Glitz, glamour, amazing performances at Chicago Music Awards

With glitz, glamour, camera flashes and action on the 70-foot-long red carpet, the milestone 40th Anniversary Chicago Music Awards (CMA) rocked the Windy City, once known as the Mecca for the music industry.

Produced by Martin’s International, the event was held on April 2 at the Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center and honours all the genres of music that can be enjoyed in Chicago, along with other music from around the world.

Hosted by Art Norman, Bioncé Foxx and Big EZ, the ceremony was kicked off with a captivating performance from Jesse White and the Jesse White Tumblers.

Among the entertainers giving riveting performances were Season 20 contestant of ‘The Voice’ Pia Renee; Brad Jackson and Shades of Country; Doc Payne & The Payne Relief Smooth Blues Band, featuring Billy Branch; Solid Shane with Baby J & The Golden Street Reggae Band; Sounds of SLAVE; Boi Floyd, featuring HerStory; Smokey Da Bandit; Blaq Ice; Trisha Clifton, featuring Ken the Messenger; Chai Tulani; Emi Tanabe; Maurice Mahon; Fred Cantu and Aksel.

Special tribute was paid to four of the great blues entertainers: Jimmy Johnson, Syl Johnson, Sam Lay, and Pervis Spann, whom the world lost this year.

Some 170 music entertainment industry individuals and groups were nominated in 36 categories. The most prestigious honour, the Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Humanitarian/Community Award, was presented to Melody Spann Cooper, president of WVON radio, and Cesar Rolon, Latin activist/philanthropist and imagine marketing consultant.

Lifetime Honours were given to the late blues great Jimmy Johnson (who died shortly after his selection for this award was announced), the Chosen Few DJs, and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White for his 63 years of outstanding contribution to entertainment in Chicago and the world.

The Marcus Garvey History and Education Lifetime Award was bestowed on journalist and historian Salim Muwakkil.

In addressing his 40th CMA anniversary, founder Ephraim Martin said, “It seems as if it was just yesterday! But who could imagine that since our 1982 inception of the Chicago Music Awards, along with our International Reggae and World Music Awards, that we would be here tonight celebrating 40 unbroken years of honouring entertainers in Chicago and throughout the globe.”

He added, “At the time of our inception, our city and our country, along with South Africa, were troubled by systemic racism and apartheid. Martin’s International stood firm on its objectives to use music as an art form and as a vehicle of expression for the voiceless peoples of the world, under the banner of ‘Bringing Nations Together Through Music and Culture’.”