Suzanne de Passe, Denice Williams, Keith Washington to be Honored at the 29th Annual HAL Awards
Awards to highlight "Heroes In The Spotlight" and award Scholarships to tomorrow's artists.
Los Angeles, CA, September 14, 2018 --(PR.com)-- The Heroes and Legends Scholarship Foundation is extremely proud to announce the celebration of its 29th Anniversary by presenting the glamorous Heroes and Legends Awards. The black tie celebration will be held on Sunday, September 23rd, 2018 at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. This year’s honorees include Denise Williams (R&B and Gospel Artist), Keith Washington (R&B Artist), Undisputed Truth (R&B Group), Art Steward (Record Producer), McKinley Jackson, the original Switch (R&B Group) and Suzanne de Passe (Television, Music and Film Producer). The fabulous JoMarie Peyton will be the Mistress of Ceremonies Extraordinaire, along with presenters Claudette Robinson, Miller London, Jon Platt, Mary Wilson, Lenny Williams, Freda Payne, Martha Reeves, Thelma Houston and others, to be announced.
Suzanne de Passé is truly a brilliant and talented individual. Beginning as an assistant to Berry Gordy, she learned every aspect of the entertainment business and brought Motown hit-making artists including The Jackson 5. De Passé went on to become the president of Motown Productions, was nominated for an Academy Award and won multiple Emmys. In 1972 de Passé co-wrote a screenplay for Motown’s Billie Holiday biopic, Lady Sings the Blues, starring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams. The script earned her an Academy Award nomination. Rising through the ranks, de Passé first became the vice president of Motown’s West Coast division, and then vice president of Motown Industries as a whole. In 1992, she launched De Passé Entertainment. Among her productions were sitcoms, Sister Sister and Smart Guy as well as the successful Showtime at the Apollo series.
Four-time Grammy Award winning singer, Denise Williams released her first album, This Is Niecy in 1976, and it quickly rose to Nos. 3 and 33 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Billboard 200 charts. Certified Platinum in the United States and silver in the UK, the single entitled "Free" rose to # 1, 2 & 25 on the UK Singles, Billboard Hot R&B Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively. Other hits soon followed, "Let’s Hear It for The Boy," "It’s Gonna Take A Miracle," and her infamous duet with Johnny Mathis, "Too Much Too Little Too Late," also topped the Black Singles and Adult Contemporary charts. In the mark in the 80s, Williams transitioned to Gospel and released her first gospel studio album, "So Glad I Know," which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and was nominated for Best Gospel Performance, Female Grammy. "They Say," a duet with Sandi Patti, Williams won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus, and for "I Surrender All," she won the Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female.
R&B vocalist Keith Washington’s debut single, “Kissing You,” was released in 1991 award-winning hit and hit #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart and #40 on the Billboard Top 100. The song was used as Background music for an episode on the ABC television soap opera General Hospital. "Kissing You" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance Male and won a 1992 Soul Train Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Male.
The Heroes and Legends Scholarship Foundation was founded by celebrated songwriter and Motown Alumna Janie Bradford. Bradford was seeking a way to way to aid creative, underserved young people in the performing arts achieve their dreams and ensuring that young talent will always be nurtured and trained for the future. The Heroes and Legends Scholarship Foundation has awarded over ninety scholarships in its twenty-ninth-year history. In addition to presenting scholarships, each year the foundation honors positive role models from many diverse backgrounds who share this vision, including leaders in the fields of music, film, television, theatre and business.
When: Sunday, September 23rd
3:00 pm - Media Check-in
4:00pm - Red Carpet Arrivals
5:30pm - Doors Open
7:00pm - Award show begins
Where: The Beverly Hills Hotel, Crystal Ballroom
9641 Sunset Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.276.2251
For media credentials and interview opportunities please contact debra@halawards.com
or eric@halawards.com.
Suzanne de Passé is truly a brilliant and talented individual. Beginning as an assistant to Berry Gordy, she learned every aspect of the entertainment business and brought Motown hit-making artists including The Jackson 5. De Passé went on to become the president of Motown Productions, was nominated for an Academy Award and won multiple Emmys. In 1972 de Passé co-wrote a screenplay for Motown’s Billie Holiday biopic, Lady Sings the Blues, starring Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams. The script earned her an Academy Award nomination. Rising through the ranks, de Passé first became the vice president of Motown’s West Coast division, and then vice president of Motown Industries as a whole. In 1992, she launched De Passé Entertainment. Among her productions were sitcoms, Sister Sister and Smart Guy as well as the successful Showtime at the Apollo series.
Four-time Grammy Award winning singer, Denise Williams released her first album, This Is Niecy in 1976, and it quickly rose to Nos. 3 and 33 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Billboard 200 charts. Certified Platinum in the United States and silver in the UK, the single entitled "Free" rose to # 1, 2 & 25 on the UK Singles, Billboard Hot R&B Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively. Other hits soon followed, "Let’s Hear It for The Boy," "It’s Gonna Take A Miracle," and her infamous duet with Johnny Mathis, "Too Much Too Little Too Late," also topped the Black Singles and Adult Contemporary charts. In the mark in the 80s, Williams transitioned to Gospel and released her first gospel studio album, "So Glad I Know," which reached No. 8 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart and was nominated for Best Gospel Performance, Female Grammy. "They Say," a duet with Sandi Patti, Williams won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus, and for "I Surrender All," she won the Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female.
R&B vocalist Keith Washington’s debut single, “Kissing You,” was released in 1991 award-winning hit and hit #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop chart and #40 on the Billboard Top 100. The song was used as Background music for an episode on the ABC television soap opera General Hospital. "Kissing You" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance Male and won a 1992 Soul Train Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Male.
The Heroes and Legends Scholarship Foundation was founded by celebrated songwriter and Motown Alumna Janie Bradford. Bradford was seeking a way to way to aid creative, underserved young people in the performing arts achieve their dreams and ensuring that young talent will always be nurtured and trained for the future. The Heroes and Legends Scholarship Foundation has awarded over ninety scholarships in its twenty-ninth-year history. In addition to presenting scholarships, each year the foundation honors positive role models from many diverse backgrounds who share this vision, including leaders in the fields of music, film, television, theatre and business.
When: Sunday, September 23rd
3:00 pm - Media Check-in
4:00pm - Red Carpet Arrivals
5:30pm - Doors Open
7:00pm - Award show begins
Where: The Beverly Hills Hotel, Crystal Ballroom
9641 Sunset Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.276.2251
For media credentials and interview opportunities please contact debra@halawards.com
or eric@halawards.com.
Contact
Heroes and Legends Awards
Debra Burley
310.274.1609
halawards.com
Debra Burley
310.274.1609
halawards.com
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