ETTA JAMES - ETTA JAMES HONOURED

Legendary musician ETTA JAMES will receive a Founders Award at Billboard's R+B/Hip-Hop Conference and Awards in September (06). The Grammy Award-winning singer will receive the prize for her five decades as a recording artist. Previous honorees include the ISLEY BROTHERS, BETTY WRIGHT, ISAAC HAYES and CHAKA KHAN. The award was established to honour the legacies of pioneering artists in R+B and hip-hop whose influence still carries a major impact on today's music. The ceremony will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on 6-8 September (06).