Ambassador
Ambassador's Speech
REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR WAYNE AT THE BELA FLECK & THE FLECKSTONES RECEPTION
March 23, 2007
It’s a pleasure to be here this evening. On behalf of the U.S. Embassy, we are very pleased and proud to welcome Bela Fleck and the Flecktones to Argentina.
Bela Fleck’s total Grammy count, with and without the Flecktones, is 8 Grammys won, with 21 nominations. He has been nominated in more different categories than anyone in Grammy history and is considered by many music experts to be the finest banjo player in the world.
Clearly, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones is one of the premier musical groups in the United States, and we are delighted that they are performing here in one of the premier cultural cities of the world.
Argentines and Americans alike are justly proud of their contributions to world culture. We have much to offer each other in this area, and we should take every opportunity to foster and celebrate cultural exchanges between our two peoples.
Tonight is such a night. And I hope you enjoy some of the best musicians we have to offer, playing music that draws on genres that were born in the U.S. and that capture an important part of the American musical and cultural experience.
A little later, we’ll all be walking around the corner together to the theater to enjoy the concert.
Thank you.