The Living Legends Foundation Announces Talent for 25th Anniversary Celebration

The Living Legends Foundation,^®Inc. (LLF) today announces the talent line-up for its 25^th Anniversary celebration. This year’s annual awards gala will be held on Thursday, October 6, at 7:00 p.m. at Taglyan Cultural Complex, 1201 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, CA.

Veteran Radio Personality “Jammin” Jay Michaels will return as host for this year’s event. The performance line-up includes R&B recording artist and songwriter, Guordan (pronounced Joor-dan) Banks and Smooth Jazz saxophonist Rob White. Banks’ hit song, “Keep You In Mind” peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Songs chart. His new single, #WYWDT (“Where You Wanna Do This?) featuring DeJ Loaf is moving up the charts. Both singles are featured on his forthcoming album, Unpopular, which will be released on his own label, Bank On It Entertainment. Banks also penned hits for Keyshia Cole’s “Trust and Believe,” and John Legend’s “Who Do We Think We Are,” featuring Rick Ross. He has also collaborated with award-winning recording artists 50 Cent, Kanye West, and K. Michelle.

Also joining the line-up is acclaimed jazz saxophonist Rob White. A Dallas native, White started playing the violin at the age of 7. By the time, he joined the high school band, he had mastered the violin, the soprano, alto and tenor saxophone and the flute. To date, he has released three albums including Let It Ride, Keep Riding and Just Kickin’ It.

The Living Legends Foundation,^®Inc. will honor seven distinguished individuals including Miller London, CEO of Russell Street Entertainment/CEG Music and LLF board member; Tony Gray, founder and President of Gray Communications and LLF Advisory board member; Larry Khan, Senior Vice President of Urban Promotion at Interscope Records; Sheila Eldridge, CEO of Miles Ahead Entertainment; Jamie Brown, founder of Sister 2 Sister magazine; Herb Trawick, creator, executive producer and co-host of Pensado’s Place; and Regina Jones, founder and editor of SOUL newspaper. Troy Carter, founder of Atom Factory and Global Head of Creator Services for Spotify serves as the Honorary Event Chairperson for the Living Legends Awards Dinner and Gala. Gail Mitchell, senior correspondent of Billboard magazine is the Event Chairperson and Pat Shields, Partner of Black Dot, LLC and LLF Officer is the Dinner Committee Chairperson.

This year the organization is proud to announce the Living Legends Scholarship Fund. The LLF will provide assistance for students from three Historically Black College and Universities (Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina; Texas Southern University in Houston; and Howard University in Washington, DC). “It’s been a goal of the foundation for some time and the 25^th anniversary seemed an appropriate time to initiate it, especially with so much talk about the cost of education in the news lately,” says David Linton, Chairman of the Living Legends Foundation. “This is another way to give back and support students interested in pursuing careers in communications, radio and television. We plan to target various fundraising options to raise monies annually.” The funds for the three scholarships will be available in January for spring 2017.

Another important initiative by the LLF is the essay series, “The State of Black Music and Beyond,” published by the Huffington Post weekly. “The series is a collective of contributors with thoughtful and informative essays written by industry legends and experts on black music,” says Gwendolyn Quinn, content producer and board member of the LLF. “It’s a way for the organization to have an extended voice and to reconnect and stay connected with past, present and future African American music executives from various areas of the industry.” Jackie Rhinehart kicked-off the series. To date, the series produced essays by David Linton, Kendall A. Minter, Esq., Ramon Hervey II, Thembisa S. Mshaka and Marilyn Batchelor. “These essays were long overdue”, says Batchelor, a music marketing expert. “As in society, African American music executives have been silenced over the past decade. With constant changes in the music business and the dissolution of ‘real’ Black Music divisions, there has not been a vehicle to hear from those who not only understand, but live the culture. I was not only excited about being a participant, but elated to read the insightful information from my colleagues.” The ‘State of Black Music and Beyond’ series lives on the LLF’s website: www.livinglegendsfoundation.com.

In 1991, record industry legends Ray Harris, Barbara Lewis, C.C. Evans and the late Jerry Boulding founded the Living Legends Foundation,^®Inc. Over the years, the organization has recognized and honored over 100 distinguished leaders in music, radio, retail and media. Past honorees include Quincy Jones, Clarence Avant, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Cathy Hughes, Stephen Hill, Antonio “LA” Reid, Rushion McDonald, Jon Platt, Keith Clinkscales, Ethiopia Habtemariam, Larkin Arnold, Brenda Andrews, Ruben Rodriguez, Kendall Minter, Esq., Jeffrey Harleston, Troy Carter, Big Boy, Vicki Mack Lataillade and Claude Lataillade, Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks, the late Hal Jackson, the late Jack “The Rapper” Gibson, Charles Warfield, Aundrae Russell, Lee Bailey and numerous others.

The Living Legends Foundation,^®Inc. is a registered 501 (c) (3) non-profit, tax-exempt organization and has been funded primarily with corporate contributions and individual donations. The 25-year-old organization has expanded its mission to provide assistance to those who have served the music industry and who have a confirmable need. This assistance is provided in a manner that maintains the dignity of those who may receive financial help. Many former music industry employees worked during a time when 401K’s and retirement packages were not available—and even today, in this era of downsizing and mergers, the uncertainty of career stability within the industry has grown. Proceeds from the event will enable the LLF to continue to aid those in need.

The Living Legends Foundation Officers and Board Members include Chairman David Linton, President Varnell Johnson, Vice-President Jacqueline Rhinehart, Recording Secretary Pat Shields, founder and Treasurer C.C. Evans and General Counsel Kendall Minter, Esq. Board members include co-founder Barbara Lewis, Vinny Brown, Marcus Grant, Ken Johnson, Miller London, Sidney Miller, Jon Platt, Gwendolyn Quinn, A.D. Washington, Sam Weaver, and Colleen Wilson.

The Living Legends Foundation Advisory Board includes a list of distinguished entertainment executives including founder Ray Harris, Monica Alexander, George Daniels, Brad Davidson, Skip Dillard, Kevin Fleming, Tony Gray, Shannon Henderson, Sharon Heyward, Allen Johnston, Kathi Moore, Alonzo Robinson, Kevin Ross, A. J. Savage, TC Thompkins, Irene Ware, Buzzy Willis and Tony Winger.

For tickets and sponsorship information, please contact Pat Shields at 310.568.9091, or [email protected].

For additional information on the Living Legends Foundation, please visit www.livinglegendsfoundation.com.