Wikipedia

Rhythm and Blues Foundation

TheRhythm and Blues Foundationis an independentAmericannonprofitorganization dedicated to the historical and cultural preservation ofrhythm and bluesmusic.

Rhythm & Blues Foundation
Founded1988
Key people
Damon Williams (Chairman)
Jeff Harleston (Executive Committee)
Bruce Resnikoff (Executive Committee) Iris Gordy (Executive Committee) Claudette Robinson (Executive Committee) Ted Reid (Executive Committee)
Websitewww.rhythmandbluesfoundation.org

The idea for the foundation came in 1987 during discussions aboutroyaltieswith entertainerRuth Brown,entertainment attorney Howell Begle, andAhmet Ertegun,the head ofAtlantic Records.[1]Ertegun provided a $1.5 million donation, and the foundation was officially established in 1988 in Washington, D.C., and in 2005 moved its offices to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The foundation provides financial support, medical assistance and educational outreach through various grants and programs to support R&B andMotownartists from the 1940s through the 1970s.

The Rhythm and Blues Foundation has also produced their Annual event the Pioneer Awards since the 1980s, then under the Direction of Suzan Jenkins, Executive Director. It also administered theDoc PomusFinancial Assistance Program, The Motown/Universal Music Group Fund, and the Gwendolyn B. Gordy Fuqua Fund providing emergency assistance to legendary aging artists.

Pioneer Award honorees

edit

2008

2006

2003

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1990/91

1989

References

edit
  1. ^Selke, Lori (October 23, 2017)."Forebears: Ruth Brown, The Fabulous Miss Rhythm".NPR.
  2. ^Miss Rhythm: The Autobiography of Ruth Brown, Page 328
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rhythm_and_Blues_Foundation&oldid=1237882119"