LaBelle, Gamble & Huff To Be Honored With Prestigious Marian Anderson Award
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) -- Honorees of the prestigious Marian Anderson Award have been revealed.
Each year an artist is recognized for their talent in addition to their contribution to humanity.
This year multiple recipients were chosen.
At a press conference on Tuesday Mayor Jim Kenney and the award's Board of Directors announced that this year's recipients were Philadelphia's own Patti Labelle as well as prolific producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.
Marian Anderson Award association president Patrick Moran says they are all deserving of the honor.
The Award is named after the great Philadelphian and American singer Marian Anderson. She was the first black singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera.
Gamble and Huff are credited with creating the lush acoustics of 1960s and '70s soul music that came to be known as the Sound of Philadelphia. They worked with artists including LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass and Lou Rawls.
Since it began in 1988, the Award program has provided more than $400,000 in free public programs, residencies, commissions, and grants to young artists.
Previous winners include jazz great Wynton Marsalis and rocker Jon Bon Jovi.
This is the first time the award has partnered with the Kimmel Center.
A gala celebrating the three recipients will be held on November 15th.
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