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On
August 25, 2004, nearly a thousand guests and honorees filled Aaron
Davis Hall’s Marian Anderson Theater in Harlem, U.S.A., for the Fourth
Annual National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame (NBS&EHF)
star-studded induction ceremony gala, capping off the last round of
NBS&EHF inductions of living and posthumous treasures of the sports
and entertainment world.
Rising R&B stars Footsteps kicked-off the evening’s festivities
with a rousing performance of the American and Negro National Anthems,
successfully setting the tone for what the audience in the packed
theater would experience throughout the night.
“As New York City is one of the greatest
sports and entertainment Meccas in the world, the National Black
Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame and Museum is honored to give
tribute to individuals that exemplify the spirit of excellence and
brotherhood,” said Lloyd Williams, President and CEO of the Greater
Harlem Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the NBS&EHF.
The evening’s living inductees were: soul
singer Teddy Pendergrass; NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson;
photojournalist, composer and film director Gordon Parks; and
soccer legend Pelé. Actor, director, producer, comedian and
writer Robert Townsend, NY Liberty’s Tari Phillips,
The Cosby Show’s Clarice Taylor, NBA superstar Earl “The
Pearl” Monroe, Olympian Diane Dixon, legendary R&B duo
Ashford & Simpson and other VIPs were on hand to honor those that
have helped pave the way for many others in the sports and
entertainment industry.
Posthumous inductees were: musical genius
Ray Charles; baseball player Harold Henry “Pee Wee” Reese;
jazz drummer and bandleader Gene Krupa; jazz great Carmen
McRae; NBA all-star Gus Johnson; Olympic gold medalist and
NFL wide receiver Bob Hayes; Baseball Hall of Famer Roy
Campanella; and percussionist and bandleader Mongo Santamaria.
Recognition was also given to several
athletes and entertainers that were inducted into the Hall of Fame
earlier in 2004, including: tennis pro and winner of multiple
Wimbledon championships, Billie Jean King; vocalist and
songwriter Oscar Brown, Jr.; famous Big Band leader Cabell
“Cab” Calloway; Olympic gold medalist in track, Diane L. Dixon;
R&B super-group Boyz II Men; and director, writer, actor and
producer Melvin Van Peebles. It was also announced that
rushing great and NFL Hall of Famer Walter “Sweetness” Payton
and pro-golfing great Lee Elder will be honored in 2005.
One of the evening’s highlights was the
special presentation honoring inductee Ray Charles, whose charisma and
gift of music serve as shining examples of what makes America
“beautiful.” In celebration of his contributions, Cheryl Farrell
of Jeopardy!’s Clue Crew performed a soulful rendition of
“America the Beautiful.” Freddie Jackson and André Ward,
who received the Harlem Jazz & Music Festival Male Vocalist of the
Year and Harlem Jazz & Music Festival Male Instrumentalist of the Year
Awards respectively; both joined in the tribute. Actress Kerry
Washington (She Hate Me, Boston Legal) who starred as Ray Charles’ wife
in the acclaimed film Ray, also participated in the special
presentation.
New York Post general manager
Geoff Booth was on hand to present five $1,000 scholarships to
deserving high school and college students. The Paul Robeson Lifetime
Achievement Award was presented to the Honorable Charles B. Rangel
and to Lerone Bennett Jr., Executive Director of EBONY
Magazine. Receiving special international awards for fine arts
and the performing arts respectively were Romare Bearden
(posthumous) and Lois Mailou Jones (posthumous), and Arthur
Mitchell. Richard Parsons, Chairman and CEO of Time
Warner, was awarded with the Outstanding Public Service Award. The
Team Award was presented to National College Basketball Champions
Texas Western/Texas El Paso and institutional awards honoring the
40th Anniversaries of Jazzmobile and Roger
Furman’s New Heritage Theater were also presented.
Williams
added, “Through such world famous venues as The Apollo Theatre and
Rucker Park, the village of Harlem has earned its place in history as
a breeding ground for some of the greatest sports and entertainment
figures in the world. We take great pride and pleasure in being able
to give recognition to such an esteemed group of individuals, right
here in Harlem. We’re grateful to our Chamber members for making this
historic evening possible.”
Co-hosted by WNBC-TV’s Janice
Huff and the WBLS-FM Summer Morning Show personalities
Rick Party and Sonia Colon, the induction ceremony featured
entertainment by jazz hot shot André Ward; R&B crooner Freddie
Jackson; The Apollo Theatre’s famous house-band, Ray Chew and the
Crew; and courtesy of the Metropolitan Transit Authority Arts for
Transit’s Music Under New York (MUNY) program, jazz band New York
Express. WNJU-TV/Telemundo sports anchor Veronica
Contreras was involved in the award presentations for inductees
Pelé, Harold Henry “Pee Wee” Reese and Mongo Santamaria. Access
Hollywood correspondent Shaun Robinson was on hand to
conduct celebrity interviews and report on key moments throughout the
evening. Highlights from the evening were broadcast in the New York
City and Atlantic City viewing areas on September 4, 2004 at 7:00 p.m.
on WNBC-TV and WMGM-TV, respectively.
The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce,
in conjunction with HARLEM WEEK and the Harlem Jazz & Music
Festival, initially unveiled the National Black Sports &
Entertainment Hall of Fame (NBS&EHF) during a private luncheon in June
2001 at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The
concept behind the NBS&EHF is to create a permanent memorial honoring
the legacies of extraordinary persons of African descent as well as
other persons who have championed the causes of excellence, diversity
and fair play.
The NBS&EHF
Induction Gala is a part of the legendary HARLEM WEEK
celebrations. In 2004, HARLEM WEEK commemorated its 30th
year with more than a month of celebration.
CONTACTS FOR NBE&SHF SPORTS INDUCTEES:
Barfield Public Relations: Pauline Barfield (212) 736-0404
CONTACTS FOR NBE&SHF ENTERTAINMENT INDUCTEES:
Rubenstein Associates, Inc. -- Public Relations
Pat Amerman (212) 843-8049
Robin Verges (212) 843-8075
Jeffrey Easlick (212) 843-9376
NBS&EHF/GREATER HARLEM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/HARLEM WEEK CONTACTS:
Sheria McFadden, Keith L. Forrest, (212) 862-7200\
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