| Soul-Patrol Covers the National Black Sports & Entertainment Hall of Fame
Don King and Sue Simmons and WWRL-AM Receive Special Awards
(Harlem, August 29th, 2001)
The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Harlem Week and the Harlem Jazz & Music Festival 2001, presented the First Annual National
Black Sports & Entertainment, Hall of Fame Gala induction ceremony last
night, at Aaron Davis Hall, City College of New York.
There inductees were Muhammad Ali, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Earl "The
Pearl"
Monroe, Sugar Ray Robinson, Arthur Ashe, Wilma Rudolph, Hal Jackson, Joe
Cuba, Lionnel Hampton, Dionne Warwick, Tony Bennett, Tito Puente and Frank
Sinatra. There was also an honorary tribute and award presented to
renowned boxing promoter Don King, a special award to WNBC-TV news anchor Sue Simmons
and a 75th Anniversary Award to WWRL-AM.
Black network and radio, sports and entertainment pioneer Hal Jackson, will
be on hand to receive the first Paul Roberson Lifetime Achievement Award
("The Robee") for his achievements and unselfish contributions to the African
American community. Inductees Lionel Hampton and Latin music master Joe
Cuba were also given honors.
Among the stars joining the honorees were Grammy award winning diva Patti
LaBelle, boxing hero Evander Holyfield and Sugar Shane Mosely. a very
lively
94 year old Lionnel Hampton was unable to simple watch the Gala. After the
opening number he had them wheel him to the stage where he joined his band in several numbers with Lloyd "Mr. Personality" Price and the ever
gracious
Gloria Lynne on vocals.
"Harlem is the home to some of the greatest sports and entertainment
legends
in history. To pay tribute to them and to other greats in those fields,
this
year we are extremely pleased to be launching the National Black Sports and
Entertainment Hall of Fame as part of Harlem Week 2001," said Lloyd
Williams, President and CEO of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of
HARLEM WEEK.
Each spring, beginning with 2001, all of the inductees of the NBSEHF will
have plaques permanently placed in a Harlem walk-of-fame, which will be located on West 135 Street (between 5th and St. Nicholas Avenues), due to historic
and cultural significance of this popular street.
This Gala concluded a month long celebration of dazzling events for the
entire family celebrating the vibrance of the true Spirit of HARLEM!
All I can say is "you ain't done this town until you done Uptown ...
long
live HARLEM"
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