Friday, March 29, 2024

The Pulse of Entertainment: The BBA’s ‘Salute to Black Music’ Celebrates Iconic Industry Soulsters

BBA’s ‘Salute to Black Music Award’ honorees Vicki Mack Lataillade, Byron J. Smith and Lisa Collins. (Photo credit: The Pulse of Entertainment)

*Since 1970 the Black Business Association has aided in the growth and development of African-American businesses and it recently honored those who are curators of black music with its annual “Salute to Black Music Awards Dinner.”

This year they celebrated Gospel music by honoring Vicki Mack Lataillade, founder of GospoCentric Records with the “Lifetime Achievement Award,” Lisa Collins, publisher of L. A. Focus and founder of “First Ladies High Tea” with the “Outstanding Gospel Publication Award” and Byron J. Smith, president of the National Association Negro Musicians with the “Outstanding Artistic Vision Award.” Previous honorees included Berry Gordon, founder of Motown Records, Smokey Robinson and Janet Jackson.

“Tramaine Hawkins, she was actually on my label at one time,” said BBA honoree Vicki Mack Lataillade, founder of GospoCentric Records, about one of her favorite artists. Vicki’s label played a part in launching the careers of some of the most iconic Gospel African-American artists. “I broke her first record. I was one of the people that broke her first record when I was at Light Records. I knew of Tramaine because I was from the Bay area. Also she was a beautiful dark skin woman.”

Gospel music is about acknowledging a relationship with and belief in God. Contemporary Gospel began with the Gospel cross-over into the secular music thanks to the iconic influence of artists such as Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Al Green and Andrae’ Crouch.

“I listen to a mixture of Gospel, Jazz and R&B,” said BBA honoree Lisa Collins, publisher of L. A. Focus, about her taste in music. When asked about the importance of black business owners she said, “I think everybody has a gift. I think everybody should be able to use those gifts to the best of their ability and take advantage of the opportunities that are there for them. I don’t like being beholding to anybody so I like having a little bit more control in my life. So… I can’t be fired because I work for myself.”

The BBA’s “Salute to Black Music Awards Dinner” attracted classic artists as well as the emerging artists to help celebrate their achievements, which helped shape black music.

“I’m Jeanette Hawes one of the original members of the group Emotions. I just released an album that’s on Spotify and all the other…music platforms. It’s called ‘No Regrets’,” said the Grammy Award-winning original member of the R&B/Soul group The Emotions (with sisters Pamela and Sheila Hutchinson) there to support black music. “My sisters are doing well. Wanda is still doing live work. I give God the glory…it helps give you the endurance you need.” www.BBALA.org

SYNDICATED COLUMN: Eunice Moseley, has an estimated weekly readership of over ¼ million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Public Relations Strategist and Business Management Consultant at Freelance Associates, and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENT: Eunice is founder of the annual “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference (ULMII), into its 20th year, held in Baltimore Saturday April 20, 2019 in partnership with Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times and in Los Angeles Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (511) offering Entertainment Business Panel and a Talent Showcase and Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) with over $15,000 valued in prizes.  Celebrating 20 years! Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com for more info or to participate as a panelist or talent.

www.GoFundMe.com/Uplifting-Minds-II-Entertainment-Conference

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