Nancy Wilson & Cathy Huges at the Legacy Ladies Torch Awards
by Willette Duvall
The Legacy Ladies held the 2nd Annual Torch Awards held on Friday, May 19, 2006 at the historical renovated Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, CA. The Legacy Ladies, Inc. held its annual Torch Awards acknowledging African-American women who have empowered their community by providing many forms of support— emotional, education, spiritual and financial support. Nancy Wilson & Cathy Hughes were the proud honorees of the Torch Award 2006. The internationally renowned Jazz Violinist, Michael Ward, provided special entertainment and he was truly amazing.
The Legacy Ladies Awards was awesome. Kudos to my PR mentor, Ms. Pat Tobin of Tobin Associates here in Los Angeles. Pat was honored with a Torch Award and serves as an Advisory Board Member for the organization. Ms. Tobin is known in Hollywood as the “Public Relations” Guru to the stars and this night she brought in pristine women who were truly worthy to be honored for the amazing legacy of empowering the African American community.
A lady whom I truly admire and respect is Ms. Nancy Wilson. I call her the lady with the velvet voice. Her vocal style is a combination of jazz and pop and is best known as the “song stylist.” Whenever I see Ms Wilson she’s always beautiful, stunning and poised as a first lady. Ms. Wilson has a very rich faith-based history. Her father and uncle were both Apostolic Ministers as well as her husband. Her work includes a NBC network series, The Nancy Wilson Show, for which she won an Emmy Award for the 1967-68 season. She has made numerous TV singing and acting appearances on national TV shows.
I once heard Ms. Wilson state that when she was laying down tracks for an album that it took her one take to lay a track. Per Ms. Wilson, studio time was too costly to retake songs over and over she laid it right the first time. Many times she heard the soundtracks and saw the lyrics upon her arrival at the recording. Ms. Wilson has a legacy to pass on and much to her accomplishment with over 60 recorded albums to her credit. Ms. Wilson has retired from touring and signing engagements to spend more time with her family and her grandchildren.
 Another great lady that I truly admire is the incomparable Cathy Hughes. Yes, the seventeen year-old single mom who raised her son (Alfred Liggins), and purchased her first radio station where she and her child slept on the floor is now one of the most successful black females in America. Cathy Hughes is the Founder of Radio One, Inc. and TV One. Ms. Hughes is a believer in putting God first and then believe in yourself— for there is nothing that you and God can’t achieve. Ms. Hughes shared her triumph stating that in 1980, a Puerto Rican woman who worked at Chemical Bank gave her a $1.5 million loan to purchase Radio One, Inc. now in over 76 markets and worth over $2 Billion dollars.
She is the first African American woman to head a firm publicly traded on a New York stock exchange in the United States. Ms. Hughes is the epitome of God’s divine favor and blessings and hard work. A single Black woman succeeding when all the odds were stacked against her to build a legacy for her family and community.
Other honorees included John Mack, Pat Tobin, Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite-Burke, Dr. La-Doris McClaney, Edwin Moses, Theodore Synder and the legendary actor/activist Louis Gossett Jr.
Founder and president Jacqueline Castillo, spearhead the mission of Legacy Ladies, Inc. Its mission is to continue the rich tradition of African-American women who have empowered their communities and families. The primary objective is to address the needs of underserved communities and disadvantage individuals through programs and initiatives aimed at assisting this demographic. For more information visit http://www.legacyladiesinc.com
Copyright ©2006 by Willette Duvall. All Rights Reserved.
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