Fisk’s Gold & Blue Jubilee Bash Honors Music Heritage

As fiskites (members of the Fisk University community) entered the National Museum of African American Music, the room was awash with shades of gold and navy — apt decor for the second annual Gold & Blue Jubilee Bash Heritage Awards. The evening raises funds for the Fisk University and Fisk Jubilee Singers alumni associations. Revelers enjoyed a hearty Hattie B’s buffet and explored a new exhibit highlighting the history and heritage of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, one of Nashville’s musical treasures. 

Baseball star Mookie Betts’ mother, Diana Benedict, curated a terrific silent auction for the event. And after guests took their seats, the program — emceed by News Channel 5’s Kelsey Gibbs — took shape. The Fisk Jubilee Singers opened the awards show, and the crowd’s reverence for the group was as palpable as ever. Guests kept silent until the end of the performance — then erupted in thunderous applause. The audience also heard a Fisk student discuss his transformative experience at the school.

The evening’s awards recognized outstanding individuals in the music industry. And between presentations, musicians, like Abdul Ra’oof, offered congratulations and soulful performances. The Eddie Thomas Award  — named for the famed promoter whose A-list roster included Ray Charles, Barry White and Quincy Jones — went to James “Jimi” Starks, a longtime protégé of Eddie’s. The night’s final honor, the Clarence Avant Award, went to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, an iconic songwriter and producer duo who have collaborated on over 100 Gold, Platinum and Diamond certified recordings. Their immense impact on the music industry will be felt for generations to come.

After the show, guests enjoyed an afterparty full of lively conversation and spirited dancing — celebrating music the way it was meant to be enjoyed.