Jody Watley is noted as a pioneer and influencer in R&B nothing the significance of the Eric B & Rakim collaboration as contemporary R&B continues to try to find it’s way in the midst of continued Hip Hop dominance:
“R&B Blossoms With Hip Hop in Rear View”
New York Times Feature written by Jon Caramanica
I’m absolutely thrilled to make this announcement.
Honoree Letter Black Music Honors:
On behalf of the Honoree selection committee for the Black Music Honors television special, we are pleased to notify you that we would like to honor Jody Watley with the prestigious R&B/Soul award on August 18, 2017 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, Tennessee otherwise known as Music City! The R&B/Soul award is presented to African American icons in the music industry that have made significant contributions in the shaping, building, and longevity of American Music.
Black Music Honors is a 2-hour musical honors special produced by Central City Productions, Inc. under the leadership of Don Jackson, with productions that include “Stellar Gospel Music Awards”, “Black College Quiz”, “Stellar Tribute to the Holidays”, and more. Black Music Honors was created to highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of those African Americans that have played a major role in shaping the Black music industry. By honoring Jody Watley, we will be able to show appreciation for the exceptional music she has created to enrich the world.
Industry greats that were honored at the inaugural taping include Dionne Warwick, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Staxx Records, Clarence Avant, and Big Daddy Kane. This 2-hour special will air in national broadcast syndication during the entire month of September 2017. We are a firm believer in teaching and preserving the foundation that has been laid for the future generation.
Ticket proceeds from this event will be donated to The National Museum of African American Music which was founded to recognize the many contributions African-American artists have made in shaping the soundtrack of American music. You can visit their website at http://nmaam.org.
Congratulations to the other 2017 honorees: Donnie McClurkin, Slick Rick, Oleta Adams, and R&B Group Guy. The show will be hosted by Rickey Smiley.
Pictured: Jody Watley, Herby ‘Luvbug’ Azor, Salt, Stevie Wonder, Spinderella, Pepa and Brown Mark of Prince and The Revolution Photo (c): Ron Lawrence Photography
It was an unbelievable honor to sing and perform with one of my childhood and all time musical heroes and inspirations Stevie Wonder for his 1988 MTV Special “A Character Gathering.” I performed with Stevie on “Superstitious” and he and I did a duet on my of my hits at the time “Some Kind of Lover.” The special also featured pioneering rappers Salt n Pepa, and legendary blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn. Happy Birthday Stevie Wonder!! My laugh at the end of this performance continues to reflect the joy I felt in that moment.