Written by | Ray Cornelius
It was all about African-American achievement Saturday night during the 2018 “Bounce Trumpet Awards.” The annual ceremony was taped at the beautiful Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center and yours truly was in the building to capture all of the sights and sounds.
Ray Cornelius with Trumpet Awards founder Xernona Clayton
My radio show, UPFRONT Inside Atlanta’s Entertainment Industry teamed up with CAU-TV 23 to cover the red carpet for a future television special. I got a chance to interview a number of the evening’s honorees including Music Innovation Award recipient Jermaine Dupri, teen sensation and Trailblazer Award recipient Marley Dias and Rising Star Award recipient Rhyon Brown.
Ray Cornelius with Larenz Tate
I also got a chance to chop it up with the show’s hosts—Larenz Tate and Erica Ash as well as celebrity attendees Ashley Love-Mills, “Saints and Sinners” stars Vanessa Bell Calloway, Donna Biscoe and Jasmine Burke + Red Carpet hosts Demetria McKinney and Ed Gordon. I also got additional interviews with comedian Rodney Perry, HGTV star Egypt Sherrod, Judge Penny Reynolds, actress DeEtta West, hip hop icon Ed Lover, actor and singer T.C. Carson + performers Xscape, Sir the Baptist, Bilal, Anthony Hamilton, Arrested Development and “The Voice” star Wé McDonald.
Angie Stone with Ed Gordon and Lamman Rucker
After the red carpet, I got an opportunity to get a few more pictures of the show’s other honorees including Tamika Mallory, Dr. Lonnie Johnson and Rich Dennis. Performers MAJOR., Donald Lawrence, Stokley Williams, KeKe Wyatt, Arrested Development and Angie Stone also stopped through the press room along with presenters Angel Conwell, Omar Gooding, Lamman Rucker and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
My “Red Carpet Trumpet Awards Special” will air on CAU-TV 23 on Sunday, February 11 a little before the “Bounce Trumpet Awards” at 9 p.m. Stay tuned…
Check out more images below:
Ray Cornelius and UPFRONT on the red carpet
Ray Cornelius with “Bounce Trumpet Award” host Erica Ash
Anthony Hamilton
Honoree Rich Dennis
MAJOR.
Honoree Tamika Mallory
Ray Cornelius with red carpet host Demetria McKinney
Ray Cornelius with Ashley Love Mills
Angie Stone showing us love
Ray Cornelius with “If Loving You is Wrong” actress April Parker Jones
The cast of Bounce TV’s “Saints and Sinners”
(l to r) Tasia Grant, Dawn Half Kenny, Clifton Powell,
Vanessa Bell Calloway, Keith Robinson, Jasmine Burke and Donna Biscoe
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Honoree Marley Dias
Angel Conwell and Omar Gooding
Honoree Dr. Lonnie Johnson
Sir the Baptist
Wé McDonald
Donald Lawrence
Stokley Williams
Arrested Development
Photo Credits: RayCornelius