Rhythm and Blues Foundation

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

Rhythm & Blues Foundation
Founded1988
Key people
Damon Williams (Chairman)
Jeff Harleston (Executive Committee)
Bruce Resnikoff (Executive Committee) Iris Gordy (Executive Committee) Claudette Robinson (Executive Committee) Ted Reid (Executive Committee)
Websitewww.rhythmandbluesfoundation.org

The idea for the foundation came in 1987 during discussions about royalties with entertainer Ruth Brown, entertainment attorney Howell Begle, and Ahmet Ertegun, the head of Atlantic Records.[1] Ertegun provided a $1.5 million donation, and the foundation was officially established in 1988 in Washington, D.C., and in 2005 moved its offices to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 has also produced their Annual event the Pioneer Awards since the 1980s, then under the Direction of Suzan Jenkins, Executive Director. It also administered the Doc Pomus Financial Assistance Program, The Motown/Universal Music Group Fund, and the Gwendolyn B. Gordy Fuqua Fund providing emergency assistance to legendary aging artists.

Pioneer Award honorees

2008

2006

2003

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1990/91

1989

References
  1. Selke, Lori (October 23, 2017). "Forebears: Ruth Brown, The Fabulous Miss Rhythm". NPR.
  2. Miss Rhythm: The Autobiography of Ruth Brown, Page 328
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