Kurt Elling Selected as Delegate for Democratic Convention

Jazz vocalist Kurt Elling (pictured) is set to attend the 2004 Democratic National Convention as a delegate from Illinois. The convention will be held at the FleetCenter in Boston from July 26-29.

“I am proud of this opportunity to stand up for intelligence, good sense and real morality in government. It is a decisive time in the history of our planet-politically, environmentally, economically and sociologically,” Elling said in a press statement. “This is no time for demagogues or fearful children to lead America. It is time to put an adult back in the White House. It is time to elect John Kerry.”

Kurt Elling has released six albums for Blue Note; his latest is Man In The Air. For the last 10 years, Elling has performed on the road with his own quartet. He created and directed the vocal quartet Four Brothers, which features fellow singers Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy and Kevin Mahogany, and has played with Dave Brubeck, Clark Terry, Benny Golson, Bob Mintzer, Billy Corgan, David Amram, Buddy Guy, Charlie Hunter and Oscar Brown Jr., among others. Elling is Vice Chair of the Recording Academy, the organization that produces the annual Grammy Awards. More information, including music downloads, is available at his Web site: www.kurtelling.com.

Thirty-five thousand people are expected to attend the convention, including 5,000 delegates from 56 state parties (including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and Democrats abroad), 15,000 members of the domestic and foreign press, as well as dignitaries and foreign honored guests. Other attendees of note include: Earvin Magic Johnson from California, as a member of the Democratic National Committee’s Platform committee; Art Alexakis, former lead singer of the band Everclear, a delegate from Oregon; John Glenn, former astronaut and senator and his wife Annie, delegates from Ohio; and Cam and Diana Kerry (brother and sister of John Kerry) both delegates from Massachusetts.

Delegates and alternates to the Democratic National Convention are selected over several months by various methods outlined in each state’s delegate selection plan. In most states, the selection process begins with the state’s presidential primary or caucus and concludes in late spring at state party meetings and conventions. The Secretary of the Democratic National Committee manages the certification of all 5,672 delegates, alternates, standing committee members, and pages.

Originally Published July 17, 2004