R&B Foundation Reviving Pioneer Awards

04/11/2006 3:21 PM, AP
Nekesa Mumbi Moody

The Rhythm & Blues Foundation, which halted its Pioneer Awards for soul legends three years ago as the organization battled money woes, is reviving the ceremony in June and relocating to Philadelphia, the organization told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The Pioneer Awards, co-founded by Bonnie Raitt in 1989, were created not only to preserve the legacy of R&B, but to provide financial, medical and other kinds of assistance to struggling soul musicians.

But in 2003, the New York-based organization had fallen on hard times itself. The Pioneer Awards, which in previous years honored acts including the Supremes and the Chi-Lites, held its last awards ceremony that year, and shortly thereafter, it was revealed that its honorees did not receive the customary checks that accompany the award ($15,000 for individuals to $20,000 for groups).

Payments to honorees were later made after donations from stars such as Bruce Springsteen and a fundraising concert by Raitt and others.

The Pioneer Awards will be held June 29 in Philadelphia and hosted by Patti LaBelle and Smokey Robinson. Its honorees this year: Chubby Checker, Bettye LaVette and Barbara Mason, producer Thom Bell and the Delfonics.

Motown founder Berry Gordy will receive the lifetime achievement award while the late soul great Otis Redding will receive the Legacy Tribute award.

In an interview with the AP Tuesday, the foundation's executive director, Kayte Connelly, said the organization has regrouped after forging partnerships with the city of Philadelphia, state of Pennsylvania and various businesses.

"We had sufficient funds for endowment purposes to continue the emergency assistance programs," Connelly said. "We were searching for a solid base for our operating expenses, and the move to Philadelphia provided that."

Cash awards will still be handed out, though lesser amounts; individuals will receive $10,000 and groups $15,000.

In addition, a $5,000 scholarship will be given in the name of the Legacy Tribute honoree to a youth involved with the genre; the money can be used for instruments or lessons, and will be disbursed over a four-year period.

However, Connelly said the lifetime achievement honoree will not receive an award because the person or group is usually someone who has achieved fame and fortune.