R & B artist Maxwell, legendary songwriters and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo Gamble and Huff and Grammy award winner Hezekiah Walker are among the honorees at the 26th National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters Annual Communications Awards Dinner. The dinner will be held on Friday, March 19, 2010 at 7:00 pm at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Maxwell, Grammy award winning R & B artist, will be honored and receive the 2010 Entertainer of the Year Award. Gamble and Huff, creators of the Philadelphia Sound, will receive the Pioneer in Music Award. Walker, a world-famous gospel singer and founder and Bishop of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle - The Kingdom Church, will receive the Pioneer in Gospel Music Award. Civil rights activist and founder of the National Action Network, Rev. Al Sharpton will receive the Mickey Leland Public Service Award.

“2009 was a significant year for Blacks in the broadcast industry and throughout the entertainment arena-we experienced some major successes, but we lost some true heroes,” said Jim Winston, NABOB Executive Director. “NABOB is proud for this opportunity to celebrate our achievements as we come together to build a stronger future for people of color in our industry.”

This year’s dinner will also feature a live all-star tribute to the late Teddy Pendergrass, featuring Peabo Bryson, Joe, and the Ray Chew Band; and a video tribute to Inner City Broadcasting founder, the late Percy Sutton. Each spring NABOB honors some of the most recognizable and celebrated names in entertainment, media and public service. 2009 honorees included U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, singer Chaka Khan, and actress and comedienne Mo’nique.

NABOB is the first and largest trade organization representing the interests of African-American owners of radio and television stations across the country. The association was organized in 1976 by a small group of African-American broadcasters who desired to establish a voice and a viable presence in the industry and to address specific concerns facing African-American broadcasters. Since its inception, NABOB has grown into a major trade organization representing the interests of more than 245 Black-owned commercial radio stations and 13 commercial television outlets.

For ticket or sponsorship information, contact DeSane Associates at 201-342-0909.

source: http://www.charlottevibe.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=editorial.detail&id=1921

Auburn Hills, MI Saturday 05/22/10
Palace Of Auburn Hills
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418933

Indianapolis, IN Monday 05/24/10
Conseco Fieldhouse
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418934

Chicago, IL Tuesday 05/25/10
United Center
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418935

Milwaukee, WI Thursday 05/27/10
Bradley Center
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418936

St. Louis, MO Saturday 05/29/10
Scottrade Center
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418937

Kansas City, MO Sunday 05/30/10
Kemper Arena
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418938

Seattle, WA Wednesday 06/02/10
Key Arena
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418939

Oakland, CA Friday 06/04/10
Oracle Arena  (on sale 03/13/10)
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418940

Los Angeles, CA Saturday 06/05/10
Staples Center
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418941

Dallas, TX Tuesday 06/08/10
American Airlines Center
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418942

Houston, TX Wednesday 06/09/10
Toyota Center
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418943

Atlanta, GA Friday 06/12/10
Philips Arena (on sale 03/13/10)
http://www.livenation.com/venue/philips-arena-tickets

Miami, FL Monday 06/14/10
American Airlines Center
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418944

Tampa, FL Tuesday 06/15/10
St. Pete Times Forum
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418945

Washington, DC Friday 06/18/10
Verizon Center (on sale 03/12/10)
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418946

Philadelphia, PA Saturday 06/19/10
Wachovia Center (on sale 03/12/10) 
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418947

Uncasville, CT Monday 06/21/10
Mohegan Sun Arena
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418948

Norfolk, VA Tuesday 06/22/10
Norfolk Scope Arena
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418949

New York, NY Friday 06/25/10
Madison Square Garden (on sale 03/13/10)
http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/418950

*** Pre-sale dates begin on Wed. 03/10. click links for pre-sale dates    http://maxwellfanforum.com/forum/

*** Pre-sale codes will be posted on the forum as they become available

MUSZE.COM - ONE DOLLAR FROM EACH TICKET WILL GO TO BENEFIT HAITI THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS: CLINTON FOUNDATION, YELE HAITI, RED CROSS, UNICEF

JILLSCOTT.COM - ONE DOLLAR WILL GO TO THE BLUES BABE FOUNDATION, ASSISTING STUDENTS IN UNDESERVED COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Friday, February 26, 2010 was a big day for Maxwell and his fans. The day started with the announcement that Jill Scott will be joining Maxwell for a  20-city U.S. arena tour kicking off on May 21st in Cleveland with additional dates to be announced through June.

This tour is being produced nationally by Live Nation. Tickets go on sale in select cities at LiveNation.com http://www.livenation.com/artist/maxwell-tickets or http://www.livenation.com/artist/jill-scott-tickets
Details on dates, venues and on-sale information will be announced shortly for tour stops in 20 U.S. cities including: Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York.

To find out more updates on Maxwell, music and upcoming projects please visit http://www.musze.com, http://www.myspace.com/maxwell, or http://www.twitter.com/_maxwell_.

Also on Friday, Maxwell was in attendance at the 41st NAACP Image Awards. Anthony Anderson and Toni Braxton were the presenters for the ‘Outstanding Male Artist’ category.

Anthony’s reaction when he opened the envelope and said Maxwell’s name was priceless and did not hide the fact of who he was pulling for.

As Maxwell made his way to the stage to graciously accept his award, he received a standing ovation from the crowd and as he delivered his acceptance speech, the camera caught cutaway shots of several females in the audience who could not hide what many viewers at home were probably doing, as well.

Watch here: Maxwell’s NAACP Image Award acceptance speech

Photo credit: REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

After an eight-year hiatus, soul singer Maxwell is back with his fourth studio album, BLACKsummers’night, released last year to critical acclaim. The singer of chart-topping songs like “This Woman’s Work” and “Fortunate,” earned millions of screaming female fans with his double-platinum debut, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite. He shocked some by cutting his signature afro upon his return to the music scene, but even shorn of his trademark locks he’s been nominated for six Grammys, including Best R&B Album; he’ll be performing at the Jan. 31 awards broadcast. Click on the link below to submit your questions for Maxwell, then read the interview in an upcoming issue of TIME magazine.

source: http://10questions.time.com/2010/01/22/ask-maxwell/

Maxwell will be performing “Fistful of Tears” on The Oprah Winfrey Show 12/20/10

Can be seen at 4:00 PM EST on ABC channel 7 *Check Your Local Listings *

Head over to musze.com to see how Maxwell is doing his part to help in the Haiti Relief

The following is an open letter to you from Maxwell on Haiti. Again, do as your heart compels you to do for our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

My heartfelt prayers go out to all my people of Haiti in the wake of this devastating earthquake.

I was honored to attend an emergency meeting organized by President Bill Clinton on Thursday. It was pivotal to me, and even uplifting. I was in a room with all kinds of incredible people from all sorts of different backgrounds, all working on solutions – artists, financiers, disaster specialists and Haiti experts like Dr. Paul Farmer, the public health specialist who is a United Nations Deputy Special Envoy to Haiti.

Everyone in the room was focused on solutions to Haiti’s urgent and mounting problems. Many ideas were discussed that are at this moment being put into action. While the immediate focus is on humanitarian aid and saving lives, the ultimate goal is to rebuild Haiti so that all Haitians can make their country a better place to live for all. I have volunteered to assist President Clinton in any way that I can.

The most important thing I learned was that sending cash is the best way to help right now. The easiest way to do it is through text messaging, but other ways to help include donating to organizations such as the Clinton foundation, Unicef, Red Cross and Wyclef’s charity YeleHaiti. There are links to those charities here: http://www.musze.com/

http://blogs.centrictv.com/music/soulsessions/maxwell-on-haiti/

photo of Max taken by: MAXfam Taiwo_snaps

source: http://www.naacpimageawards.net/41/home/

Columbia Records confirms via their newsletter that Maxwell’s BLACKsummers’night has been certified PLATINUM!

Taylor Swift and Beyonce will perform at the Grammy Awards next month. The Recording Academy said Tuesday that other performers will include the Black Eyed Peas, Lady Antebellum and Maxwell. Beyonce has 10 Grammy nominations; Swift has eight.

The Grammys will be presented at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 31. The show will air on CBS. The Recording Academy says additional performers will be announced at a later date.

source:  http://www.billboard.com/news#/news/taylor-swift-beyonce-black-eyed-peas-to-1004054970.story

The trifecta is complete! Maxwell has already graced the stages of the CBS Morning Show and Good Morning America on ABC this year. Be sure to tune in on Friday, Dec. 11th, as Maxwell steps onto the set of NBC’s The Today Show to finish his national morning show rounds.

Click HERE to watch MAXWELL sing \’Pretty Wings\’ on The Today Show