Legendary musicians Bootsy Collins, Johnny Gill, Patrice Rushen and Hezekiah Walker will be honored at the Black Music Honors this year.
Scheduled to be held on May 18 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, the Black Music Honors award show will be celebrating musicians and their contribution to the industry and culture overall.
Considered the “Godfather of Funk,” Collins has previously been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his work in bands such as Parliament Funkadelic and P-Funk; drawing from Afro-futurism for his work, his influence extends to genres such as rap and hip hop.
As both part of New Edition and as a solo artist, Gill has sold more than 15 million copies of his music. He’s been nominated for two Grammy Awards, including “Best R&B Performance and By A Group” and “Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.”
Rushen has also been nominated for three Grammys, including “Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female” and “Best R&B Performance.” Her career has spawned hits like “Forget Me Nots” and “Signature.” Rashen is also the chair of a music program at USC Thornton School of Music and is the first woman to be a music director for the Grammys.
Known as “the Hip-Hop Pastor,” Walker himself has won two Grammy awards for “Best Gospel Album” and an NAACP Image Award for “Best Gospel Artist.”
“We are extremely proud to bring more visibility to these tremendous icons who have stayed the course from humble beginnings to careers that span decades,” said the creator of the show and the executive producer, Don Jackson, in a statement. “Their lives and stories are part of the beautiful tapestry of Black music…which has impacted the globe.”
Hosted by musician and actor LeToya Luckett and actor DeRay Davis, the show will air on June 1 to mark the start of Black Music Month.
Set to feature both speeches and performances, artists such as BLK ODYSSY, Chanté Moore, Shanice, Dond Lawrence, Tone Stith and MonoNeon will be taking the stage.
This year marks the ninth annual Black Music Honors award show.
Previously, they’ve honored musicians such as Missy Elliott, SWV, Jeffrey Osborne, Evelyn “Champagne” King, the Hawkins Family, Karyn White, Mary Mary, Keri Hilson, The Whispers and Jerry Butler.
Artists such as Doug E. Fresh, Monie Love, Tasha-Page Lockhart, Naughty By Nature, Donnie McClurkin, Kelly Price and Kierra Sheard have all taken part in the show as performers.
