2024 Legends Ball

Mission Statement:

The Annual I Hear Music Legends Ball is 22 years old and honors persons/organizations both locally and abroad.

Event location:

Delta by Marriott Hotel- Cincinnati, 11320 Chester Rd.
Cincinatti, OH 45246

Dr. Cleaster V. Mims

2024 I Hear Music, Inc. Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Dr. Cleaster Mims is an author, political activist, and retired teacher, administrator, and chief executive officer. Mims was the first African American female to graduate from Xavier University of Cincinnati. After her graduation and successful thirty-year professional career with Cincinnati Public Schools, she retired as a high school English teacher.

Mims took on the role of board president, chief executive officer, and administrator of the nation’s first Marva Collins Preparatory School. Mims founded and opened the Cleaster Mims International Boarding School in Silverton, Ohio with students from the United States and as far away as Bermuda and South Africa. Mims believes she achieved her greatest educational impact in the institutions she founded, preserved, and served for thirty years.

Twitter: @CleasterM

Shon “Estee” Hubble

Estee is a Cincinnati native, a wife, a Minister of Music, a Music Teacher, and a Gospel artist since 2006. Since adhering to her calling, she has been blessed to perform on such renowned venues as TBN New York City’s “The Dino Show”, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the Family of Dr. Martin Luther King, and The State House for Governor Ted Strickland. She has opened for Karen Clark and Kelly Price. Her graduation song for 2020 was a Highlight on “Let’s Talk Cincy” with Courtis Fuller, she also has played for the Black Family Reunion, the Breast Cancer Walk, and numerous programs around the Greater Cincinnati area. She continues to create music and be a mentor to the young people in this community.

Facebook: Estee

Eric Oliver

Board Member, Cincinnati Children’s Choir

Eric Oliver recently retired as Regional Attorney for the National Labor Relations Board’s Cincinnati Office (NLRB). Mr. Oliver began his career with the Agency in 1984 as a Field Attorney in the Fort Worth, Texas office.  The NLRB is an independent federal agency enforcing the National Labor Relations Act; it acts to prevent and remedy unfair labor practices committed by private sector employers and unions.

Mr. Oliver is the Minister of Music at Zion Baptist Church, Avondale, the founder of the Loretta C. Manggrum Chorale, and serves on the Board of the Cincinnati Youth Chorus. He was a Board Member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, serving a 6-year term ending in 2019. Mr. Oliver received the 2014 Spirit Award from the Cincinnati USA Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Wendell P. Dabney award for Diversity for his work with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Classical Roots Community Mass Choir.

He served as a Legal Consultant and Musician for the Heritage Music Foundation (Los Angeles, CA) and a member of the American Negro Spiritual Festival Competition Criteria Committee.  Mr. Oliver graduated from Oberlin College in 1980 with a degree in Government and Music. He received his J.D. from Case Western Reserve School of Law in 1983.

Eric Watford

Vice President of MLK Coalition

Eric Watford was born and raised in Springfield, Ohio. A graduate from Wilberforce University, he serves as Program Coordinator for the African American Cultural & Resource Center at University of Cincinnati. Eric is also the Vice President for the ,MLK Coalition Choir Director for the African American Cultural & Resource Center Choir at University of Cincinnati, and serves as the Minister of Music at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Woodlawn, Ohio.

The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers

The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers are a jubilee-style, a cappella, sacred gospel quartet from Covington, KY. Over Thirty-Six years ago, Ric Jennings formed a five-voice quartet (one lead and four harmony vocalists) out of the renowned Ninth Street Baptist Church Men’s Choir. Since the beginning, this community-based quintet has sung in church services, at special gospel programs, anniversaries, and other sacred music events. In any setting, the Brotherhood’s performances inspire feelings of fellowship and recreate the jubilant atmosphere of their home church.

In addition to continuing the traditional role of the gospel quartet, the Brotherhood Singers reaches out to a global audience with both spiritual and secular songs. They were an annual hit in Spain (1999 – 2011), and have traveled to Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Canada and Russia in 2012 (courtesy of the CEC ArtsLink, Library of Congress and the Russian Embassy). While most of the members have kept their day jobs, the Brotherhood Singers are a unique group that is both locally known and semi-professional. Their music is rich and complex and arises out of a shared inner-city experience that stresses faith, learning and communicative arts.

Besides Gospel music now Patriotic, Christmas and feel good R&B music round out the group’s repertoire. Typically, a full performance by the Brotherhood begins with five songs featuring solos by each group member, demonstrating their versatility and range. They follow that up with a move into the audience to get the house singing along, shaking hands and having a good time. The Brotherhood continues active involvement by inviting guests to join them on stage to sing a couple of songs with universal appeal. They then slow it down a bit to offer up songs that allow music to reach the deepest parts of the soul. The show closes on a high note with a few up-tempo songs, encouraging the crowd to clap along. Concerts range from 30 to 75 minutes.

Current members are Eric “Ric” Jennings, Eric Riley, Stace “Babydeac” Darden, Sam “Watson” Norris Jr, Mike Wright, and Lavelle Thompson.

FACEBOOK: The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers

Dr. Bryan Walker

Dr. Bryan Walker completed degrees at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois from which he holds the Bachelor of Science in Communication, Cincinnati Christian University in Cincinnati Ohio, from which he holds a Masters in Theology and he completed his doctoral studies from United Theological Seminary in Dayton Ohio, where he received the Doctor of Ministry Degree.

Dr. Walker is a pastor with an all-inclusive ministry, which is to empower the broken, depressed, oppressed, rejected, neglected, and abused. It has resulted in a church that is built around a unique diversity of persons from various age groups, cultures, and various denominational backgrounds whom all gather together in celebrative worship. Dr. Walker believes, that the body of Christ should be empowered and awakened to their God-ordained destiny in every area of life. His preaching and teaching focus on empowering believers spiritually, physically, educationally, culturally, financially, politically, and economically.

Dr. Walker is a dynamic motivational preacher whose voice can be heard preaching in churches, conventions, conferences, revivals, anniversaries, lecturers, in the Midwest and Internationally. Dr. Walker frequently preaches eulogies at Walker Funeral Home of Cincinnati as well as speaking to the community on his radio show “Time 2 Talk” on 1050 AM. He serves as Adjunct Professor in Personal Finance at Cincinnati Christian University.
 

In October of 2006, God blessed Dr. Walker’s life with a “good thing” when he married Kisha. They are proud parents of two children, one son and one daughter.

FACEBOOK: Dr. Bryan Walker

Alexis Rogers

2023 Mistress of Ceremonies

Alexis Rogers co-hosts All Indiana and co-anchors News 8 at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Alexis is a Murrow and multi-Emmy award-winning storyteller. She began her broadcasting career as an anchor and reporter at KOMU, in Columbia, Missouri.

She has also reported for KATV in Little Rock, Arkansas and WLWT in Cincinnati, where she also helped create and anchored a news magazine show – Let’s Talk Cincy.

Born and raised in the Chicago area, Alexis is a graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and the National Association of Black Journalists. She is also the founder of Lisa’s Girls, a mentoring program for young women. Alexis and her husband Reggie are self proclaimed foodies. They love supporting local businesses and exploring the Indy food and music scene. Alexis takes pride in being involved in the community so don’t hesitate to reach out and tell her what’s going on in your neck of the woods!Follow Alexis on Facebook

Instagram: IamAlexisRogers

Tracey Artis

2023 Keynote Speaker

Tracey Farley-Artis is a renowned CEO, music executive, speaker, philanthropist,
and published author. Tracey is known as a “heavy hitter” in the gospel music industry
specializing in marketing, brand consulting and radio promotions since 1996.
Artis studied Mass Communications at Ohio University and moved to Atlanta after
college to see a new part of the world and while there, she met Byron Cage, a then
emerging contemporary Gospel artist who was her entrance into the music business.
Greatly contributing to the success of Cage’s debut release, Artis was hired at AIR
Gospel in 1996 as the company’s National Marketing Director. A year later, she joined
the staff of Gospo Centric Records under the leadership of her mentor, Vicki Mack
Lataillade, yet another revolutionary Gospel music industry veteran. Prior to Gospo
Centric’s merger with Verity Records (Sony BMG) in 2004, Artis was promoted as the
Vice President of Gospel Promotions; and the rest is “herstory.”
Over the years, Artis began to develop groundbreaking ideas and concepts to
enhance the exposure of the artists she’s had the pleasure of working with side by side.
These concepts later proved to be the foundation for her company I Hear Music, Inc.
which Artis launched in 2010 following her departure from Verity Records. I Hear Music,
Inc. is a promotions and marketing firm that represents gospel artists and produces
special events such as the Urban League Evening of Faith, The Health Care
Connection Jazz Benefit, and her signature event; The I Hear Music in the Air
Conference. The brainchild of the CEO herself, the I Hear Music In The Air Conference
is the firm’s premier occasion. The conference has been in operation over 23 years, and
is held every summer in her hometown of Cincinnati, OH, and is designed with specific
educational tools that teach business-minded individuals how to successfully market
themselves within the gospel music industry. The conference features an exciting and
multifaceted multi-day Gospel music conference that includes a kick-off concert, and
The Legends Ball. This event gathers an unprecedented amount of industry executives,
a plethora of new and established recording artists and fans from across the country.

I Hear Music, Inc. has helped drive the industry, power and success of some of
contemporary Gospel music’s biggest names. Under her watch and visionary marketing
& promotions strategies, the world has witnessed over 50 #1 singles and the Gold and
Platinum Certification of groups and award-winning artists including Kirk Franklin, The
Clark Sisters, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, Mary Mary, Shirley Caesar, Walter Hawkins,
Tramaine Hawkins, Ruben Studdard, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, Shirley Caesar,
Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, Andrae Crouch, Karen Clark- Sheard, Dorinda
Clark-Cole, Byron Cage, Charles Jenkins, William Murphy, Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr
Singers, Ricky Dillard, Tamela Mann, Brian Courtney Wilson, Kierra Sheard- Kelly,
VaShawn Mitchell, Israel Houghton, Vicki Winans, Bishop Paul S Morton, J.Moss, Gene
Moore, HLE, Trinitee 5:7 and many more. Her most recent executive producer credits
are for the projects by Charles Jenkins “Gospel Music Changed My Life” and E. Dewey
Smith “Let Christmas Ring”.
Artis is also a sought-after speaker and contributing expert to many publications
and media outlets. She tirelessly works on community projects including organizing the
annual Midwest Black Family Reunion as the Executive Director and dedicates time to
serve on several other Cincinnati organizational committees and boards that directly
impact the citizens of our great city. The Midwest Black Family Reunion has garnered
the attention of the New York Times, Essence magazine, NPR and Waymaker
magazine and many other local and national outlets.
Tracey has been repeatedly honored for her services over the years. In 2010, she
was recognized by The Eye of the Artists Foundation through a permanent collection of
art at the Cincinnati Museum and she was presented Cincinnati Herald’s Nefertiti Award
by the Ohio Senate for her Outstanding Achievement. In March 2013, she received the
William P. Abney Spirit Award from the Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau. She
also has received the Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati Award, The Radio One Unsung
Hero Award, 2018 Urban Soul Café Award Honoree, Cincinnati NAACP Marian Spencer
Award, The Ebony J Media “Queens Living Legend Award”, Morgan A. Owens “I Am
Black HERStory” Honoree, The Health Gap “Black Women’s Health Champion” Award,
Princeton High School Distinguished Alumni Award and her most recent awards include
the John F. Barrett 2022 Entrepreneur Vision Award, being recognized as a 2023 Fifth
Third Bank Black History Month Honoree and one of the 2023 African American
Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame Inductee ( I Hear Music, Inc.) , Who’s
Who in Black Cincinnati ( 2023), one of the 2024 YWCA Career Women of Acheivement
and one of the 2024 Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce “We Are Making Black
History” honorees.

Artis is also a sought-after speaker in the music industry and has exhibited
leadership qualities by working with her peers and colleagues on several community
projects and serving on national/local organization committees and boards including:

• Executive Director/Organizer, The Midwest Regional Black Family Reunion
• Member, The Cincinnati NAACP
• Member, Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce
• Chair, The American Heart Association -Circle of Red Women
• Chairperson, The Princeton High School Alumni Association
• Exec. Board Member(Arts Facet Chair), Cincinnati (OH) Chapter of The Links, Inc.
• Board Member, LHOI
• Voting Member, The Recording Academy
• Grammy U Mentor, The Recording Academy
• Member, The Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA)
• Member, National Association of Gospel Radio
• The Collective Empowerment Group (CEG)
• Co- Chair, Guiding Light Mentoring Program (2023, 2024)

Artis is the daughter of the former Woodlawn, Ohio Mayor, the late Ms. Susan
Upton- Farley and is one of seven children. She is now a published author as she
recently wrote a book titled “Susan’s Story” about the life and career of her mother and
the impact it made within their community. She is a devoted wife to Bobby G. Artis, and
the mother of two children, Jazmyn and Jordan.

Faith Daniels

Faith has been an On-Air Personality for more than 30 years and is currently the Program Director/Music Director and Midday Personality “The Afternoon Ride with Faith Daniels!” on WROU and produces the Community Affairs weekend program. She is a professional voiceover talent/actress and does commercial production and has served as a Marketing Manager for radio/television. She privately produces intimate and large scale ranging from “Princess Tea Parties, Celebrity Professional Athlete Fundraisers to Concerts that draw more that 30,000 people in the Cincinnati and surrounding areas.

The Charles Fold Singers

Charles Fold organized a choir called the Charles Fold Singers, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The choir burst on the national scene when they teamed up with the Reverend James Cleveland on Jesus Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me. the James Cleveland / Charles Fold partnership provided music ministers with soulful performances and arrangements of songs that they could teach to their church choirs. For decades, Fold was an active member of James Cleveland’s Gospel Music Workshop of America, serving as president of the Cincinnati chapter, board member of the national organization and co-chairman of the international chapters. The Charles Fold Singers were inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2002. 

Christ Emanuel Christian Fellowship- Bishop Michael and Pastor Carol Dantley

Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship is the result of faithful and generous men and women giving themselves to the vision of building a Church dedicated to Jesus, the Great Head. With each successive person, one planted, one watered, not for personal gain but giving God the glory for the increase! The merger of two congregations began in 1977; Emmanuel Baptist Church and Christ Temple Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Michael Dantley and Pastor Ozell Freeman, respectively.

Emmanuel Baptist Church had its early beginnings when the late Pastor Emmet McMullen assumed the pastorate of a work on McGregor Avenue. Under his leadership, the small flock relocated to a building on Florence Avenue. The members worked in faith, sometimes with their own hands, to renovate an abandoned auto garage on Florence Avenue, Walnut Hills. There he worked until the Lord called him unto Himself. Pastor Michael Dantley was called to succeed the late Pastor McMullen in June, 1974.  A Pastor James H. Howell of the Revelation Baptist Church received word that Emmanuel Baptist needed a more suitable facility, and that Christ Temple was in need of more members. He then brokered the merger in 1977, with the need of each congregation fulfilled. Pastor Freeman, concerned with his health, then graciously stepped aside to allow Pastor Dantley to be the pastor of the merged congregations, in the building now known as the Destiny Youth Center (DYC).  By 1989, the Dantley’s began to realize the need to change to a non-denominational (faith) as we no longer strictly held to exclusive Baptist doctrine, but rather had broadened its beliefs to more charismatic leanings. In addition, the church was in need of finalizing its incorporation with the state of Ohio. Emmanuel Baptist was already registered. Pastor Carol suggested Christ-Emmanuel Christian Fellowship; Christ from Christ Temple, and Emmanuel from Emmanuel Baptist, thus the name Christ-Emmanuel Christian Fellowship. Jesus the Christ has proven Himself faithful to His name Emmanuel (God with us) over the years. Throughout its history, Bishop Dantley by now, saw to it that Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship was a place of preaching, teaching, and worship that opened the eyes of the believer to a living reality of living for God in intimate fellowship, while also bearing witness to the outside world of doing great exploits for God in the marketplace. People became spirit-filled and empowered and equipped to fulfill their purpose and calling in life.

Christ Emmanuel became one of the first large African American churches here in Cincinnati to hire full time pastors to direct and oversee multiple ministries to serve the church and various community programs. In addition to Sunday morning services classes and trainings were held nearly every day of the week. Approximately 40 ministry and subgroups have been developed over the years for teaching, equipping, and providing services to the Body of Christ.

God has proven Himself faithful to Christ Emmanuel Christian Fellowship; He has truly been Emmanuel from its humble beginnings, reaching thousands with the gospel of Christ, coming out strong from a pandemic, and continuing to “turn the world upside down” through Word, Worship, and Work.

The We Shall Overcome Foundation

The We Shall Overcome Foundation is dedicated to providing physical, social, educational, and economic resources for poor, marginalized, ignorant, abused, neglected and oppressed people. The We Shall Overcome Foundation heroically filed a class-action lawsuit and won, which allowed “We Shall Overcome” (composed by Cincinnati native, Louise Shropshire) to be released back into the public domain.

Adrian M. Cunningham

Adrian Michael Cunningham is a native of Gadsden, Alabama, where he developed his
love for music at a very young age. Through the support of his musically gifted family,
Adrian started singing at the age of 4, playing violin at the age of 6, and playing
saxophone at the age of 12.
 
Adrian has played violin professionally and is an accomplished saxophonist. Adrian has
also sung professionally as a Baritone with Opera Birmingham. Adrian sang tenor in
numerous gospel choirs and groups, and once he matriculated to the University of
Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), he started leading his own choirs. As a founding member
and first student director of the nationally acclaimed UAB Gospel Choir, Adrian credits
that training as a pivotal turning point in his life, that propelled his love for teaching and
directing.
 
Adrian has served as Minister of Music at New Jerusalem Baptist Church for over 16
years, leading the award-winning Rhythmic Sounds of New “J”. He also leads the
Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra All-Star Gospel Choir and serves as Music
Leader for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Classical Roots Mass Choir. He is a
highly sought Music Director, Music Clinician, and consultant. In 2017, Adrian
executively produced his choir’s debut cd titled “In His Time”, which garnered 7
nominations from 2 awards shows. He wrote 5 of the 10 songs featured on the project.
 
Adrian holds degrees in Business Management and Classical Music Performance with a
focus on Voice & Violin from UAB.
 
Adrian serves as a Board Director for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Vice President
of the Chamber Music Cincinnati Board of Directors, Board Director & Fine Arts Chair for
the Indian Hill Boosters, and is the President of the Cincinnati Alumni Chapter of Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. He is also a contributing music partner with the Cincinnati
Opera’s “Opera Goes to Church.” In 2014, he received the Cincinnati Visitors Bureau’s
Wendell P. Dabney Award for Diversity for his work with the CSO Classical Roots Choir
and served as the Musical Director for the 2014 National Urban League Conference.
Adrian teaches voice, violin, and saxophone privately and is heavily involved in the
community. In May 2023, Cunningham will receive the Outstanding Minister of Music
Award from “I Hear Music.” 
 
Adrian has been married for 22 years to the lovely Takiyah J. Cunningham, and they
have three beautiful daughters: Dylan, Emery, and Maison. They reside in Cincinnati,
OH.

• Minister of Music, New Jerusalem Baptist Church
• Director of Music, Rhythmic Sounds of New “J”
• Director of Music, Cincinnati Contemporary
• Jazz Orchestra All-Star Choir
• Music Leader, CSO Classical Roots Choir
• Vice-President, Chamber Music Cincinnati
• Board Director, Cincinnati Symphony/Pops Orchestra
• Board Member, Indian Hill Booster Board (Fine Arts)

ArtsWave

Through gifts from tens of thousands of individuals and companies each year, ArtsWave funds and supports organizations and artists each year that create thousands of concerts, shows, exhibitions, school-based arts, public art, festivals and events like BLINK^®. With funding, services, and advocacy, ArtsWave fuels a more vibrant regional economy and connected community through the arts. 

The arts play an essential role in the success of our region. They attract national acclaim and drive tourism. They make our region a more attractive place to live and work. They bring vitality to our neighborhoods. They foster creativity and learning in our future leaders. They even help bring us together as a community across cultural divides.