The red carpet was rolled out on Wednesday night in Atlanta, Ga., for the 2022 7 th Annual Black Music Honors. The live taping took place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, May 19. Produced by Central City productions, the two-hour star-studded event was hosted by multi-hyphenate, two-time Grammy winner LeToya Luckett alongside Chicago Actor and Comedian DeRay Davis. The night consisted of honoring musicians and artists who have made significant and influential contributions to the African American music industry. The honorees for the night included, Dru Hill, Tevin Campbell, Mary Mary, Keri Hilson, Karyn White and the Whispers. The Black Music Honors celebrated the cultural achievements and monumental success of the musical icons and geniuses. This year’s group of honorees included Multi-Platinum, Award-Winning 90’s group, Dru Hill who received the Urban Music Icon Award; Five-Time GRAMMY Nominee Tevin Campbell who was honored with the R&B Icon Award, and Multi-Award-Winning Gospel Duo Mary Mary was presented with the Gospel Icon Award. NAACP Image Award-Winning Singer Karyn White was recognized with the Soul Music Award; Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter Keri Hilson was honored with the Music and Songwriter Icon Award for her collaborations with other musical icons in the industry; and the renowned and illustrious R&B Group the Whispers took home the Legends Award for their extraordinary six-decade music career.The night applauded all genres of music ranging from pop, gospel, blues, hip-hop, R&B, and so much more. Melody and rhythm floated throughout the night, inviting, and enticing many to dance, clap, laugh, cry, and heal-all while creating a blueprint in African American history. Besides, music tends to do that to all of us. Special performances included, Dru Hill, Carl Thomas, Kid ‘N Play, 112, Eric Bellinger, Amber Riley,and many others.
Excitement filled the air as the live taping was the first in three years since the pandemic interrupted having a live audience. “The pandemic had an unprecedented impact on the music industry, and we’re honored to celebrate, commemorate and honor music trailblazers who have paved the way for the next generation of music and culture,”stated Founder and Executive Producer, Don Jackson. The momentous night was intentionally expressing the notion that Black Music isn’t just ordinary music.
About Black Music Honors
Black Music Honors is an annual two-hour event that celebrates legendary African American artists and musical pioneers who have influenced and made significant musical contributions to African American culture and American music worldwide. Black Music Honors is produced by Chicago-based production company Central City Productions (CCP). Black music has played a vital role in the lives of African Americans; ranging from a means of expression, an escape from suppression and depression, a bridge over troubled waters, as well as melodic therapy- used as a healing balm.
Black music is recognized and honored as it has paved the way for many monumental movements and precedents. It’s enduring tunes, harmonic beats, are immortal as we dance to them and sing them at family reunions, weddings, cultural and political events, driving in our cars, and nonchalantly around the house as we do our daily chores. Black music has been quintessential in keeping US alive, sane, and equipped through many challenging times. Black music is the soundtrack of the African American life. The first Annual Black Music Honors took place in 2016, in Nashville, TN. It was hosted by Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Ledisi, honoring musical gems such as Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis, Big Daddy Kane, Clarence Avant, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Dionne Warwick, and Stax Records.
Central City Productions
Central City Productions was founded in 1970 by Don Jackson. Jackson is a national broadcast television producer and syndicator of the African American owned program. The 7th Annual Black Music Honors show is Executive Produced by Don Jackson with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as Producer and Michael A. Johnson as Producer and Director. CCP, celebrates over 50 years of recognizing and promoting black excellence through television and award-winning programs. Such programming and awards include the Stellar Gospel Music Awards (www.stellarawards.com), Stellar Tribute to the Holidays, Black College Quiz Show (www.blackcollegequiz.com), America’s Black Forum (www.americasblackforum.com),
Mentoring Kings (www.mentoringking.com), and many others. For more information, visit www.stellartv.com.Known as the Music City, and more so for country music, Nashville is now the home of the National Museum of African American Music. NMAAM is the only museum committed to preserving the sustainability of musical genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. NMAAM had its ribbon cutting ceremony on January 18, 2021- marking the observed holiday of Martin Luther King Jr., and its first official opening to the public on January 30, 2021. The 56, 000 square foot museum is located on Fifth + Broadway in Downtown Nashville.
Visitors are introduced to the roles that African Americans have played in shaping and molding American music. The exhibit includes music ranging from classical to jazz, to country and hip hop. The narrative of African American’s integration and role in the music industry is unparalleled. NMAAM is not only a place where you can revel in joyful tunes and beats, but also study the ancestry and genesis of black music. June is deemed and celebrated as African- American Music Appreciation Month. In June of 1979, President Jimmy Carter decreed June as Black Music Month. On May 31, 2016, President Barack Obama proclaimed the meritorious month as African American Music Appreciation Month.
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2016 as African American Music Appreciation Month. I call upon public officials, educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs that raise awareness and foster appreciation of music that is composed, arranged, or performed by African Americans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortieth.” The Black Music Honors televised special is set to air on national broadcast syndication Saturday, June 4 - Sunday, July 3 and on Bounce TV on Saturday, June 25.
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