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July 1, 2008 - As Denver dignitaries gathered for Mayor John Hickenlooper's State of the City address, City Council President Michael Hancock introduced singer Rene Marie to perform the national anthem.
But that's not what she did.
Instead, Marie performed the song "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," which also is known as the "black national anthem."
When she finished, the proceedings moved forward, and the "Star-Spangled Banner" was never performed.
Councilman Charlie Brown took to local talk radio Tuesday afternoon to blast the lack of the nation's anthem at the proceedings.
"There's no replacement for the national anthem," Brown said. "They should have sung it."
"I was surprised," said Hancock, who said he thought Marie should have cleared her plans with the mayor's office in advance.
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