HAL Awards

The "Tribute to Heroes And Legends (HAL Awards)" is an annual awards ceremony, established to honor entertainers, sports figures and business executives who have not only achieved success in their areas of expertise, but have utilized their celebrity status to benefit the community, via charitable activities and community service.[1] The awards ceremony began in 1990, and the first event was held on September 23, 1990 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, CA.[2] Initial honorees included actors, Marla Gibbs, Jo Marie Payton and Zsa Zsa Gabor; recording artists Nancy Wilson and M.C. Trouble and executives from Chrysler, CBS, GM and the Laker Organization.

Honoree Tyne Daly and presenter Anne Marie Johnson at 2001 HAL Awards

History

The HAL Awards were created by celebrated songwriter, and Motown Alumna, Janie Bradford.[3] The event raises money for the HAL Scholarship Fund,[4] which provides funding for performing arts students.[5] One of the organization’s most celebrated scholarship recipient is electronic musician and rapper, Flying Lotus, who has released four albums on Warp Records.[6] Each year, scholarship funds are presented to talented students who have maintained at least a 2.0 grade average and who show promise in the area of performing arts. The scholarship provides the financial assistance these students need to continue their education. The students are honored at the star-studded Hollywood event.[4]

The nine awards that HAL bestows each year include Outstanding Achievement in Music, Theatre and TV/Film, The Icon Award, Legacy Award, Pioneer Award, Cornerstone Award, Pacesetter Award and The Unsung Hero Award.[7] Recipients have included: The Temptations,[8] Smokey Robinson, Isley Brothers, The Whispers, The Originals (band), Thelma Houston, Chaka Khan,[9] The Supremes, The Four Tops, Wesley Snipes, Tyne Daly, Reginald Veljohnson, Craig T. Nelson, Della Reese, Roger Mosley, Regina King, Tyrese Gibson, Ernie Hudson, George Clinton.[10] Notable presenters include Vivica A. Fox, Tom Selleck, David Cassidy, Quincy Jones, Gladys Knight, James Avery, Billy Vera, Ray Parker, Jr., Mel Carter and Berry Gordy. In 2014, New Edition, Eddie Floyd and the Mary Jane Girls were added to the list.[11] The organization also honors songwriters, like Harold Lilly, who wrote Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name"[12] and the legendary team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, who wrote numerous Motown hits.[13] Producers, such as Clarence Avant,[14] and Gamble & Huff[15] are also honored as well as influential entertainment industry executives, such as BMI's Thomas Cain,[16] Universal's Jim Urie, Jon Platt[17] and new Motown president, Ethiopia Habtemarian.[18] The 2015 event featured tributes to El DeBarge, Bobby Brown, The Dramatics, featuring LJ Reynolds, Dennis Edwards, jazz stylist Barbara Morrison, Brenda Holloway, 90's chartoppers, Tony, Toni, Tone and Universal executive, Andy Skurow.[19]

Actress Jo Marie Payton has hosted the event since 1991.[20]

Associated Events

Each year a series of additional events are scheduled leading up to the Awards Dinner and Show. Those events include a Welcome Reception for the honorees and presenters; a Celebrity Breakfast giving fans an opportunity to meet the honorees and purchase autographed items; and the Legends of Soul Concert,[21] featuring R&B artists from the 60’s and 70’s, such as Brenda Holloway,[22] Gene Chandler, Brenton Wood and Al B. Sure.

References
  1. Cash, Lea (19 October 2006). "Heroes and Legends Awards Highlights Performing Arts". Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  2. "About HAL". halawards.com. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  3. "Jamie Bradford". The History Makers.
  4. "Christopher Xavier Earl-Rockefeller Wins Heroes and Legends Award". San Francisco Bay View. 28 October 2014.
  5. "Association For Strategic Planning". eventling.com. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  6. Brown, Marisa. "Flying Lotus - Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on September 15, 2014. Retrieved September 14, 2014. "Experimental electronic music producer Flying Lotus..."
  7. "Twenty-Five Years of Heroes And Legends" (PDF). halawards.com. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  8. "Temptations & Woman to be Honoured at HAL awards". The Express. 7 September 2011.
  9. "Chaka Khan Feted at HAL Awards". Eurweb. 24 September 2013.
  10. "George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic official website". Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  11. "Heroes and Legends awards to honor new edition Mary Jane Girls and more". Music Talkers. 22 September 2014.
  12. Mitchell, Gail (17 June 2008). "Songwriter Harold Lilly Jr. to be Honored as Hero". Billboard.
  13. Phillip Ingram (27 September 2010). "Phillip, What's Your Latest Project?". philliplatestmusicproject.blogspot.com. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  14. "R&B Briefs: Aretha Franklin, Long Beach Jazz Fest". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  15. "Jet". google.com. Johnson Publishing Company. 5 November 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  16. "HAL Awards: Los Angeles". BMI.com. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  17. "Culture shock News: 2010 HAL Awards to Honor EMI's Jon Platt and Songwriting Legends Holland-Dozier-Holland". Free Press Release. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  18. "MOTOWN LEGENDS BERRY GORDY AND CLARENCE AVANT SALUTE MOTOWN PRESIDENT/UMPG EXEC ETHIOPIA HABTEMARIAM AT HAL AWARDS". universalmusic.com. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  19. "26th Annual Heroes and Legends Scholarship awards". Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  20. Brewington, Ron (November 1992). "Controversial Malcolm X Opens". Crisis Magazine. p. 18.
  21. "HAL Awards Select Beth Griffith as a Celebrity Performer at Legends of Soul Concert". universalxperience. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  22. "Brenda Holloway in West Hollywood, CA - Sep 21, 2013 7:00 PM - Eventful". Eventful. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
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