Siedah Garrett receives award during “Salute to Black Music Awards Dinner”  (Photo Credit: Foxx Media)

 Siedah Garrett GRAMMY-winning and twice Academy Award nominated singer/songwriter, was happy to receive her award from Earl “Skip” Cooper, BBA’s President and CEO at The Black Business Association’s “Salute to Black Music Awards Dinner” recently.  

The event was held in recognition of African American Music Appreciation Month, this years’ theme is “The Business Behind the Music.” Also, honored for their achievements in Black Music included: Valerie Ervin; president of the Ray Charles Foundation, John Acosta President of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47 and The Honorable Dr.; Mike Davis, President Pro Tem of the City of Los Angeles Board of Public Works Commissioners. 

Ellis Hall, “The Ambassador of Soul” performed at the standing-room only event, along with the young vocal sensation, Zipporah Robinson. Hall is known for singing, songwriting and as a musician playing every instrument with a strong five octave vocal range and was the lead vocalist and keyboardist for the soul-funk band Tower of Power. He performs with elite symphony orchestras worldwide including: His first being the Hollywood Bowl under the direction of his mentor Ray Charles. 

African American Music Appreciation Month is a commemoration that takes place annually in the United States, throughout the month of June. Originally proclaimed “Black Music Month” by President Jimmy Carter on June 7, 1979, U.S. presidents have issued proclamations for the celebration under that name until President Barack Obama announced the observance under a new title, African American Music Appreciation Month.