2012 -- H 7919

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LC02158

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING ERIKA VAN PELT ON BEING SELECTED FOR AMERICAN IDOL

AND WISHING HER THE VERY BEST OF LUCK

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Lally, Walsh, and Dickinson

     Date Introduced: March 07, 2012

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Americans have always believed that our country is a land of opportunity, a

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place where lives and futures can change overnight, and impossible imaginings can and do come

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true.  The American Idol competition has made those dreams come true for many an aspiring

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singer, and one of this year’s hopefuls is Rhode Island’s own homegrown beauty and vocalist,

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Erika Van Pelt; and  

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     WHEREAS, Erika was born and raised in Providence and currently resides in South

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County.  Triple blessed, she is a singer, songwriter, and musician, who entertained family and

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friends with her singing and performances before she could even walk; and

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     WHEREAS, As is the foundation for so many great singers, Erika comes from a

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musically devoted and gifted family and her early training was with the local church choir.  By

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age seven, she was already becoming a shining star, singing solo with the adult choir; and

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     WHEREAS, By high school Erika had no doubts that her future was on a musical path.  

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She was a member of the school's award-winning vocal jazz ensemble and chorus and became

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heavily involved in musical theatre.  She went on to place first in the state for several years in the

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Rhode Island All State Jazz Choir, Rhode Island All-State Chorus, All New England Chorus, and

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All-Eastern Chorus competitions.  She has been a member of the Chorus of Westerly for several

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years, and was a founding member of an A Cappella group called SoundCheck; and

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     WHEREAS, Following high school, Erika attended Berklee College of Music in Boston,

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where she studied jazz, rock, pop, and soul genres along with production and engineering; and

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     WHEREAS, Erika’s passion for arranging and writing music evolved into a very

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successful full-time career.  In 2005, she launched her own company, VP Entertainment, a full-

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service mobile DJ company, and became an independent contractor with Kaleidoscope Kabaret. 

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In addition, she performs part-time with “The Sultans of Swing,” and is a performing partner of

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“Fairhaven Entertainment” and “Boston Swing”; and   

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     WHEREAS, With the hope of making it as a “solo artist” Erika tried out and earned her

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spot on American Idol.  With her “soulful, precise, and yet limitless” voice, a stage presence and

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performance that is “memorable and inspirational,” and the support of Rhode Islanders and fans

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across the country, Erika is on her way to making her dreams a reality in the very near future;

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now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby congratulates Erika Van Pelt on being selected for American Idol. 

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We furthermore encourage all Rhode Islanders to tune in and vote as often as they can to ensure

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Erika’s continued success; and be it further

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

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Erika Van Pelt. 

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LC02158

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