A dignified Smokey Robinson lightened heavy hearts with an amiable speech to an audience that was somber, saddened and still shocked over the news of Michael Jackson’s sudden passing at the 22nd Annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards. The music legend known for his masterful songwriting skills and silky smooth voice and the sultry and raspy neo-soul singer Alicia Keys were honored at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. Robinson received the coveted ASCAP’s Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award and Keys was presented the esteemed ASCAP’s Golden Note Award.
Keys, in her acceptance speech shares, “I feel incredibly blessed to be standing here and right now … being conscious of how fleeting life is. I feel comfortable being in a room full of my peers and the people who love creating. To be honored like this is amazing. I remember being a little girl right there at that piano [pointing to the grand piano on stage] and dreaming so big. Whoever knows what is going to happen?”
Awards show performances included Ne-Yo, Jeremih (“Birthday Sex”), the GS Boyz (“Stankey Leg”), and the multi-talented 11-year-old Gabby Wilson, who gave an adorable tribute to Alicia Keys on piano and guitar.
Other top honors included the Songwriter of the Year Award going to both Stargate’s Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Hermansen and Red Zone Entertainment’s Terius “The-Dream” Nash and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart. –yvette caslin
