Living Legends Foundation's Jerry Boulding Award to Honor Donnie Simpson at 2024 NAB Awards Dinner and Gala

 

Living Legends Foundation to Honor Donnie Simpson, L. Londell McMillan & More at 2024 Awards Dinner and Gala

The Living Legends Foundation has set Oct. 4 as the date for its 2024 awards dinner and gala. The event, also celebrating the foundation's 33^rd anniversary, will take place at Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood.

This year's slate of industry honorees includes:

Donnie Simpson, Jerry Boulding Radio Award: The legendary radio and television personality signed off the airwaves earlier this year after a 55-year career that began at Detroit's WJLB-FM and included tenures at Washington, D.C., outlets WKYS-FM, WPGC-FM and WMMJ-FM. Also known for his long-running stint as host of BET's Video Soul, Simpson is a Radio Hall of Fame and National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee. 

L. Londell McMillan, Kendall A. Minter Entertainment Advocate Award (renamed after the noted industry attorney who died last year): The chairman/CEO of The McMillan Firm and veteran entertainment attorney is currently co-managing the Prince Legacy (one of two holding companies overseeing the star's estate). McMillan's list of clients over the years has included Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Under the firm's NorthStar Group division, McMillan also serves as executive publisher of Source magazine.

Joi Brown, the inaugural Impact Player Award: Brown is the founder/CEO of Culture Creators, whose same-titled foundation has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships over the past two years in keeping with its mission of being a vital link between global cultural leaders and the next generation of diverse creators. Through its annual Innovators and Leaders Awards brunch, Culture Creators has honored industry executives and creatives such as Byron Allen, Swizz Beatz, H.E.R. and Epic Records chairwoman Sylvia Rhone. 

Chris Chambers, Media Executive Award: Founder/CEO of The Chamber Group, Chambers has represented star clients in music, entertainment, fashion and sports such as Usher, Mariah Carey, OutKast, Drake, Naomi Campbell and Kelly Rowland. His firm has also worked with corporate and lifestyle clients ranging from Versace and HBO to Netflix and the Essence Music Festival. Prior to launching The Chamber Group, Chambers served as a publicity executive for labels such as Mercury, Interscope, Arista and LaFace Records.

Mike Kelly, Music Executive Award: A radio broadcaster and record label executive of more than 40 years, Kelly served as PD of legendary St. Louis station KATZ-FM. He then segued into record promotion at various labels, including Arista, Motown, Elektra, Warner Music Group and Atlantic. His resumé lists working projects by artists such as Whitney Houston, Missy Elliott, Bruno Mars and Jack Harlow. Kelly currently works as a radio consultant via his company, Real One 24/7 Promotion and Marketing.

Gwen Franklin, Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award: Before her latest venture as founder/CEO of empowerment organization B. Lifted Up! Inc., Franklin helmed senior executive posts in radio promotion, marketing, sales and artist development through stints with Casablanca, A&M, Capitol, Mercury and RCA Records. The list of artists she's worked with includes Quincy Jones, Donna Summer, Janet Jackson, MC Hammer and SWV.  

In a release announcing the upcoming awards dinner and gala, Living Legends Foundation chairperson David Linton commented in part, "As we reflect on the brilliance and excellence of today's global music and entertainment leaders, we're pleased that the organization remains the longest-standing Black music organization to date, founded in 1991 by Black music executives. And as we approach another milestone year, we'd like to further cement the organization as the key stakeholder in Black music by reclaiming our mission of ‘protecting and preserving the legacy of those who create, market and elevate Black music,' which includes R&B, hip-hop, jazz, blues, country, reggae and world music."