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South Music: 33rd Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards

The 33rd Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards returns to Atlanta... Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell, Ray Charles and Willie Nelson are not the only ones with Georgia on their minds…especially when it comes to music!

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame hosted its 33rd annual induction ceremony at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Sat., Sept. 17, 2011. Among this year’s class of honorees include vocalist Toni Braxton (Performer), funk/rock band Mother’s Finest (Group), artist manager/publisher/music industry veteran Paul “Old Man” Cochran (Pioneer), film and stage director Kenny Leon (Non-Performer) and vocal extraordinaire Jan Smith (Chairman’s Award) with posthumous inductions for jazz/cabaret vocalist Judy Argo, Negro Spiritual composer/arranger Hall Johnson and blues harmonica legend Sonny Terry.

Considering Georgia’s musical economy can technically rival that of a small nation – to the tune of $3.7 billion with about 19,555 jobs in 2010 – some incredible talent came out to support. Hosted by local media personalities Justin Gray, Monica Pearson and Ryan Cameron, Mother’s Finest opened the show with their 1977 classic “Baby Love:” an incredible performance according to Pearson. “That was simply fantastic,” she says. “They were amazing!” Lead singer Joyce Kennedy says the induction allows her and her musical partners to feel famous. “We’ve been a part of the great Utopian feel in Atlanta than it has now. We brought black, white, red…together. We gotta keep rockin’ and keep goin’. This is what we do. It’s not about the last hit or the hit you hope to have. It’s about gettin’ up there every night and makin’ it feel like it’s the first time.”

When asked about being musical legends, Kennedy says Mother’s Finest are far from the title. “A legend is somebody that spans time and brings people along. We’re not legends; a legend is somebody that has an effect on the community, the world and the universe spiritually and physically. People tend to follow things that they do over time. That makes a legend: something that spans time, has no time or not affected by time.”

Actress/choreographer Jasmine Guy performed a medley of Broadway classics in celebration of Leon’s induction. Samuel L. Jackson, currently on Broadway under Leon’s direction for a production of The Mountaintop, presented the Tony Award-winning, Drama Desk Award-nominated director with his honor. A non-musical act, Leon – famous for his revivals of A Raisin in the Sun (for Broadway and network television); Gem in the Ocean and Fences, directing productions in Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago and the United Kingdom and co-founder of the Atlanta/Washington, D.C.-based True Colors Theatre Company – was honored to stand in the ranks of musical icons such as Gladys Knight and James Brown in the state he calls home. “It’s good to be here tonight,” he says. “I’m not a musician, but for them to say that you’re an artist worthy, to work all over the world and to come home where folks close to you say ‘Well done’ means a lot.”

Billy Joe Royal and the Johnny Martini Band performed an incredible medley of “Down in the Boondocks,” “Cherry Hill Park” and Dobie Gray’s 1973 hit “Drift Away.” Buddy Buie, a 1984 Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee, presented Cochran – his former business partner behind their management company (Blue Cochran), publishing company (Low-Sal) and a recording studio (Studio One) – with his honor. Working with a variety of recording artists such as the Atlanta Rhythm Section; Charlie Daniels Band; Marshall Tucker Band; Del Shannon; Frankie Valli; Ben E. King; James Brown; Brenda Lee; Beach Boys; Roy Orbison; Lynyrd Skynyrd; .38 Special; Alice Cooper, Gary “U.S.” Bonds; The Everly Brothers; Ray Stevens; B.J. Thomas; Bobby Vee; Neil Sedaka and Jerry Lee Lewis, Cochran had to grow comfortable with receiving his accolade. “I’m not used to microphones,” he says. “I spent my whole career backstage.”

Amidst the euphoria from an audience of screaming teenage girls, teen sensation Justin Bieber appeared: performing an acoustic medley including Usher’s hit “U Got It Bad” and his signature “Baby.” Alongside R&B artist Usher and artist Scooter Braun, Bieber presented Smith – who Usher calls “a true treasure to Atlanta, GA” -- with her induction. With an impressive client list that includes Rob Thomas and Matchbox 20; Monica; Young Jeezy; Keyshia Cole; Terrence Howard; Trey Songz; Keri Hilson; Sean “The Pen” Garrett; Omarion; TLC; Edwin McCain; Kandi Burruss; Jill Scott; Collective Soul; Sugarland; India.Arie; Ciara; Drake and The Band Perry among countless others, Smith – known by her clients as “Mama J” -- is a distinguished 20-year, go-to vocal coach and consultant. Behind the millions of records sold and the Grammy Award wins, Smith – an impressive vocalist and songwriter herself -- is noted for her honest interactions, vocal maintenance exercises, record label consulting and artist development counseling. Bieber himself calls Smith a “positive role model,” but Smith says music and voice is a spiritual experience.

“Tonight’s a really great honor for me. I’m very humbled by people recognizing what I do. I’m honored to be able to work with the artists that I’ve worked with and to have them shine that light back is quite special to me. I’m just a girl doing what I do, but I like the fact that we’re able to honor our own, and I’m happy to be one of those. Music is the only thing that can enter your heart and your mind without your permission. The voice is really what does that. To me, it’s everything. Singing is the closest thing I know to God.”

Gov. Nathan Deal presented Braxton with her award. With over 60 million records sold from seven albums; a string of massively successful hit singles; seven American Music Awards; six Grammy Awards; a critically-acclaimed acting career (Broadway, film and television); becoming the first African American female to headline a Vegas spectacle and a spokesperson for various causes (Autism Speaks and the American Heart Association), the Baltimore, MD native knows she’s an intricate part of Georgia’s dynamic music scene. The contralto-styled vocalist even sang “Georgia On My Mind” during her acceptance. “I still consider myself a Peach, and I’m blessed to be here.”

Photos: DJ Blak Magic
Words Christopher Daniel