*Sylvia Rhone received the City of Hope’s 2019 Spirit of Life Award last week at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica. Rhone was the first African-American woman honored with the award.
Accustomed to making history, she is also the first black woman to head a major U.S. record company, leading the Elektra Entertainment Group in the 1990s. She is credited with helping to guide the careers of Missy Elliot and Busta Rhymes, and is currently the chairman and chief executive officer of Epic Records.
The black-tie affair raised more than $4 million for the world-renowned research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other illnesses. Tickets for the 1,150 guests began at $1,500.
In a night filled with music, Yolanda Adams, Alicia Keys, Sara Bareilles and a newly reunited En Vouge serenaded the audience.
Guests included DJ Khaled, Swizz Beats, Jimmy Jam, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Meghan Trainor, Shawn Holiday – head of Urban music at Sony/ATV music publishing, Zara Larsson, Forest Whitaker, The “Godfather of Black Music” Clarence Avant and Robert Stone, president and chief executive officer of City of Hope.
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Songwriter-producer Kuk Harrell, whose music collaborations include working with superstars Rihanna, Beyoncé and Mary J. Blige fought back tears on the white carpet when he was surprised by the team who cared for him through his fight against prostate cancer.
Yours truly, Jill Munroe, spoke with Rhone, DJ Khaled, Holiday and more about why Rhone deserved the honor and what makes her special to work with.
Khaled had this to say:
“She’s a music mogul icon, she’s a queen. She’s somebody that I love and she’s my partner at We The Best/Epic. She’s the Chairman of Epic records.”
On receiving the award, Rhone had this to say:
“I was stunned when I got the call, it’s a big breakthrough for Black woman and woman in general.”
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