Black Gold Awards

Black Gold Awards
Awarded forAchievement in Black music and entertainment
CountryUnited States
First award1984
Final award1987
Television/radio coverage
Produced byDick Clark Productions


The Black Gold Awards were an American music awards program honoring achievements in Black music and entertainment.

Produced by Dick Clark Productions, the awards were presented as a televised ceremony featuring performances and award presentations by recording artists.[1]

Background

Following a format similar to other American Music Award ceremonies, The Black Gold Awards were created as a music awards program recognizing Black recording artists, producers, and performers whose music received widespread airplay on Black-oriented radio stations and in nightclubs across the United States.[2]

Music journalist Nelson George described the program as a "salute to Black music".[3]

Production and broadcast

The Black Gold Awards were produced by Dick Clark Productions. The inaugural ceremony aired on March 15, 1984, and was hosted by Deniece Williams, Gladys Knight, and Lou Rawls.

The first broadcast was co-produced by Rawls and Dick Clark, distributed through first-run syndication and aired on independent television stations across the United States. The inaugural broadcast was carried by 83 television stations nationwide.[4]

Ceremonies

YearCeremonyLocationHostsSelected honorees
19841st Black Gold AwardsUnited States television broadcastDeniece Williams, Gladys Knight, Lou RawlsMichael Jackson, Joe Williams
19852nd Black Gold AwardsLos AngelesLou Rawls, Melba Moore, Reggie JacksonPatti LaBelle, Little Richard
19863rd Black Gold AwardsOrpheum Theatre, MemphisLou Rawls, Melba MooreNancy Wilson
19874th Black Gold AwardsOrpheum Theatre, MemphisLou Rawls, Melba MooreJanet Jackson

First ceremony (1984)

The inaugural Black Gold Awards were broadcast on March 15, 1984, as a two-hour television special.[5]

Patti LaBelle opened the ceremony with a performance of her song "If Only You Knew".

Michael Jackson was the most honored artist of the evening, receiving several awards connected with the success of his album Thriller.[6]

Jazz singer Joe Williams received the Legend of the Year award.

Awards

Second ceremony (1985)

The second annual Black Gold Awards ceremony was hosted by Lou Rawls, Melba Moore, and Reggie Jackson.[7]

Singer Philip Bailey appeared as a presenter during the program.[8][9]

Little Richard received the Black Legend Award, while Patti LaBelle received the award for Top Female Vocalist.[10][11]

Notable performers

Third ceremony (1986)

The third annual Black Gold Awards ceremony was taped on March 17, 1986, at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee. The program was hosted by Lou Rawls and Melba Moore.[12]

According to Dick Clark Productions vice president Gene Weed, the awards ceremony was moved from Los Angeles to Memphis because the city had a strong heritage in Black music.[13]

The broadcast was taped before an audience of approximately 2,400 people. Performers appearing during the ceremony included Freddie Jackson, Meli'sa Morgan, New Edition, Run-D.M.C., and The Four Tops.

The telecast included tributes to Nancy Wilson and the late Otis Redding, with Redding's music performed by The Reddings.[14]

Stevie Wonder was honored at the ceremony with the W. C. Handy Humanitarian Award.[15]

Fourth ceremony (1987)

The fourth annual Black Gold Awards ceremony was held in February 1987 at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis.

Gregory Abbott and Anita Baker received top honors for new performers, while The Jets won the award for top new group. Janet Jackson was recognized with the top award for television/video.

The Black Gold Legend Awards were presented to The Mills Brothers, The Spinners, and gospel singer Andraé Crouch. Dorothy Irene Height, former president of the National Council of Negro Women, was honored with the W. C. Handy Award for Humanitarian Service.[16][17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Black Gold Awards archival reference". Smithsonian Institution.
  2. ↑ "Black Contemporary" (PDF). Cash Box. 1984 [March 10, 1984]. p. 37.
  3. ↑ "Second Annual Black Gold Awards". Billboard.
  4. ↑ Cox, Timothy (March 24, 1984). "Black Gold Debut A Success". New Pittsburgh Courier.
  5. ↑ "Michael Jackson To Appear on Annual Black Gold Award". The Charlotte Post. 1984-04-19. p. 19. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  6. ↑ "Jackson wins again". news.google.com. Daily News. 1 March 1984. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  7. ↑ "TV & movies - Black Gold Awards, New York Hot Tracks, Daily Sentinel-Tribune, Bowling Green, Ohio". The Daily Sentinel-Tribune. 1985-04-26. p. 16. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  8. ↑ "American singer Philip Bailey performs at the 1985 Black Gold Awards..." Getty Images (in Spanish). 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  9. ↑ "Black Gold Awards, New York Hot Tracks (Philip Bailey "Walking On The Chinese Wall),1985". The Saginaw News. 1985-04-27. p. 29. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  10. ↑ "Triple Threat". New Pittsburgh Courier.
  11. ↑ "Prime Time Preview, Black Gold Awards, New York Hot Tracks - Atlanta Constitution". The Atlanta Constitution. 1985-04-27. p. 150. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  12. ↑ "AWARDS: Lou Rawls, Melba Moore and Rebbie Jackson host "The Black Gold Awards" - Los Angeles". The Los Angeles Times. 1986-03-29. p. 63. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  13. ↑ Clayton, Rose (March 1986). "Awards Show Taped". The Commercial Appeal.
  14. ↑ "Black Gold Awards III, Memphis, Tennessee". New Pittsburgh Courier. 1986-04-12. p. 18. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  15. ↑ "Black Gold awards will shine in two-hour show tonight". The Commercial Appeal. 1986-03-17. p. 25. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  16. ↑ "Singers Claim Gold Awards". news.google.com. Herald-Journal. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
  17. ↑ "Black Gold show to include 3 Legend Awards by Michael Donahue". The Commercial Appeal. 1987-02-18. p. 32. Retrieved 2026-04-14.
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