BEMA `2006 Unsung Heros Award Series
BEMA honored some of the living legends, pioneers, and veterans of the Entertainment & Music industries. The event was an extraordinary moment of history taking place in Philadelphia, the new home for Rhythm & Blues music.
BEMA UNSUNG HEROES AWARD BANQUET 2006
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THE BLACK ENTERTAINMENT & MUSIC ASSOCIATION (BEMA) held its “First Unsung Heroes Awards Series” dinner, on Thursday evening, November 9th, 2006 from 6:00 PM in Philadelphia, Pa. at The View, 800 North Broad Street. BEMA honored and saluted some of the living legends, pioneers, and veterans of the Entertainment & Music industries. The evening was an extraordinary moment in history taking place in Philadelphia, the new home for Rhythm & Blues music.
The “Unsung Heroes Awards Series”, is dedicated to honoring and documenting those visionaries and pioneering field agents and executives of Record Promotions, Marketing, Merchandising, and Distribution by sharing their legacy of achievements with the world. The featured honorees were: Buddy Dee, Jack Wellmon, Harry Coombs, Weldon McDougal, III, Al Edmondson, Bruce Webb, Harold Burnside (deceased), Henry “Lightnin” Neal, Varnell Johnson, and Ronald “Gabby” Patterson.
Special awards went to Dr. Jacqueline Swift, organizer of the Black Music Ambassadors of the Sound of Philadelphia, and Mr. Bunny Sigler, songwriter, producer and singer extraordinaire. Special guest awardee, Mr. Billy Dee Williams received the BEMA Standard of Excellence Award from actor Clifton Davis, along with a citation from the City of Philadelphia, presented by City Councilwoman Marian Tasco. Kenny Gamble also presented an award to Michael McArthur and Jerome Hipps (Mama's Boys) with the Gamble and Huff Producer's Award.
BEMA also honored Chubby Checker, recording artist. Performances included Bunny Sigler, T. Conway and the Revelations, Shirley Slaughter and more.
Some of the presenters and attendees included: Kenny Gamble of Gamble and Huff Productions, Joe Tarsia, Billy Paul (Me and Mrs Jones), Joe "Butterball" Tamburro from WDAS-FM, Kal Rudman of Monday Morning Quarterback, Bishop Evans from Bethany Baptist Church, Lindenwold, New Jersey, and almost two hundred other special guests.
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