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I Hear Music 10th Anniversary Celebration wraps up with Legends Ball

CINCINNATI. June 6, 2011. I Hear Music in the Air, Cincinnati’s premier gospel celebration, wrapped up on May 15, with the Legends Ball, honoring six amazing individuals and groups. The celebration honored Betty Daniels Rosemond, one of the original Freedom Riders; The Rance Allen Group, legendary Gospel group; Dwight Tillery, President and CEO, The Center for Closing the Health Gap; Dolores Lindsey, CEO, The HealthCare Connection; Jim Johnson, President and General Manager, WDAO Radio, and Pastor K.Z. Smith, Pastor of Corinthian Baptist Church. Keynote speaker was Rev. Charles Booth.

Tracey Artis, CEO of I Hear Music, and her husband Bobby were recognized at the event by the state of Ohio and by the City of Sharonville for their contributions to the community and the region.

Betty Daniels was a college student, and worked for a restaurant owner who employed many people in her family. The New Orleans native who now lives in Colerain Township was one of six CORE members riding through Mississippi checking compliance with the ICC desegregation order in November 1961.

When Pat Smith and Frank Nelson were arrested and almost lynched in Poplarville, Miss., she got off the bus to telephone to New Orleans to alert the chapter. The bus pulled away without her, and men were running in the streets looking for her as she hid in the telephone booth. She was discovered by a Black gas station worker, whom she begged to rescue her. He borrowed the gas station truck, hid her on the floor and took her around looking for someone to shelter her, but no one would risk it. He was going to leave her on the dark highway, to hitchhike to New Orleans, but did not have the heart. He brought her all the way to New Orleans in the borrowed gas station truck, in the dead of night, driving with the lights off, to avoid detection. She now is manager of the Groesbeck St. Vincent DePaul store near her home.

The Rance Allen Group is a vocal and instrumental soul ensemble from Monroe, Michigan, consisting of three brothers – Rance, Tom and Steve Allen. The Rance Allen Group has performed in almost every major city in the U.S. and presently has more than 20 albums in their resume. They also have three Grammy nominations, four Stellar Award nominations and a Soul Train Music Award nomination. In November 1998, the Rance Allen Group was inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Their award was accepted by Bryant Scott of Tyscot Records.

Dwight Tillery became the first African-American popularly elected Mayor of the City of Cincinnati in 1991 and served as mayor until 1993. After serving as mayor, Mr. Tillery served on the Cincinnati City Council until 1998, and sponsored many pieces of legislation that benefited the poor and minorities. When term limits forced his retirement, he founded and serves as president and CEO of The Center for Closing the Health Gap in Greater Cincinnati. The Center’s mission is to lead the efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities in Greater Cincinnati through advocacy, education and community outreach. Mr. Tillery is the recipient of many awards including The Leadership Excellence Award from the office of the Governor of Ohio, The Award of Excellence from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio Civil Rights Dream Award, Outstanding Commitment to Public Service Award from The Citizens’ Committee On Youth, The Health Hero Award from the Ohio Commission On Minority Health and more.

Dolores Lindsey, as founder, president and CEO of The HealthCare Connection, has guided the evolution of the organization to a multi-specialty group practice serving more than 14,000 patients in three locations and 18 different political jurisdictions. She has successfully established collaborative relationships with local hospital networks. Ms. Lindsey’s efforts have contributed to our community in many ways, including working collaboratively with the Hamilton County Head Start Program to establish a school-based health center for Head Start enrollees; leading the formation of the Cincinnati Health Network as a vehicle to begin the process of integrating services among local health centers serving the low income and uninsured population, and more. Honors she has received include the Cincinnati Enquirer Woman of the Year, Ohio Woman Making a Difference, Applause Magazine – Image Makers Award – Honoree, the YWCA Career Woman of Achievement and more.

Jim Johnson is the owner and leader of WDAO Radio in Dayton. WDAO Radio features music, news, information and special features specifically geared to the lifestyles of Dayton's metro community. Operating since 1964, WDAO's programming and music mixture are legendary.  Mr. Johnson’s purchase of WDAO in 1988 resulted in Dayton having its first minority owned and operated station. Over the years, Mr. Johnson has been an invaluable resource for community churches, where he donates time and talent to advising and counseling local churches on sponsoring large events, promotions and marketing. Mr. Johnson and WDAO are also known for two large annual events, the “Love Feast” for homeless and low-income individuals held on Christmas Day and the “Health Fair” targeted primarily to the African-American population to increase awareness of health care issues and offer free screenings.

Pastor KZ Smith serves as the Senior Pastor of the Corinthian Baptist Church. Under his leadership, the church has grown in membership from 250 to more than 1,900 members. Under his vision, he has established several ministries, including a Children’s Church, the CBC Youth and Adult Praise Dancers, Connections Ministry, the Deacons’ Shepherding Program and many more. He has been appointed by the mayor of Cincinnati as Commissioner of the Cincinnati Recreation Commission. He is co-owner and a member of the board of directors of the Avondale Town Mall, and holds many other important community posts.

Honorary chairpersons were Donna Jones Baker, President, Urban League of Greater Cincinnati; and Senator Eric and Mrs. Jan Michelle Kearney, CEO, Sesh Communications/Cincinnati Herald. The event was hosted by Faith Daniels, on-air talent at Radio One and Courtis Fuller, on-air talent at WLWT Cincinnati.

About I Hear Music in the Air
I Hear Music in the Air’s mission is to bring together persons from ministries and organizations who desire to build their lives and thus have a stronger walk. Celebrating its 10th year in Cincinnati, it was hosted by I Hear Music, Inc., CEO and founder Tracey Artis, a lifelong Greater Cincinnati resident. This event’s innovative approach to teaching and enhancing praise and worship brings thousands of representatives of all ages together from a host of churches and ministries, record labels and civic organizations throughout the nation and abroad. Dates for the 2011 weekend were May 13-15. Visit www.ihearmusicintheair.com for more information.
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