Van McCoy honored with LEGACY AWARD at Black Press All Star Awards in Washington, DC 
 | EXCLUSIVE: View the 3rd Annual Black Press All Stars Wrap-up now |
|---|---|
| "Meet the Black Press" Breakfast at the Washington Post presentation |
 | You're listening to Van McCoy Run Time: 01:35 Replay or turn off audio here. |
(BlackPressMagazine.com) - The legacy of the late Van McCoy, the songwriter who wrote hits like disco hit "The Hustle" and ballad "Baby I'm Yours," was remembered with the LEGACY AWARD during the 3rd Annual Black Press All Star Awards in Washington, DC.
"Van McCoy's writing has been touching the lives of people for generations. Although it was before my time, I've recently undiscovered an appreciation for his music and his impact as a songwriter. Van McCoy left a legacy that must be remembered," said DC Livers, managing editor for the Washington, DC-based Historical Black Press Foundation.
McCoy was honored during a special "Meet the Black Press" ceremony hosted by the Washington Post on Friday, September 14, 2007. McCoy was saluted by some of the nation's most important African American musicians, media professionals, actors, poets and and students. Other winners included the late Gordon Parks, who received the highest honor, The Lifetime Achievement Award, were remembered as well. David Parks, the son of Gordon, spoke for his father at the event. Gordon Parks died on March 7, 2006 and he would have been 95 years old on November 30, 2007. Previous winners included the late John H. Johnson and Earl Graves, Sr.
"My dad would have liked DC [Livers]. He would have believed in her vision and tried to help her and that's exactly what I'm going to do because we need the Historical Black Press Foundation. It's important to all of us," David Parks said.
McCoy, a native Washingtonian and former student of Howard University, blazed a trail across the United States leaving over 700 songs from his two decade career. The genius of his music, from teenaged Doo-Whop with the Starlighters, to 70s hit "The Hustle" with the world traveled Soul City Symphony Orchestra, continues to be enjoyed all around the world long after his untimely death in 1979.
Van's ballads were recorded by top vocalists of his era, as his music always delighted and his lyrics told tales of hopes, dreams and sometimes disappointments of his love and his life.
In January 1994, singer Jean Carne, who has early recordings with the mega R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire, was performing at jazz club Blues Alley in Washington, DC when McCoy's sister, Mattie Taylor, requested that she perform the McCoy/Cobb hit, "Lean on Me." Taylor is executive director of Van McCoy Music, Inc. Carne moved the audience so much that she later would be asked to record an entire CD of McCoy's music, entitled, "Carne Sings McCoy" that includes tracks like, "This is it," "I'll be loving you," "The Hustle" and "Baby I'm Yours."
Although Taylor and a few other dignitaries could not attend the event due to the citywide funeral for the late Effi Barry, Carne attended the "Meet the Black Press" event at the Washington Post to represent Taylor. Carne spoke and sung briefly to emphasize the importance of song and McCoy's work. Guests enjoyed free Black-owned newspapers and magazines, met nominee sand heard speeches from Blacks working at the Washington Post, which treated the attendees to a complimentary copy of their new book and calendar, Being a Black Man. In addition, guests were treated to a musical feast of poetry, music and song.
The event, which was presented by the Historical Black Press Foundation, also remembered Chauncey Bailey, the fallen Black Press hero who lost his life earlier this year after writing a controversial article. He worked for the Oakland Post newspaper.
"We've known for years how dangerous it is to tell Black America's story. newspapers like the Birmingham Times were fire bombed, journalists have been tortured and worse. In 1827, even before slaves were freed, they somehow learned to read, write, publish and distribute a newspaper - the Freedom's Journal," said Livers. "It's clear that to some, nothing is more dangerous than giving Black people the truth. That's why Chauncey Bailey was killed and many more before him. We have to remember our fallen heroes because their story - like all stories - must be told," said Livers.
Other winners included Black Author of the Year: K'wan Foye, Black Photographer of the Year, Harlee Little, "Best Black Magazine" winner Black Enterprise and "Best Black Newspaper" winner Philadelphia Tribune. To see the full list of winners click the PDF icon. To hear interviews and award ceremonies with winners, visit http://www.blackpressradio.com and enter keyword: "Who's Who."
NEW! For the first time every, you can bring the magic home. To purchase your very own BlackPodcasts.com Limited Edition CDs visit http://www.blackpress.org/store.htm RIGHT NOW The Girls Empowerment Brunch, which was held as part of the Black Press All Stars Awards Weekend, was so well received that another has been scheduled as part of the Black Academic Olympics on March 14, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in Washington, DC as part of our Black Press Week celebration. To learn more about previous events see the Girls Empowerment Brunch pdf. To hear interviews with writers and editors for the new book, Being a Black Man including editor Keith Merida and writer Hamil Harris, visit http://www.blackpressradio.com and enter keyword: Who's Who.
To listen to a podcast, visit http://www.blackpressradio.com. Use keywords to search your desired topics in the archives.
ABOUT BLACKPODCASTS.com and BLACKPRESSRADIO.com
In less than six months of operation, BlackPressRadio.com's has become the official source for Black pod casts. Our extensive podcast library includes thought provoking series including:
- State of Hip Hop (keyword: State of or Carl West)
- State of Black Radio with NABOB's Jim Winston (keyword: NABOB or radio)
- NAMME: The Podcast Series featuring Neil Foote, Derrick Dingle, Kevin Merida and Al Fitzpatrick (keyword: who's who or NAMME)
- Radio One's Joe Madison and EUR Web's Lee Bailey (keyword: radio or NABOB)
- Black Publishers Podcast Series (keyword: publisher) and
- Black Authors Podcast Series (keyword: author or book)
- To hear podcast interviews with some of the nation's finest including Floyd Mayweather, video vixens Shay "Buckeey" Johnson and Larissa "Bootz" Hodge and others, visit http://www.blackpressradio.com and use keywords like "VH1," and "Hip Hop." To hear the State of Hip Hop: The Podcast" search keyword: "State of." To get email updates, send an email to [email protected].
In related news...
Over 300,000 listeners for BlackPressRadio.com
Africare, BET's Bob Johnson honor Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Black Wax Museum: It's a new day
Dick Gregory celebrates his 75th birthday podcast now available on YouTube. To find out more visit http://www.youtube.com/blackpress
Dr. Dorothy Height celebrates her 95th birthday podcast series on BlackPressRadio.com (Keyword: Height)
DC Livers will hold a Start Your Own Hip Hop Publication Workshop on Friday, December 8, 2007 in New York City.
Black Press Magazine has also interviewed Carl West for the State of Hip Hop: The Podcast and filmmaker Camille Holder Brown, a former Spike Lee intern who recently won the Paul Robeson Award and Janaya Black who was one of the original members of BET's Teen Summit Posse as part of its series on hip hop film and entertainment.
LISTEN to the podcasts from the Hip Hop Journalism Summit and Black Press All Star Awards
Black Press will conduct pre-, during and post-event podcast interviews, write articles from the 3rd Annual Black Press All Star Awards event were held on Sept. 14-15, 2007 and help promote the event as part of the media sponsorship commitment. The 4th annual Black Press All Star Awards is currently accepting application for individuals who want to be apart of the panels, sponsorship list or judging selection committee to help determine the winners among the submissions comprised of newspapers, magazines, websites, publicists, authors and others in the Black media industry. The event will be Sept. 19-20, 2008. To be considered, send your bio, weblink and photo to [email protected]
EXCLUSIVE: View the 3rd Annual All Stars Wrap-up now
Be the first to know: Stay tuned to Black Press Magazine for updates on in hip hop media. Become a member of the Historical Black Press Foundation or subscribe to our blog to be the first to know what's going on in Black media.
