Gap Band To Receive Icon Honors at BMI Urban Awards

Posted in News on June 1, 2005

BMI has announced that the members of legendary soul/funk group the Gap Band will be honored as BMI Icons at the company's 5th annual Urban Awards. The gala ceremony and dinner will take place August 26 at Club Tropigala at the Fontainebleau Hilton Resorts & Towers in Miami, coinciding with the MTV Video Awards being held on August 28.

Fronted by Charlie Wilson and his brothers Ronnie and Robert, the Gap Band is one of the most influential groups in R&B history. Songs like “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” “Party Train,” “Burn Rubber,” “Oops Upside Your Head,” “Early in the Morning” and “Outstanding” rank as some of the most sampled tracks in today's urban music. The trio, who will be saluted with an all-star musical tribute that evening, are cited for their “enduring influence on generations of music makers.”

The Gap Band enters the elite company of previously praised BMI Icons, including Bill Anderson, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Bo Diddley, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Little Richard, Loretta Lynn, Van Morrison, Dolly Parton, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon and Brian Wilson.

The BMI Urban Awards recognize the songwriters and publishers of the most played urban songs on U.S. radio and television. An Urban Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year and Producer of the Year will be named during the ceremony. In addition, the writers of the songs that reached the #1 spots on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop and Hot Rap Tracks charts will also be honored.

SOURCENews TAGS R&B R&B / Hip-Hop BMI R&B / Hip-Hop Awards Bill Anderson Chuck Berry James Brown Bo Diddley The Gap Band Al Green Isaac Hayes Holland-Dozier-Holland Little Richard Loretta Lynn Van Morrison Dolly Parton Carlos Santana Paul Simon Brian Wilson Charlie Wilson