Quincy Jones Calls for Obama to Appoint A US 'Minister of Culture'
By: Eddie Varley Jan. 15, 2009
The Washington Post reports that music impresario Quincy Jones' passionate call for President-elect Barack Obama to give the arts and humanities a Cabinet-level post is gaining momentum online.
By yesterday reports The Post, over 76,000 people had signed the online petition, started by two New York musicians who were inspired by producer Quincy Jones.
In a radio interview in November of last year, Jones described the country needing a minister of culture, like France, Germany or Finland has. And he said he would "beg" Obama to establish the post.
Listening in New York, Jaime Austria, a bass player with the New York City Opera, and Peter Weitzner, also a bassist, took his suggestion to heart and started the online campaign.
To read the entire feature visit Washington Post online by clicking here.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.
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