Gamble's goal: Rebrand Philly as R&B home

03/17/2006 9:06 PM, Reuters
Gail Mitchell

Renowned singer, songwriter and producer Kenny Gamble's latest production might be his most ambitious yet: repositioning his hometown, Philadelphia, as a national center for R&B.

In 1971, Gamble and songwriting/producing partner Leon Huff co-founded seminal R&B label Philadelphia International, home to such locally bred artists as Teddy Pendergrass, McFadden & Whitehead and Dee Dee Sharp. The city's R&B legacy also includes Patti LaBelle, the Stylistics, Sister Sledge and Chubby Checker as well as such contemporary figures as Jill Scott and producer Scott Storch.

A cornerstone in Gamble's Philadelphia Entertainment Initiative Strategy is already in place. The Rhythm & Blues Foundation has moved its headquarters to the City of Brotherly Love and is relaunching its signature event -- the Pioneer Awards.

The event, last held in 2003, should have no trouble making headlines. Billboard has learned that Motown founder Berry Gordy will receive the foundation's lifetime achievement award at the resurrected ceremony, scheduled for June 29 at Philadelphia's Park Hyatt Hotel.

The foundation also will honor Otis Redding with its Legacy Award. Individual and group honorees will include Checker, Barbara Mason, Bettye LaVette, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and the DelFonics. Thom Bell will receive the songwriter/sideman/entrepreneur award.

MUSEUM VISION

In addition to the alliance with the R&B Foundation, Gamble's vision includes an R&B hall of fame and museum and a performance venue.

During the last several years, Gamble -- a board member of the foundation -- has focused on revitalizing Philadelphia's South Street area. Those efforts include low-income housing built under the auspices of his Universal Cos. He has decided to expand that vision.

The alliance with the R&B Foundation, formerly based in Washington, D.C., and New York, is a key component in Gamble's strategy. Founded in 1988, the foundation is dedicated to preserving R&B's heritage, providing financial assistance to the genre's pioneer artists and producing educational outreach programs.

Among the foundation's emergency assistance grant programs are the Doc Pomus Fund, which aids songwriters, sidemen and producers, and the Universal/Motown Group Fund, which helps R&B artists who were once affiliated with Universal/Motown or its acquired labels. Individual and group honorees receive Pioneer Award honorariums.

Hampered in recent years by money woes stemming from reduced contributions by record companies and individuals, the foundation is committed to regaining its financial footing. Initial support in that endeavor is coming from the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

"We got waylaid a bit by consolidation and other changes in the industry," foundation executive director Kayte Connelly says. "But now we're like a bear coming back from hibernation, ready to roar."

Reuters/Billboard