Mayor Garcetti beams as he accepts his AFM Local 47 Honorary Membership card. Photo by Kori Chappell.

AFM Local 47 hosts the mayor in a ceremony to thank him for his support of Los Angeles musicians

LOS ANGELES, California (May 5, 2014) — The musicians union of Hollywood hosted Mayor Eric Garcetti in a ceremony last week naming him an Honorary Member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47.

Mayor Garcetti personally attended the event at the Local 47 auditorium the evening of April 28. The members of AFM Local 47 thanked the mayor for supporting local musicians with his endorsement last September of our ListenLA campaign (listen-la.com), which highlights and promotes film and TV music scoring by union musicians. The membership also expressed their appreciation for Garcetti’s efforts to fight runaway production and keep film and TV work in Hollywood in supporting new legislation aimed at enhancing California’s production tax incentive program.

Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, congratulated the mayor and commended his support of the professional working musicians of Los Angeles. Introducing the mayor was acclaimed musician Rickey Minor, who currently serves as musical director and bassist on “American Idol.” AFM Local 47 President Vince Trombetta, Vice President John Acosta, and Secretary/Treasurer Gary Lasley along with Minor presented Mayor Garcetti with an award plaque and gold honorary membership card.

VIP guests who joined in honoring Mayor Garcetti included “Mad Men” composer David Carbonara, Los Angeles Board of Public Works President Kevin James, Public Works Commissioners Mike Davis, Matt Szabo and Monica Rodriguez, “American Idol” music contractor Ernie Fields Jr., and Los Angeles County Federation of Labor political director Rusty Hicks.

“As a native Angeleno and an accomplished pianist and composer, it’s only fitting that Mayor Garcetti has a place in the Hollywood musicians union,” said Local 47 President Vince Trombetta. “The 7,000 professional working musicians of the Los Angeles musicians union are honored to call you ‘brother’ of AFM Local 47.”

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About AFM Local 47 – American Federation of Musicians Local 47 is a labor organization formed by and for musicians over a century ago that promotes and protects the concerns of musicians in all areas of the music business. Local 47 is affiliated with the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, the largest organization in the world representing the interests of 85,000 professional musicians.

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