Singer Kelly Rowland and industry executive/former Motown chief, Syliva Rhone was honored for their music contribution at Essence’s Third annual Black Women in Music celebration last night. The private invite-only ceremony took place at the Belasco Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
The venue was decked out in “red floral carpeting, red-tufted bar and intimate seating at banquettes in front of and surrounding the stage. The appetizers included chicken skewers, stuffed mushrooms, red velvet lollipops along with cranberry juice and sour apple cocktail.”
Celebrity sugar plums that were spotted at the venue were: Destiny Child former member turned solo artist Letoya Luckett, rapper Eve, Universal Republic’s Monte Lipman and SRC’s Steve Rifkin, Epic Records/”X-Factor” judge L.A. Reid, and X-factor winner Melanie Amaro, Michelle Williams (Destiny’s Child), Ne-Yo, Cash Money principal Slim Williams, producer/Epic exec Tricky Stewart,BET’s Stephen Hill, recently appointed Motown VP of A&R Rex Rideout, choreographer Fatima Robinson, actress Holly Robinson Peete and more.
Check out the full gallery below:
Eve and Kelly performed together.
B.E.T’s Let’s Stay Together Star, Joyful Drake, and singer/songwriter Neyo
Syliva Rhone and L.A. Reid.
Billboard.com that Rhone was truly inspired by artists whom she groomed and learned from during her time at Motown and promised to now lead in her artist footsteps as she departs from Motown during her acceptance speech .
“Rhone did not address what her future plans are post-Motown, referencing her time away as a “transition” and chance to “redefine myself and purpose.” She talked about close friend Don Cornelius (“words can’t describe how much I will miss him”) and then thanked her longtime mentor Doug Morris (“one person who couldn’t be here”), Reid (“thank you for being a great friend”) and family. “I accept this award not only for the past but the future. These artists [she has worked with] have shown me the way. I’m now inspired to step into the stream of creativity.”
Kelly shares a photo with her managers.
Producer Rico Love (on right), then surprised Kelly with a platinum plaque for her hit song Motivation. Kelly then performed a few of her hits and said: “To all women out there, God bless you,” Rowland said at the end of her set. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
Watch the surprise here :
Go ahead Kelly! Selling a million copies of a single is usually far fetched for these days but I guess with the help of some die hard fans we can really save the music.
Here’s one my favorite Kelly Video Lay it On Me: