THE LIVING LEGENDS FOUNDATION TO RECOGNIZE 2007 HONOREES AT 14TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISER DINNER NOVEMBER 15 IN NEW YORK CITY

The Living Legends Foundation (LLF) has announced the music industry stalwarts to be recognized this year at their 14th Annual Living Legends Dinner Gala to be held on Thursday, November 15, 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at Highline Ballroom, 431 West 16th Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues) in New York City. The 2007 honorees include eminent music industry executive Clarence Avant, BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, and Ken Johnson, vice president of programming, Cumulus Broadcasting. Ticket price for this fundraiser event is $500.00 each.

The Living Legends Foundation is a non-profit 501(C) (3) organization dedicated to preserving and honoring the works and deeds of those pioneers and trailblazers in the music industry, broadcasting and related fields. The annual dinner gala is an opportunity to express appreciation and honor the people – past and present – who have built the music industry into what it is today. This year’s dinner chair is music legend, George Daniels of George’s Music Room in Chicago.

Musical entertainment for the evening will feature platinum-selling So So Def/Zomba recording artist Anthony Hamilton and Def Jam recording artist Chrisette Michele. Hamilton carries the tradition of classic black music that goes back to the smooth crooning of Sam Cooke, the earthy gritty sound of Otis Redding, the lyrical beauty of Curtis Mayfield and the unfiltered intensity of Donny Hathaway. The North Carolina-born singer/songwriter’s combination of church-rooted hallelujah praisin’ and tell-it-like-it-is storytellin’ has proved to fill an obvious void in today’s marketplace, evidenced by the response to his platinum-plus 2003 set COMIN’ FROM WHERE I’M FROM. The Grammy-nominated Hamilton has established himself as “the real deal,” as audiences discovered during an almost two-year–long road trek performing night-after-night before packed crowds. Now with the release of his new set AIN’T NOBODY WORRYIN’ - featuring the soulful first single “Can’t Let Go” and the righteously funky “Sista Big Bones” - the Hamilton tradition continues.

Newcomer Chrisette Michele will perform selections from her debut album I AM. The Long Island, New York native was personally signed by Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam Music Group. The singer and songwriter’s debut I AM, includes production by 10-time GRAMMY winner Babyface, will i. am, Salaam Remi and John Legend. Michele was recently on a North American tour with Musiq Soulchild. For more information on Chrisette Michele, please visit www.myspace.com/chrisettemichele.

Ray Chew will serve as musical director for the evening. Chew is well-known for his role as musical director on numerous television shows including NBC’s hit series SINGING BEE, SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO, as well as SUNDAY BEST, CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL and the BET Awards all airing on the BET Network.

One of the individuals being recognized this year is legendary music executive Clarence Avant, renowned for his sincere dedication to pioneering opportunities within the recording industry, his tireless work ethic, as well as his keen business acumen. During his 40 year career in the music business, Avant has successfully served in a variety of roles including record label executive, label owner, manager, and publisher, while always continuing to mentor and develop executive talent. He has represented the likes of blues artist Little Willie John, rock and roll pioneer Tom Wilson, and jazz producer Creed Taylor. The North Carolina native’s road to success began in the late 1960s, when he managed the careers of a variety of musical artists. Avant successfully engineered the first joint venture between an African-American artist and a major record company. Under his own record companies, Sussex Records and later Tabu Records, Avant signed recording artists Bill Withers, Dennis Coffey, and The Presidents. Avant branched out into other mediums after gaining success in music industry, purchasing KAGB-FM (one of the first African-American owned FM stations in Los Angeles), and then taking a shot at television, successfully executive producing the first and only Muhammad Ali-hosted variety show. In the early 1980s, he formed Tabu Records, playing a key role in the successful rise of Grammy winning producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. He also proved instrumental in assisting with the creation of Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Kenneth “BabyFace” Edmonds label, LaFace Records. Acknowledged as a father figure by numerous performers and producers, Avant has been honored publicly for his positive contributions to society, earning accolades including The Operation P.U.S.H. Award and a Children’s Choice Award from the Neil Bogart Memorial Fund. In 1993, Avant was named Chairman of Motown Records and, four years later, he became the first African-American to serve on the International Management Board for PolyGram. Still active today, Avant is president of his own publishing companies, Avant Garde and Interior Music Corporation. In addition, he serves as a member of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Pepsi-Cola African-American Advisory Board. Avant was recently awarded with an honorary doctorate from prestigious Morehouse College.

2007 honoree Catherine Brewton is a present day music publishing powerhouse. Brewton directs all writer/publisher relations activities in BMI’s Atlanta office, while working closely with the BMI staff in New York, Los Angeles, Nashville and London in signing new talent to the company. She and her staff create showcases, songwriter programs and seminars around the country to educate and expose new talent, as well as producing the BMI Urban Awards, and Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards every year. Brewton joined BMI from her position as executive director of the Recording Academy (NARAS), opening the Atlanta office in 1997 as director, writer/publisher relations. Brewton is involved in numerous organizations, including membership in NARAS, Women Executives of America, BESLA (Black Entertainment Sports Lawyer Association), SAGMA (Stellar Awards Gospel Music Association) and the Atlanta Songwriters Association, and is on the boards of the Dallas Austin Foundation, SAGMA, and Harvest Kitchen (facility that feeds homeless people). Just recently, Brewton attended the prestigious Harvard Business School, as well as became involved in the Teach for America program. The Shaw University graduate, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Marketing, has a varied professional background which includes positions in promotion, marketing and finance.

Rounding out the list of the 2007 honorees is Ken Johnson, vice president of urban programming for Cumulus Media. In his current position, Johnson oversees the programming of 25 stations in 15 markets, in the urban, urban AC and gospel radio stations. During his tenure at Cumulus corporate, he has been involved in over 20 station launches. Prior to joining Cumulus Corporate in Atlanta as urban format director in 2000, Johnson was the programming director of the company's urban AC station –WKXS-FM/Wilmington, N.C – a station he launched in the fall of 1997. He earned his first programming job at Nash Communications heritage urban AC station WILD-AM/Boston, where he served from 1993 – 1997 and handled the morning show duties. From 1992 - 1993, Johnson returned to his hometown of Washington D.C. to work on air at Howard University's heritage urban AC station, WHUR-FM, where he eventually became a morning drive personality. While still in college, Johnson worked on air at urban WOL-AM/Washington D.C., oldies WEMX-FM/Boston, and at the renowned Emerson College owned WERS-FM/Boston, where he also served as urban format programming director, station manager, and station programming director.

The 16-year-old Living Legends Foundation organization has expanded its mission to provide assistance to those who have served the music industry with a confirmable need. This assistance is carried out in a manner that maintains the dignity of those who may receive financial assistance. Many former music industry employees worked during a time when 401K’s and retirement packages were not available — and even today in this era of downsizing and mergers, the uncertainty of career stability within the industry has grown. The LLF wants to be able to continue to come to the aid of those in need when possible. In previous years, the organization has raised as much as $100,000 to help meet the needs of those who have suffered tremendous losses and who may have fallen on hard times.

The LLF raises its funds to carry out its mission via its two main fundraising events — the Annual Living Legends Foundation Awards Dinner held in the fall and the Annual LLF Celebrity Golf Tournament held in late summer. This year the organization hopes to reach new heights in charitable contributions in an effort to carry on with their mission of helping their fellow music industry friends and associates who are in need.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities, journal ads or tickets please contact event coordinator, Mike Bernardo at 732-422-7093 or Jacqueline Rhinehart at Organic Soul Marketing at 973-678-6019. For additional information on the Living Legends Foundation, please visit www.livinglegendsfoundation.com.


ABOUT THE LIVING LEGENDS FOUNDATION:

The Living Legends Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization first founded in Los Angeles in February 1991 by record industry legends Ray Harris and Jerry Boulding. The organization is dedicated to the recognition, perpetuation and preservation of urban radio and music industry legends – young and old – that have been at the forefront of the struggle in the music business. The Living Legends Foundation has been involved in America’s indigenous music – those who make it, those who play it, those who market it and those who support it. The group receives support and funding primarily from corporate contributions as well as individual donations.

The Board of Directors for The Living Legends Foundation includes a “who’s who” of music industry living legends including A.D. Washington (Chairman), Miller London (President), Jerry Boulding (Vice President), Barbara Lewis (Treasurer), C.C. Evans (Secretary), Kendall Minter (Legal Counsel), Ken Wilson, David Linton, Mike Bernardo, Varnell Johnson, Sidney Miller, Irene Ware, George Daniel, Big Jon Platt, Ken Johnson, Lionel Ridenour, Vinny Brown, Doug Banks, Jacqueline Rhinehart and Dave “Doc” Wynter. Advisory Board members include Ray Harris, E.J. Williams, Johnnie Walker, Hank Spann and Alonzo Robinson.