Living Legends Foundation to Honor Harvey Mason, Jr., Ed Eckstine, Donnie Simpson & More at 2024 Awards Dinner and Gala

Gail Mitchell
·6 min read

UPDATE (Sept. 3): Music executive Ed Eckstine is set to receive the Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award at the Living Legends Foundation dinner and gala on Oct. 4 at the Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood. Other honorees are Harvey Mason, Jr., Donnie Simpson, L. Londell McMillan, Joi Brown, Chris Chambers, Mike Kelly, and Gwen Franklin.

In 1974, Eckstine joined Quincy Jones Productions and spent 11 years as a key member of Jones’ inner circle. In 1986, after a brief stay at Arista Records, Eckstine began a decade-plus journey with PolyGram Records. In 1990, he became the first African American to be appointed president of a major non-Black owned record company (Mercury Records). Currently, Eckstine is producing a documentary on his father (legendary vocalist and bandleader Billy Eckstine), among other film and television projects.

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Eckstine and Mason are both second-generation forces in the music business. Mason’s father is renowned jazz drummer Harvey Mason.

The red carpet and cocktail reception begin at 6:30 p.m. with the awards dinner at 7:30 p.m. The event will be hosted by radio pro Skip Cheatham with entertainment by DJ Battlecat. This year’s dinner chairpersons are former Living Legends honorees Tracey J. Jordan and Lionel Ridenour.

PREVIOUSLY (June 4): Harvey Mason, Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares will receive the Chairman Award from the Living Legends Foundation at its annual awards dinner and gala on Friday, Oct. 4, at Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood.

“Mason is a transformative leader who has reshaped the [Recording Academy],” the Living Legends Foundation said in a statement. “Under his guidance, the Academy has embraced diversity and inclusion within its membership, ensuring greater transparency and fairness in the Grammy Awards process. He’s also overseen a strategic restructuring to position the Academy for continued growth on a global scale, while simultaneously strengthening its role as a service organization, providing vital support to music creators worldwide.”

The foundation also noted that Mason has written and produced songs for a long list of top artists, and has produced music for such films as Bob Marley: One Love, Respect, Dreamgirls, Sparkle and Straight Outta Compton; plus television shows including The Wiz Live! and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.

As a philanthropist, Mason is recognized for his work with the T.J. Martell Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, American Cancer Society and Los Angeles Children’s Hospital.

“We are pleased to honor the chieftain and we are delighted that he was available to accept our invitation,” David C. Linton, chairperson of the Living Legends Foundation, said in a statement. “We are profoundly proud of his leadership role and the outstanding work at The Recording Academy and his commitment to MusiCares.”

The red carpet and cocktail reception begin at 6:30 p.m. with the awards dinner following at 7:30 p.m.

PREVIOUSLY (April 18): The Living Legends Foundation has set Oct. 4 as the date for its 2024 awards dinner and gala. The event, also celebrating the foundation’s 33rd anniversary, will take place at Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood.

This year’s slate of industry honorees includes:

Donnie Simpson, Jerry Boulding Radio Award: The legendary radio and television personality signed off the airwaves earlier this year after a 55-year career that began at Detroit’s WJLB-FM and included tenures at Washington, D.C., outlets WKYS-FM, WPGC-FM and WMMJ-FM. Also known for his long-running stint as host of BET’s Video Soul, Simpson is a Radio Hall of Fame and National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee.

L. Londell McMillan, Kendall A. Minter Entertainment Advocate Award (renamed after the noted industry attorney who died last year): The chairman/CEO of The McMillan Firm and veteran entertainment attorney is currently co-managing the Prince Legacy (one of two holding companies overseeing the star’s estate). McMillan’s list of clients over the years has included Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Under the firm’s NorthStar Group division, McMillan also serves as executive publisher of Source magazine.

Joi Brown, the inaugural Impact Player Award: Brown is the founder/CEO of Culture Creators, whose same-titled foundation has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships over the past two years in keeping with its mission of being a vital link between global cultural leaders and the next generation of diverse creators. Through its annual Innovators and Leaders Awards brunch, Culture Creators has honored industry executives and creatives such as Byron Allen, Swizz Beatz, H.E.R. and Epic Records chairwoman Sylvia Rhone.

Chris Chambers, Media Executive Award: Founder/CEO of The Chamber Group, Chambers has represented star clients in music, entertainment, fashion and sports such as Usher, Mariah Carey, OutKast, Drake, Naomi Campbell and Kelly Rowland. His firm has also worked with corporate and lifestyle clients ranging from Versace and HBO to Netflix and the Essence Music Festival. Prior to launching The Chamber Group, Chambers served as a publicity executive for labels such as Mercury, Interscope, Arista and LaFace Records.

Mike Kelly, Music Executive Award: A radio broadcaster and record label executive of more than 40 years, Kelly served as PD of legendary St. Louis station KATZ-FM. He then segued into record promotion at various labels, including Arista, Motown, Elektra, Warner Music Group and Atlantic. His resumé lists working projects by artists such as Whitney Houston, Missy Elliott, Bruno Mars and Jack Harlow. Kelly currently works as a radio consultant via his company, Real One 24/7 Promotion and Marketing.

Gwen Franklin, Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award: Before her latest venture as founder/CEO of empowerment organization B. Lifted Up! Inc., Franklin helmed senior executive posts in radio promotion, marketing, sales and artist development through stints with Casablanca, A&M, Capitol, Mercury and RCA Records. The list of artists she’s worked with includes Quincy Jones, Donna Summer, Janet Jackson, MC Hammer and SWV.

In a release announcing the upcoming awards dinner and gala, Living Legends Foundation chairperson David Linton commented in part, “As we reflect on the brilliance and excellence of today’s global music and entertainment leaders, we’re pleased that the organization remains the longest-standing Black music organization to date, founded in 1991 by Black music executives. And as we approach another milestone year, we’d like to further cement the organization as the key stakeholder in Black music by reclaiming our mission of ‘protecting and preserving the legacy of those who create, market and elevate Black music,’ which includes R&B, hip-hop, jazz, blues, country, reggae and world music.”

Additional reporting by Paul Grein

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