It’s All About Preservation and Promotion at The National R&B Music Society

With a goal of preservation and promotion, The National Rhythm & Blues Music Society is dedicated to honoring the legendary artists who have paved the Classic Soul and R&B music roads for today’s artists. This non-profit organization, which is based in the Philadelphia area, has recognized countless musicians who’ve left their indelible mark in the soulful world of rhythm and blues.

In their efforts to preserve the rich musical history of Classic Soul and Rhythm & Blues, The National R&B Music Society has plans to construct a multi-million dollar museum.  The venue will honor classic soul and R&B artists, musicians, producers, radio/TV personalities, directors, songwriters, promoters, record executives and all who have contributed to this rich musical history.

Vannessa Jordan, the society’s president and CEO, has launched a petition to garner support of the museum, and feels that, given the abundance of entertainment and history found in Atlantic City, New Jersey, it is the ideal spot to build the music library and treasury.  The Atlantic City Arts Commission has already given full endorsement and support of the National R&B Music Society Museum.  Her next step is to approach the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority with her objective, as well as a finished blueprint of the rhythm and blues museum.

Plans for the National R&B Music Society museum complex include several exhibit halls, as well as a library which houses photographs, video tapes, artifacts, newspaper clippings, microfilms and other memorabilia.  Additional plans include a state of art theater and supper club designed to feature live performances, a wax museum, a television studio, a community radio station, recording studio and a gift shop.  The complex would also include musical stage performances which epitomize the rich and storied history of Classic Soul and Rhythm & Blues.

The National R&B Music Society has also collaborated with an extensive network of partners in its goal to provide the infrastructure and organizational framework for empowering and engaging today’s talented musicians.  In preserving R&B’s storied legacy and legendary musicians, this network of partners can protect and promote the future of this music genre through mentoring, developmental and educational projects, and other worthwhile endeavors.

The National R&B Music Society is ringing in 2016 by hosting a red carpet, black tie-optional New Year’s Eve R&B Fest on Thursday, December 31, 2015 at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, PA.  Celebrate to the music of the Grooveyard Dawgs Orchestra, Ray Goodman & Brown, The Moments, William Hart’s Delfonics, Black Ivory, Soul Generation featuring Cliff Perkins, and The Intruders.  For tickets and information, please click here, or contact the theatre box office at (570) 420-2808.

In recent years, The National Rhythm and Blues Music Society has honored legendary R&B contributors at an annual Black Tie Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony.  The 2015 event was on September 13th, and honored R&B artists Little Anthony, Millie Jackson, Michael Henderson, Kathy Sledge, James D-Train Williams and Regina Belle, along with celebrity DJs Tom Moulton and Felix Hernandez.

Some of the past honorees at the National R&B Music Society Gala and Awards Ceremonies include:

RECORD EXECUTIVE EXCELLENCE AWARD
Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Kool & The Gang (50th Anniversary)
The Manhattans
Con Funk Shun (45th Anniversary)
Earl Young of The Trammps
Original Members of The Delfonics
The Legendary Ladies of Skyy
The Three Degrees
Tavares
Rochelle Fleming of First Choice
Rahiem “GQ” Leblanc
Original Members of Blue Magic, Ted Wizard Mills and Vernon Sawyer
Joe “The King of Latin Soul” Bataan
Double Exposure

PRODUCER/SONGWRITER AWARD
Full Force (30th Anniversary)
Norman Connors
Royal Bayyan
Bobby Eli
Vinnie Barrett
Leroy Burgess

UNSUNG HEROINE AWARD
Jean Carne, Vocalist/Recording Artist
Linda Lou McCall, Music Business Consultant/Songwriter
Meli’sa Morgan, Vocalist/Recording Artist

UNSUNG HERO AWARD
The Unifics
Pauli Carman of “Campaign” and Harold’s Melvin’s Blue Notes 

CONTINUING THE LEGACY AWARD
Force MDs

KEEPING THE MUSIC ALIVE AWARD
Lincoln Sessoms
Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford

R&B AMBASSADOR AWARD
Marshall Thompson of The Chi-Lites
Clarence Burke Jr. of The Stairsteps

POSTHUMOUS AWARD
Al Goodman of Ray Goodman & Brown
Ron Banks of The Dramatics
Lou Wilson of Mandrill
Major Harris
Harold Melvin
Bobby Smith of The Spinners
Sugarfoot of The Ohio Players

Each year, the National Rhythm and Blues Music Society also presents free summer concerts, membership BBQs designed to connect artists with celebrities, and other promotional events.  They also hold an annual Classic R&B Weekend Empowerment Conference.  This year’s conference is scheduled for November 20-22 at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, PA.

For complete details and a schedule of upcoming events, or to become a member, visit the National R&B Music Society website.

Follow the National R&B Music Society on Facebook.

[contact-form-7 id=”4″ title=”Contact form 1″]