The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation’s 3rd Annual Gala Will Be Hosted By Kevin Frazier And Have Performances By Yolanda Adams & More

The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation and Primary Wave Music will present the 3rd Annual Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation Gala on Friday, August 9th, 2024, at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, which marks the 30th anniversary of Whitney Houston’s three historic post-apartheid visits and performances following Nelson Mandela’s historic election win as the then President of the new South Africa. Whitney was the first major recording artist to perform in the newly unified, post-apartheid nation. She performed at Kings Park Stadium in Durban (November 8, 1994), Ellis Park Stadium, also known as Emirates Airline Park, in Johannesburg (November 12, 1994), which was filmed for the HBO Special, and the final performance was held at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town (November 19, 1994.)

Four-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist Yolanda Adams will be the headlining performer at this year’s gala, with a special performance by Gary Houston, Whitney’s brother and longtime duet partner and background singer, along with more surprises. The event will be hosted by Kevin Frazier of Entertainment Tonight and Pat Houston, president of the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation. The Honorary Chair is Clive Davis, the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Chief Creative Officer of Sony Music Entertainment.

Also performing are Gregory Sams and Denisia, the recent winners of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation’s Cover Song Competition. The charity grant will be presented to Mirriam Solani Mazibuko, the director of the Orlando Children’s Home in South Africa, which is one of the organizations that Whitney extended a generous financial donation to through her foundation thirty years ago. Last month, Pat Houston and team members of the Foundation traveled to South Africa to a few of the places that Whitney visited in November 1994, including the Orlando Children’s Home, to spend time with the young residents there, where they prepared a presentation and performed a song.

Also, during that time, thirty years ago, Whitney initially planted a tree at the Nelson Mandela home, which is now named the Nelson Mandela Museum. “Our trip to South Africa a few weeks ago was very fulfilling and emotional,” says Pat Houston. “A few of us haven’t been back to South Africa since 1994. Whitney would be proud to know that the Orlando Children’s Home is still there and serving an important and vital purpose in the community. She would also be pleased about some of the substantial growth in the country in many areas. And she would be delighted to know that the tree she planted at the Nelson Mandela Museum is beautiful, still flourishing, and in a safe place, surrounded by love.”

The annual fundraiser, which is held on August 9th to commemorate and celebrate Whitney’s birthday, includes scholarships that will be presented to students studying the arts at historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); both a silent and online auction on Charity Buzz featuring a variety of one-of-a-kind curated items and packages, including original and limited-edition artwork by both South African and American artists; five-star luxury vacation excursions opening night tickets to the U.S. Open, and much more. 

In 2020, The Estate of Whitney E. Houston formed The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation to continue the mission and important work of the late global superstar’s lifelong commitment to today’s youth through program initiatives and services that reflect the values and needs of our young people. The Foundation also serves as a source of empowerment to help rebuild, repair, and restore the self-esteem of our youth and assist them in living productive lives.

Whitney Houston’s global charitable work was initially established in 1989 as the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children. The organization provided much-needed resources to homeless children, built inner city parks and playgrounds, and provided college scholarships. Known for its world-renowned charitable initiatives and partnerships, the Foundation partnered with the Children’s Defense Fund, Childhood Diabetes, The Rain Forest Foundation, Hale House, Special Olympics, United Negro College Fund, St. Jude Children’s Research, and Whitney’s historic South Africa concerts, of which a portion of the proceeds benefited local South African children’s charities.

In 1997, Houston’s elementary school was renamed The Whitney E. Houston Academy for Performing & Creative Arts. Originally opened in 1873, the Franklin School is now the oldest building in the East Orange, New Jersey, school district. Jersey,



2019 Grammy Performances

The 2019 Grammy Awards surprised many hip-hop fans when Cardi B became the first woman to win the Best Rap Album award. The unexpectedness continued with the award for Best Rap Song was a tie and went to anderson.paak and to Kendrick Lamar, Future and Jay Rock. Drake appeared to upset the event’s producers after he gave his acceptance speech for Best Rap Song and explained how Grammy awards are not the ultimate validator of one’s career and then his microphone cut off and a commercial was aired. It was reported before the ceremony that Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Childish Gambino had declined to perform at the show because of their ongoing lack of recognition for hip-hop artists. The Grammys have historically only presented hip-hop awards outside of the television broadcast but have still wanted the artists to bring ratings to the show as performers. Several online commentators complained about Jennifer Lopez’s Latin-inspired Motown tribute which was defended by Smokey Robinson who explained that Motown’s music was for everyone. Fans were happy with Yolanda Adams, Fantasia and Andra Day’s Aretha Franklin dedication with a performance of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” but they believed Franklin, who passed last year, was deserving of more than one song.

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Janelle Monáe received nominations for Album Of The Year for Dirty Computer and Best Music Video for “PYNK.” Her performance of “Make Me Feel” was one of the night’s highlights.

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Diana Ross celebrated her 75th birthday at The Grammys and performed “Best Years Of My Life” and “Reach Out And Touch (Somebody’s Hand).” Ross received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. Her actual birthday is March 26th and on that day 700 theaters will play Diana Ross Live In Central Park, a film of her 1983 two-night concert in Central Park. 

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H.E.R performed “Hard Place” and took home the award for best R&B Album and reminded everyone that she actually released an EP. 

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Cardi B’s performance of “Money” and her acceptance speech was considered one of the most entertaining segments of the evening. 

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BET’s Black Girls Rock! 2018: Jasmine Sullivan, Ledisi, Cynthia Ervio, Stephanie Mills, Yolanda Adams & Fantasia Give Tribute To Aretha Franklin

[youtube id=”fL_mb8jtirM”] [youtube id=”s4Ho8BBSkFk”]Queen Latifah hosted BET’s annual Black Girls Rock! awards this year in her hometown of Newark, New Jersey. Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Judith Jamison, Lena Waithe, Tarana Burke, M.A.D.Girls and Dr. Mareena Robinson Snowden were all recipients of the night’s honors. The musical highlight of the evening was a tribute to Aretha Franklin with performances from Jasmine Sullivan, Ledisi, Cynthia Ervio, Stephanie Mills, Yolanda Adams and Fantasia. 



Gospel Great Yolanda Adams and “Greenleaf” Star Keith David to Perform at 96th Birthday Celebration for Civil Rights Icon Dr. Joseph Lowery

Atlanta, GA – Five-time gospel Grammy winner, Yolanda Adams and Emmy Award winning actor, Keith David, the star of OWN’s megachurch drama “Greenleaf,” will be the featured entertainment on Wednesday, October 4, 2017, when celebrities, dignitaries and activists from around world descend upon Atlanta to pay tribute to the “dean” of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Joseph Lowery, for his 96th birthday celebration. “Think Like A Man” producer, Will Packer; pastor and activist, Reverend Dr. William Barber; and attorney, Angela Rye; will be among the honorees for the evening hosted by the Joseph and Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice & Human Rights (Lowery Institute). A musical extravaganza, the gala begins at 7:00 p.m., with a reception at 6:00 p.m. at The Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University.

“We’re excited to have the torchbearer for gospel and inspirational music, Yolanda Adams, perform,” expressed Cheryl Lowery, president of the Lowery Institute. “And accomplished actor, Keith David, who plays Bishop James on Oprah Winfrey’s”Greenleaf” series, will be lending his amazing vocals in song as well! Back in the day civil rights activists didn’t have much more than good intentions and good Godly music to keep them motivated and resilient. These two powerful voices will uplift us with the kind of Godly music that will empower future generations.”

The musical tribute, produced by Kenneth Green, will highlight milestones in Dr. Lowery’s lifelong commitment to the nonviolent fight for voting rights, economic equality and social justice. Nearly 100 of the Lowery Institute’s Change Agents will take part in the program to let Dr. Lowery know that his legacy is secure with them.  Change Agents are college students trained at the Lowery Institute then assigned to elementary, middle and high schools to teach the principles of non-violence coupled with conflict management and social and self-awareness.

Lowery says, in their respective areas, the honorees epitomize the theme of the event, Grounded in History: Soaring Towards the Future. “They understand the nexus between our past and our future. Will Packer is not only telling our stories, he is committed to employing and uplifting people of color. Rev. Barber is continuing the fight for justice with a focus on morality, and Angela Rye represents a new generation of fierce, educated activists.”

Receiving the Civil and Human Rights Award, Rev. Barber is Pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Goldsboro, North Carolina and architect of the Forward Together Moral Movement that gained national acclaim with its MoralMonday protests. The actions drew thousands of moral witnesses to the state legislature and resulted in more than 1,050 peaceful protesters being arrested, handcuffed and jailed.

Angela Rye will receive the Social Justice Award. The CNN political commentator and NPR analyst is the CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a nonprofit organization that seeks to encourage young professionals in economic empowerment, civic engagement, and political involvement.  Rye served as executive director and general counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus and was senior advisor to the House Committee on Homeland Security under the leadership of Congressman Bennie G. Thompson.

Determined to prove that black films sell, the Servant Leadership honoree, Will Packer, is one of the only African American film producers that has had eight films open number one at the box office. The Emmy-nominated producer’s most recent film, “Girls Trip”, is the first entirely black-led movie to make more than $130M. Packer also served as executive producer of “Roots,” a remake of one of the most celebrated TV programs of all time.

 

Presented by Delta Airlines and The Coca-Cola Company, the bi-annual birthday celebration raises funds to support the work of the Lowery Institute, a non-profit organization established to ensure the continuity of the advocacy of Dr. Lowery and his late wife Dr. Evelyn Gibson Lowery, with regard to their lifelong commitment to non-violent advocacy, and the moral, ethical, and theological imperative of justice and human rights for all people. Media sponsors of the event include Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine and Jazz 91.9 WCLK.

For sponsorship opportunities or to purchase tickets to #HonorTheDean on  #RevLowery96 birthday celebration call 404-524-8406 or online:www.rialtocenter.org or www.loweryinstitute.org.