 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| ||||||||
|
|||||||||
 Chaka Kahn and Sandra St. Victor. |
On June 16th, New York's swanky Supper Club was filled to the rafters with some of the hottest stars from the worlds of R&B, Rap, Dance and Reggae when ASCAP hosted its 11th annual Rhythm and Soul Music Awards. Joining MC Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez in the festivities were such luminaries as Mary J. Blige, Mary Wilson, Ashford & Simpson, Arif Mardin, Monica, Stevie J., among others. Highlights of the evening included performances by the Westchester Interdenominational Fellowship Choir, who performed James Weldon Johnson's song, "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing"; Ultra Nate, who performed her award-winning dance song, "Free"; Andrea Martin and Ivan Matias, who performed their own award-winning song, "Don't Let Go (Love)," originally recorded by En Vogue and featured in the film, Set It Off; and, in a powerhouse tribute to Chaka Khan, the Family Stand performed with four great vocalists, Phoebe Snow, Sandra St. Victor, Jacci McGhee and Debra Cole. In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s immortal words joining the ASCAP repertory earlier this year, all award winners and special guests signed a special print which was later presented as a gift to King's son, Dexter, CEO of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. |
 (l-r) Phoebe Snow and Mary Wilson |
 Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez signs the print that was presented as a gift to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s son, Dexter. |
 Publisher of the Year: (l-r) ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento, EMI Chairman and CEO Martin Bandier, EMI's Brian Jackson, Bob Flax, Jody Gerson, Big John Platt and Evan Lamberg. |
 Songwriter of the Year: Sean "Puffy" Combs' collaborator Stevie J., above, enthusiastically accepted the Songwriter of the Year award on behalf of Combs. |
 ASCAP's Ian Burke, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopez and ASCAP's Charis Henry. |
 Award winner John Ciafone, ASCAP's Bill Brown and Alonzo Robinson. |
 |
 |
 |
| Left, Latanya Blige (Mary J. Blige's manager) and honoree Mary J. Blige and, center, ASCAP's Jeanie Weems amd award winner Kenny Lerum; right, Arif Mardin pays tribute to Chaka Khan. | ||
 Monica and ASCAP's Jimmy Maynes. |
 The Family Stand's V. Jeffrey Smith, vocalist Jacci McGhee and the Family Stand's Peter Lord. |
 Andrea Martin, Jacci McGhee and Ultra Nate entertain. |
 Mark Q. Murray & the Westchester Interdenominational Fellowship Choir. |
PlayBack
: October - November - December 1998
ASCAP PlayBack
