The Black Music Honors is returning for its eighth edition, with several notables being recognized. Iconic R&B group SWV is among the honorees, as are Missy Elliott, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Jeffrey Osborne, and The Hawkins Family.
Don Jackson, Black Music Honors founder and executive producer, stated, “Black music is the heartbeat of our culture, and the honorees for this years’ Black Music Honors represent the soul of American music. We pay homage to the musical innovators who have paved the way for future generations. Our tribute performances not only celebrate the honorees of yesterday, but also showcase the influence and impact of their iconic sounds and styles on today’s artists with a beautiful symbiosis of past and present.”
Kenny Lattimore, Elle Varner, Robin Thicke, Lil Mo, Dave Hollister, and Tweet are among the artists set to honor this year’s Black Music Honors recipients.
Additional performers include 702, Raheem DeVaughn, Donnie McClurkin, Sevyn Streeter, LaTocha, The Shelby 5, The Shindellas, and Kelontae Gavin.
Tickets for Black Music Honors go on sale Friday, April 21, at 10 a.m. local time. The two-hour event will be taped on Friday, May 19, at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
Black Music Honors will premiere on the Stellar Network on Saturday, June 3, in conjunction with Black Music Month, with subsequent airings on Bounce TV on Tuesday, June 19. It will also broadcast nationally from June 10 through July 2.
Grammy-winning singer LeToya Luckett and comedian/actor DeRay Davis will host the celebration, produced by Central City Productions.
SWV, recently part of Bravo’s hit series SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B, is among the most successful groups featuring all-women in music history. Five albums have been released by SWV, including their 1992’s It’s About Time, their best-selling album, with more than three million copies sold in the U.S. to date.
Last year, SWV received a trio of new single sales awards from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in recognition of “I’m So into You” and “Right Here,” both now platinum.
Additionally, 1993’s “Weak,” from It’s About Time, was certified 3x multi-platinum. Fun fact: This steamy jam soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making them the first female group to top the popular singles list in the ’90s.
SWV’s last album, Still, came out in 2016. It included the singles “Ain’t No Man” and “MCE (Man Crush Everyday),” both of which were top 20 hits on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart.
Moreover, SWV will tour with Jodeci and Dru Hill later this year. Dates for the Summer Block Party Tour have yet to be announced.
Elliott, most known for her hits as a rap legend, has written and produced for dozens of R&B artists, including Ciara, Jazmine Sullivan, Monica, Fantasia, Aaliyah and many more.
Most recently, Elliott has teamed up with rising R&B group FLO (“Fly Girl“) and Chlöe (“Told Ya“).
King had a great run on the charts from the mid-70s to the late ’80s, with two gold albums to her credit, including 1977’s Smooth Talk and 1979’s Music Box.
Her biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart was “Shame.” It peaked at No. 9, making it her only top 10 on that same chart.
King succeeded on the R&B and dance charts with classics such as “Love Come Down” and “I’m in Love.” Speaking of the former track, rising singer Ebony Riley (“Draws“) and veteran Vivian Green (“Light Up” featuring Ghostface Killah) sampled it for their respective releases.
Meanwhile, Osborne gained traction as part of the funk band L.T.D., short for Love, Togetherness & Devotion.
After the outfit attained three gold and one platinum album, powered by singles “Love Ballad” and “(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again,” Osborne pursued a solo career studded with 12 top ten R&B hits and a No. 1 smash, “She’s On The Left.”
Like L.T.D., Osborne has three gold albums: Stay With Me Tonight, Don’t Stop, and Emotional. He released his last album, Worth It All, in 2018.
Get more ticket information at blackmusichonors.com.
