Chaka Khan and Q Parker Lead Living Legends Foundations 35th Anniversary Gala

The Living Legends Foundation is set to host its 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner & Gala on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Flourish Atlanta. The night will celebrate the leaders who have shaped Black music and entertainment, with 10‑time Grammy® winner Chaka Khan stepping in as the Foundation’s Honorary Ambassador and Q Parker of R&B group 112 serving as the Honorary Gala Chair.

Founded in 1991, the Foundation has spent three and a half decades honoring Black music’s trailblazers while providing scholarships, mentorship, and assistance to those in need. The gala will bring together executives, artists, radio personalities, media figures and cultural leaders for an evening of recognition and networking.

Chaka Khan’s relationship with the Foundation began in 1992, when she was one of its early honorees. In 2026 she returns as Honorary Ambassador, a role that underscores her career longevity and cultural impact. The singer will also release her thirteenth studio album, Chakzilla, on September 18. The project, her first full‑length release in seven years, features collaborations with Sia, Snoop Dogg and Lenny Kravitz.

Q Parker, whose career spans nearly three decades, will chair the gala and champion the Foundation’s mission. He recently released the single “Stare” from his forthcoming album Evolution of Romance, Volume Two, scheduled for a fall release. Parker said, “Serving as Honorary Chair for the Living Legends Foundation’s 35th anniversary is truly an honor. The organization understands that our industry is bigger than the names we see on the marquee.”

The gala will present a slate of honorees, including: • Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award – Louis Carr, President of BET • A.D. Washington Chairman’s Award – Black Promoters Collective (Shelby Joyner, Gary Guidry, Troy Brown, William “Bill” Ingram, Sulaiman Mausi, Shahida Mausi, Lionel Bea, Janice Cotton, Walt Reeder Jr.) • Jerry Boulding Radio Executive Award – Kenny Smoov, VP of Urban Programming, Cumulus • Frankie Crocker Radio Personality Award – Greg Street, V‑103 Atlanta • Impact Player Award – Juliette Jones, COO, Alamo Records • Music Executive Award – Tim Reid, SVP, Repertoire & Marketing, BMG Recorded Music • Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award – Phylicia Fant, Global Director Black Music + Culture, Amazon Music • Kendall Minter Entertainment Advocate Award – James McMillan, Esq., CEO, ART@WAR Entertainment • Hip‑Hop Visionary Award – Ted Lucas, Founder & CEO, Slip‑N‑Slide Records • Entrepreneur Award – Ralph McDaniels, Executive Producer, Video Music Box

The event will also feature the presentation of the Jerry Boulding Radio Executive Award to Kenny Smoov, the Frankie Crocker Radio Personality Award to Greg Street, and the Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award to Phylicia Fant.

According to the Foundation’s press release, “Having Chaka Khan serve as our Honorary Ambassador during this milestone year is incredibly meaningful.” Chairman David C. Linton added, “Chaka’s history with the Foundation reaches back to our earliest years, and her extraordinary career represents the excellence, longevity and cultural impact we have worked to celebrate for 35 years.”

The gala will also showcase the Foundation’s ongoing work to protect and assist music industry professionals with a confirmable need, and to fund the next generation through scholarships and mentorship. Tickets for the dinner and gala are available through the Foundation’s website, and the event will be streamed on the Foundation’s social‑media channels.

The 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner & Gala marks the culmination of 35 years of honoring Black music’s leaders and innovators. With Chaka Khan and Q Parker at the helm, the Foundation continues to recognize those who build the industry behind the scenes while investing in its future.

For more information, visit livinglegendsfoundation.com or follow the Foundation on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.