Living Legends Award Show, a Grand Gala!

On Friday, October 5, top entertainers came out to celebrate The Living Legends Foundation’s 2018 honorees at its 22^nd Award Show and Dinner at Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood, CA.

“This year’s awards ceremony was one of the best – if not the best – in the foundation’s 27-year history,” says David Linton, Chairman of the Living Legends Foundation. “The attendance surpassed previous years and included people not only from radio and records but all areas of entertainment. It is a testament to the achievements of the honorees as well as the great work by the organization. I would like to thank all of our sponsors, board members, volunteers, and everyone who came out to make this event a record-setting year.”

Eddie Levert, Yo-Yo, Kenny Lattimore, and Lenny Williams were among the guests to pay tribute to this year’s distinguished honorees. Hosted by radio personality DeDe McGuire of the syndicated radio show “DeDe in the Morning,” the awards show honored Michael Mauldin, CEO of Mauldin Brand, Inc., with the Lifetime Achievement Award; Hurricane Dave Smith, Vice President of Programming and Operations of Radio One Atlanta, was presented with the Jerry Boulding Radio Executive Award; Cynthia Johnson, CEO of Aloro Marketing, received the Music Label Executive Award; Eddie Sims and Belinda Wilson, Partners of Moonridge Entertainment International, were recipients of the Entrepreneur Award; Denise Brown Henderson, Esq., Principal, was presented with the first-ever Mike Bernardo Executive Award, which is given to an outstanding female executive for demonstrating excellence in music and entertainment; Pat Shields, Partner of Black Dot LLC, was the recipient of the A.D. Washington Chairman’s Award; and Bruce W. Talamon, photographer and author, who recently released his critically acclaimed book “Bruce W. Talamon Soul, R&B and Funk Photographs 1972 – 1982,” was presented with a special Living Legends honor.

Sylvia Rhone, President of Epic Records, and Azim Rashid, Senior Vice President of Promotion of Roc Nation, were the Honorary Chairperson and the Event Chairperson, respectively. Kenny Lattimore, Grammy Award-nominated recording artist, performed a set of his signature hits. The LLF also presented a special live tribute to the late Aretha Franklin that included performances by Margo Thunder, recording artist and former lead singer of 9.9; Reggie Calloway, multiple award-winning recording artist and songwriter and executive of Sound Royalties; Lenny Williams, recording artist and former lead singer of Tower Of Power, Yo-Yo, recording artist; and Lattimore.

The L.A. City Council presented Certificates of Recognition to the Living Legends honorees, which was given by Dina Andrews, Sr. Field Deputy/CD 8 West. The LLF was chartered in Los Angeles in 1991. The program line-up also featured a presentation by LoLita Toney, Director of Development and Chief of Staff of the National Museum of African American Music, scheduled to open in 2019 in Nashville.

The Living Legends Foundation’s 2018 sponsors included Platinum Sponsors Hitco Music, Sound Royalties and Warner Chappell Music; Gold Sponsor Epic Records; Entertainment Sponsor The Estate of Michael Jackson; Silver Sponsors All Access Music Group, City National Bank, Empire Distribution Group, and Money Making Conversations; Table Sponsors Anchor Promotions, Atlantic Records, Billboard Publications, BMG Music Group, Capitol Records, Cynthia Johnson, Def Jam Records, Motown Records, RCA Records, RocNation, and WU Music. Specialty Cocktails were presented by Revel Spirits. Media Partners included EURWEB.com, Moses Media, Music Industry Quarterly, Radio Facts, and The Urban Buzz.