BMI Icon Urban Awards
The JACKSON 5 reunited on stage in California this past Thursday (04Sep08) to accept a BMI icon award but noticeably absent were Michael and Jermaine. Brothers Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, Randy, Jackie and Michael – were honoured with the lifetime achievement award at the BMI Urban Awards.
Tito, Marlon, Randy and Jackie accepted the prize, which was presented to them by sister Janet Jackson. Marlon joked about Michael’s bizarre superstar lifestyle saying:
“I don’t know (where he is). I think he’s in Egypt riding a camel or something.”
A tribute performance by R&B singers Mario, Keri Hilson, JoJo and Lloyd, who gathered on stage to sing a cover of I’ll Be There.
The evening was held at the Wilshire Theater Beverly Hills had a grand finale with a performance of Never Can Say Goodbye sung by Mario, Bobby Valentino, Lloyd and Ray J.
Tito said: “It’s a great honour to know your music influenced a generation. We’re very proud of this moment.” It was a family affair when the Jackson 5 members – who did not perform all got up on stage to pose with parents Joseph and Katherine, and sisters Janet, LaToya and Rebbie after receiving the Icon prize.
Ne-Yo, won Song of the Year for Irreplaceable, a track performed by Beyonce Knowles and written by the Closer hitmaker also won, as well as Espen Lind and Amund Bjorklund.
Kanye West, T-Pain and Jonathan ‘J.R.’ Rotem were named Producers of the Year, while T-Pain scored the Songwriter of the Year title for writing hits including West’s Good Life and Flo Rida’s Low.
The BMI awards pay tribute to the music industry’s top songwriters, composers and producers.
Rodney Jerkins, will.i.am, Polow Da Don, and Soulja Boy were also noted on BMI’s list of 2008′s Top Urban Producers.