Rhythm and Blues Foundation

Rhythm & Blues Foundation
Founded 1988
Location
Key people
 Damon Williams (Board Chairman)
Terry Stewart (Board Vice Chairman)
Jeff Harleston (Treasurer)
Kenneth Gamble (Secretary)
Mission The Rhythm & Blues Foundation is dedicated to the historical and cultural preservation of Rhythm & Blues music and recognition of participants in its community by providing services and programs to Rhythm & Blues artists and their fans.
Website www.rhythmblues.org

The Rhythm and Blues Foundation is an independent American nonprofit organization dedicated to the historical and cultural preservation of rhythm and blues music.

The idea for the foundation came in 1987 during discussions about royalties with entertainer Ruth Brown, entertainment attorney Howell Begle, and Ahmet Ertegün, the head of Atlantic Records. Ertegün provided a $1.5 million donation, and the foundation was officially established in 1988. The foundation provides financial support, medical assistance and educational outreach through various grants and programs to support R&B and Motown artists from the 1940s through the 1970s.

The Rhythm and Blues Foundation also produces the Pioneer Awards. It administers the Doc Pomus Financial Assistance Program, The Motown/Universal Music Group Fund, and the Gwendolyn B. Gordy Fuqua Fund.

Pioneer Award honorees

2008

2006

2003

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1990/91

1989

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/18/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.