The Living Legends Foundation marked its 32nd anniversary on Friday, October 3, by hosting its annual awards gala in Atlanta for the first time, honoring a slate of figures whose work has shaped the sound and business of Black music for decades.

The evening’s centerpiece recognition, the Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award, went to Grammy-winning production and songwriting duo Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, whose decades-long partnership has defined the sound of contemporary R&B and pop. Accepting the award at Flourish by Legendary, Jam reflected on the early role Harris played in their careers. “Ray Harris was so instrumental early in our careers with literally the first record we did at SOLAR Records, which was ‘Wild Girls’ by Klymaxx,” he told the crowd. “So to get an award with his name on it is absolutely amazing.”

Lewis called the honor a full-circle moment. “We’re just two guys who like to make music,” he said. “You all are the ones who made them hits.”

Their words carried the humility that has defined their decades in the industry. From Janet Jackson’s Control and Rhythm Nation 1814 to collaborations with Mary J. Blige, George Michael, and Mariah Carey, Jam and Lewis have built one of the most accomplished catalogs in modern music, a legacy the foundation described as “a blueprint for creative integrity and excellence.”

The event also celebrated a cross-section of music executives, broadcasters, and advocates who have advanced the business of Black music. James L. Winston, president and CEO of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB), received the Chairman’s Award, presented by Living Legends Foundation chairman David C. Linton. Zelma Redding, widow of the late soul icon Otis Redding and president of the Otis Redding Foundation, was honored with the Legacy Award, introduced by Sony Music Publishing chairman and CEO Jon Platt. Quality Control Music executives Kevin “Coach K” Lee and Pierre “P” Thomas, the duo behind artists like Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, and City Girls, were recognized with the Impact Award.

In a reflection of the industry’s growing emphasis on representation and gender equity, the gala also paid tribute to six pioneering women executives. Among them were Samantha Selolwane, head of promotion at RCA Records, who received the Music Executive Award; Cynthia Horner, publisher of Right On! Digital and recipient of the Media Icon Award; Kashon Powell, iHeartMedia Chicago’s vice president of programming, who was honored with the Jerry Boulding Radio Executive Award; and nationally syndicated radio host DeDe McGuire, recognized with the Frankie Crocker Radio Personality Award. Carole Carper, a veteran broadcast and music executive, was given the Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award, while Louise West, CEO of West Entertainment Services, received the Kendall Minter Entertainment Advocate Award.

During her acceptance speech, Horner reflected on her journey from editor to owner of Right On!, a publication that documented the rise of Black pop culture in the 1970s and 1980s. “ magazine is a cultural phenomenon,” she said. “It’s my honor to have been the editor and now one of the owners of the same publication. It’s now Black-owned; it wasn’t before.”

Powell described her award as a call to continue building on past achievements. “This reward is not just a recognition of past achievements,” she said. “It’s a reminder of the endless possibilities the future holds.”

Selolwane, who oversees promotion across hip-hop, R&B, and mixshow formats for RCA, characterized her role as being in service to artists. “I’m just a conduit of the art to the masses,” she said. “Every day, we get to spend time with some of the most creative people on this planet and be a part of their success stories.”

When presenting the Entertainment Advocate Award to West, Grammy-winning singer Anthony Hamilton reflected on their long working relationship. “I’m standing here after 30 years , having complete ownership of my publishing and my music,” he said. “I owe that all to you.”

The gala drew an array of notable guests, including Dyana Williams, co-founder of Black Music Month; Ed Lover; Q Parker of 112; Da Brat and Jesseca Dupart; Willie “Prophet” Stiggers of the Black Music Action Coalition; Michael Mauldin, founder of the Black American Music Association; and Ted Reid of Morgan Stanley.

Throughout the evening, attendees spoke of the foundation’s enduring mission: to honor those who have shaped the past and to inspire those defining the future of Black music.