Legends pay tribute to forgotten soul singers
2000-09-08 14:07
New York - Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Erykah Badu and Bonnie Raitt were
among the stars who paid tribute to forgotten soul singers of the
past at the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's 11th annual Pioneer
Awards.
While superstars such as Stevie Wonder and the late Marvin Gaye
were also honoured n Wednesday night, the bulk of the four-hour
ceremony was dedicated to lesser-known acts such as the Chi-Lites,
who faded into obscurity although their harmonies on hits such as
Have You Seen Her helped define the sound of the 60s and the 70s.
"It's one of the most important awards that we ever received," said
Chi-Lites founding member Eugene Record. "They (the R-and-B
foundation) do things that are very unusual as far as helping
artists who have fallen on hard times, and I don't know any
organisation that does that for musicians and entertainers."
In addition to bestowing long-overdue recognition, the foundation
awards most of the honourees with cash - $20 000 for groups, and $15 000 for individual artists.
Motown founder Berry Gordy helped boost the foundation's coffers,
announcing a $750 000 donation to aid former acts from the
legendary label who are struggling.
"These are our pioneers, the people that we got something from, we
benefit from, so we have to look out for them like all people do,"
he said. "It's everyone's responsibility. It's our legacy."
Some of the artists honoured by the foundation in years past were
cheated out of their royalties and received little during their
brief celebrity.
"Many artists did not get adequate compensation, and even today,
find it very difficult to survive even though their music is known
and played," said Mary Wilson, one of the original Supremes. "As
human beings, they're sort of forgotten. I think the Rhythm and
Blues organisation gives not only sort of an award, but also gives
them something that they need inside, as human beings, to be
respected."
Besides the Chi-Lites, the foundation gave pioneer awards to Huey
"Piano" Smith, who performed on the hit Don't You Know It/High
Blood Pressure; Sylvia Robinson, who had a hit with Love is
Strange in 1957 and years later helped start the rap revolution
with the discovery of the Sugarhill Gang; Clyde Otis, who wrote and
produced songs for artists including Nat "King" Cole and Dinah
Washington; The Impressions, whose hits include It's All Right;
Johnnie Johnson, a legendary pianist who discovered and played with
Chuck Berry; and Betty Wright, who may best be known for her hit
Clean Up Woman.
Wonder received the lifetime achievement award, while Gaye's
children accepted the Legacy Tribute award on his behalf. Ahmet
Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records, received the R-and-B Founders
Award.
The event also served as a concert and jam session, as the honourees
performed some of their biggest hits. Wonder's performance was
perhaps the most rousing, as he sang a medley of hits like
Superstition, and I Was Made To Love Her, with Raitt, Badu,
Sister Sledge, Robinson and Dionne Warwick singing backup.
Wonder called for today's performers to unite with past artists for
an album that would feature old hits and give back royalties to
those singers and their families.
Though Wonder has received countless accolades, he said this award
held a special significance for him.
"It really is the essence of how I began," he said. "I was an
R-and-B artist, a rhythm and blues artist, and I have great respect
and I am very proud of that." - Sapa-AP
- SAPA