In celebration of #BlackMusicMonth & our 30th Anniversary, we will remember the past awards dinners. We kick it off with a message from founder Ray Harris: “The Living Legends started out as an awards luncheon at the Urban Network conference in LA, headed up by Jerry Boulding. It honored Black Music artists, records, radio & retail. During this time, I started visualizing The Living Legends Foundation as a 501c3, non-profit organization, honoring the behind the scenes people who were trailblazers, some doing well & some in need of dire financial assistance. At the time, the Black Music artists had many award shows: Soul Train, Billboard, MTV, American Music & the R&B Foundation Awards, which also provided financial assistance to Black Music artists, but no recognition or assistance to the behind the scenes people.
I often describe the music business as a train with a powerful engine, the creative community- artists, producers, writers, engineers. Without this engine it couldn’t drive. But the train needs a conductor, ticket agent to route the train, someone to lay the tracks, mechanics to make the train drive safely, etc. Without those people the train would go nowhere. That is what inspired me to approach Jerry about forming the foundation. I am forever grateful to him for seeing my vision, not only for taking a money-making venture from his conference, but also agreeing to take the LLF dinner to the east coast at a later date to the Impact Conference, his competitor.
We brought on Barbara Lewis as our treasurer & C.C. Evans as our secretary. Many of my industry friends did not see the vision, but here we are 30 years later. Many thanks to past Chairman A.D. Washington, past President Miller London, past board members for guiding this organization through the most turbulent & difficult years in the history of this organization. Thanks to Chairman David Linton, President Varnell Johnson, & current board members for putting a fresh face on the organization & building on its legacy. I am honored to serve as your Chairman Emeritus, & that The Foundation is in great hands. Here’s to the next 30 years!
#livinglegendsfoundation30 #musicdaypodcast