe’s career soon thrived and he would perform regularly at the top nightclubs and

venues in the Rhode Island area; and

     WHEREAS, Beginning in the 1970s, and on into the 1980s, Mr. Ashe transitioned his

career from performing to being an Arts Administrator, television producer, and manager of

performers. In 1970, Mr. Ashe accepted a position to serve as the inaugural Musical Director for

the Afro Arts Center, and he used his connections to the performers supporting the War on

Poverty, to bring world class musical performers to Providence. Hall of Fame performers such as

Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Curtis Mayfield all performed in Providence thanks to Randall Ashe;

and

     WHEREAS, As a television producer, Mr. Ashe created the children’s television show

“The Happy Clown Puppet Show”, and the variety show "Ashe & Company". He also managed

the musical acts, The Revlons, who were three talented and charming ladies from Georgia, and

the popular group Rhythm; and

     WHEREAS, In the mid 1980s, Randall Ashe once again transitioned in his career and

began to focus on public service. He began working at Roger Williams Park, and he served for

one year on the Human Relations Commission for the City of Providence. In 1997, he accepted a

position to serve with the City of Providence in the Department of Recreation, retiring in 2012 as

the Special Events Coordinator for the department; and

     WHEREAS, Randall Ashe continues to support his community on a daily basis, primarily

through his support of the Saint Martin de Porres Senior Center where his unlimited energy,

vitality and charming smiles brighten the daily lives of the staff, residents and patients; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby heartily honors and

thanks Randall Ashe for his excellence as a Jazz musician, theater performer, and for his long

career of public service; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Randall Ashe.

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