Website designed by Solius Web Solutions web site design

On Friday, March 31, 2006 Fabrice Jaumont and Cultural Services of the French Embassy hosted a reception to recognize Carole Fredericks and Taj Mahal as recipients of the James W. Dodge Memorial Foreign Language Advocate Award. A message from composer / musician Jean-Jacques Goldman was written in honor of Carole Fredericks specifically for this ocaision. Merci beaucoup to Mme Margot Steinhart for the French reading of Jean-Jacques' message. Merci beaucoup to Mme. Jayne Abrate for the translation and for reading the message in English.

Je suis particulièrement touché par la remise de cette distinction à notre amie Carole.

I am especially touched by this award given to our friend Carole.

Carole est née une première fois aux Etats-Unis, le pays de ses parents, de son enfance, de sa formation, de sa culture musicale.

Carole was born once in the United States, the land of her parents, of her childhood, of her preparation, of her musical culture.

Une seconde fois en France, pays de sa reconnaissance artistique, de ses amours et amis, de ses plaisirs, de son domicile.

She was born a second time in France, the land of her artistic recognition, her loves and friends, of her pleasures, of her home.

Une troisième fois au Sénégal, le pays de ses racines, de son cœur, peut être celui où elle se sentait le mieux, le pays de son départ aussi.

Yet a third time she was born in Senegal, the land of her roots, of her heart, perhaps the place where she felt best, the land of her departure, as well.

Bien que profondément Américaine, Carole était un symbole de ce mixage de cultures qu'elle incarnait de la plus belle des façons : par sa voix, par la musique.

Although Carole was profoundly American, she was symbol of the mix of cultures that she represented in the most beautiful way: by her voice, through the music.

Nous vous remercions pour ce geste qui honore sa mémoire.

Thank you for this gesture which honors her memory.

En France elle est toujours présente, par ses chansons et dans nombre de cœurs. A travers elle c'est aussi l'Amérique que nous aimons.

She lives still in France, through her songs and in many hearts. Through her, it is the America that we love.

Jean-Jacques Goldman

Les Restaurants du Coeur sont très heureux que le talent de Carole soit honoré de ce titre prestigieux. Pour le plus grand bonheur de l'association, Carole s'était si souvent faite l'ambassadrice de leur cause, et son souvenir demeure toujours très vivant parmi nous. Amitiés.

L'équipe des Restos

The Restos du Coeur are very happy that Carole's talent has been honored by this prestigious award. The association was thrilled that Carole was so often an ambassador of its cause, and her memory is still very much alive among us all. With friendship.

The Restos Crew (Team)