Living Legends Foundation Celebrated 35 Years of Black Music, Leadership and Legacy

Atlanta gala honored the executives, broadcasters, promoters and cultural leaders who helped move the industry forward.

By Dr. Jerome Dorn

The anniversary carried a message that reached beyond individual achievement: music history was also built in boardrooms, broadcast studios, concert venues and the many spaces where dedicated professionals worked behind the scenes.

The Living Legends Foundation marked its 35th anniversary on Friday, October 2, 2026, with its Awards Dinner & Gala at Flourish by Legendary in Atlanta. The milestone celebration honored leaders whose work helped shape Black music, radio, media and entertainment, recognizing the people who created opportunities, connected artists with audiences and helped sustain the culture. 

Chaka Khan served as Honorary Ambassador, while Q Parker, a founding member of R&B group 112, served as Honorary Gala Chair. Khan’s connection to the Foundation added historical significance to the occasion; she had been recognized by the organization in 1992. Their honorary roles linked generations of artists with the professionals whose leadership helped support lasting careers. 

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The Black Promoters Collective’s recognition included Shelby Joyner, Gary Guidry, Troy Brown, William “Bill” Ingram, Sulaiman Mausi, Shahida Mausi, Lionel Bea, Janice Cotton and Walt Reeder Jr. The group’s honor underscored the importance of promoters and business leaders in bringing Black music to live audiences. 

For InDaHouseMedia’s Philadelphia-focused coverage, Walt Reeder Jr. was a point of pride. Photographed at the gala with Dr. Jerome Dorn, Reeder connected the evening’s national recognition with the hometown relationships and professional journeys behind it.

The evening also brought a father-and-son connection to the celebration of legacy. Actor Tim Reid, known for portraying Venus Flytrap on WKRP in Cincinnati, introduced his son, Tim Reid Jr., recipient of the Music Executive Award.

The introduction connected a father’s career in entertainment with his son’s achievements in the music business, giving the anniversary’s theme of generational legacy a personal dimension.

InDaHouseMedia captured a moment with the elder Reid, documenting his presence at a celebration that recognized his son’s professional accomplishments.

A Celebration Rooted in Service

Founded in 1991, the Living Legends Foundation built its mission around service, scholarship and legacy preservation. Its work included assistance for industry professionals facing financial need, support for students pursuing careers behind the scenes, and recognition of Black executives whose contributions deserved a lasting place in entertainment history. 

That purpose gave the anniversary its meaning. The honoree class reflected the range of work required to sustain an industry: programming records, developing careers, promoting concerts, protecting business interests and preserving the stories that connected one generation to the next.

At its 35th anniversary celebration, the Foundation honored that shared work and the people who carried it forward. For InDaHouseMedia, documenting those faces and connections preserved another chapter in the story of Black music and cultural leadership.

The 2026 Award Recipients and Honorees

The anniversary honoree class represented leadership across television, live entertainment, radio, recorded music, advocacy and entrepreneurship.