NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Central City Productions payed tribute to The Jacksons, Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Slick Rick, Guy, Oleta Adams, and Jody Watley at the Black Music Honors at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville.
The Black Music Honors also included special performances by Avery Sunshine, Dave Hollister, Jonathan Butler, Karen Clark Sheard, Kid N Play, Latice Crawford, Leela James, Marvin Winans, SWV, Da Brat, Sevyn Streeter and more.
The legendary group, The Jacksons, received the Lifetime Achievement in Music Award during the star-studded television taping. Stellar Awards and Grammy® Award-winner Donnie McClurkin, received the Gospel Music Icon Award; the R&B group Guy, creators of the New Jack Swing sound, were given the R&B Soul Music Icon Award; Grammy® nominated rapper Slick Rick was presented with the Hip Hop/Rap Music Icon Award, Grammy® nominated-singer Oleta Adams received the Legends Award and Grammy® Award-winner Jody Watley was recognized with the Crossover Music Icon Award.
The Jacksons, of course, took the world by storm after they were discovered by Gladys Knight in 1969. The first family of music, who were originally called The Jackson Five before they left Berry Gordy and Motown Records, set a record and became cultural icons when their first four singles — “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There” — became smash hits and reached No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts. The lead singer, Michael, would go onto intergalactic glory about a decade later when he dropped the all-time classic albums Off the Wall and Thriller.
Rickey Smiley, television and radio personality and Grammy Award-winner and actress LeToya Luckett, co-hosted the show set to air on broadcast syndication, Sept. 2-30, 2017, and on Bounce TV, Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m. (EST). Luckett is still glowing after recently announcing her engagement on Instagram, just one year after her bitter divorce.
For more information, visit www.blackmusichonors.com.
