Dennis CA$H Brought Forth Cleveland’s Greatest R & B Legends for 2021 Music Awards Ceremony
By CELESTE M. HART
Dennis Roberson, better known as, Dennis Cash, produced the 2021 Greatest R & B Legends Music Awards, (GRBLMA), held, Saturday, May 15, at The Civic Conference and Event Center, 3130 Mayfield Rd., to honor original Cleveland entertainment artists with at least 20 years under their belts. Cash, StarMakers Productions president, possesses 40 years of experience in the entertainment industry, began as a member of vocal group, CA$H, at 14 years-old, with his fraternal twin brother, Danny, and childhood friend, Jimmy Fleming. They performed as openers for B.B. King, the Spinners, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, and The Temptations.
“It’s We, not, I… the humbleness of me, I guess. You don’t have to pat me on the back, some have stabbed me in my back. Love, for us is always, if you’re around us, that means, we love you. Love is something you don’t have to talk about. We all came from one another doing what we do. How we impacted the game, is why we’re doing this. The show is always about this (music), not Cash,” said Cash, via phone interview, (J.F. Kennedy High alumni).
The ’WE’ include, Joe Joey Beanz Little of The Rude Boys, (Shaw High), Written All Over Your Face; Michael J. Calhoun, of Kinsman Dazz Band, 1991 Grammy award, Let It Whip,( Collinwood High); Bobby Massey, (John Hay) an original O’Jay, started in music, 1958; Men at Large duo, Dave Tolliver, (Health Careers), and Jason Champion, (School of the Arts), So Alone, began in 1992; Marc Gordon, (Shaw High), Levert II, member with the lates Gerald and Sean Levert; Katzz,1992, still together for 30 years, (Rhodes High); Smooth Approach, This Time for Love, together since Charles Dickens Elementary 3rd grade; Odyssey & Co., Top vocal 1984, (John Adams High); Frederick, (John Hay), Gentle, Calling Your Name, often known as the 80’s One-Hit Wonder; TWICE, (East High); TRE’, 1997 honoree, (JFK), featured in Bones, Thugs and Harmony’s First of the Month; Conya Doss, Indie Soul artist, (School of the Arts); Sherena Wynn, Best Solo 1981, an O’Jays’ background singer; 1 of the Girls, 1993; Sarah’s Girl Stacey Richardson; Klockwerk, 1994; Scott Savol, American Idol Top Five, and Drama, 1994 single, See Me, eight week run on Billboard’s chart.
“I’m so proud of all of our artistic Cleveland folks. They came up after us. I stayed in Cleveland through the good and the bad. Everybody got taken off the stage during the pandemic. It’ll be great for everybody to get back together. I got nothing but love,” said Calhoun, age 65. “I’m blessed. My motto is, I’m living the dream, not chasing it.”
GRBLMA also recognized those the shows cannot go on without, including, Ramhog Shearer, Best Sound Company, 1972 to present, Greg Mayo, Best Security, from 1974; Willie Ross, Best Guitarist, with the O’Jays, still at it since 1965; Renay Fowler, Fashion Designer to the stars; Curtis Gibson, (John Hay High), Best Wardrobe Designer, dressed Al Greene and James Brown, started in 1973; instrumental radio disc jockeys, J.L. Wright, began in 1958; Jeffrey Charles, 1987, and Lynn Tolliver, over 35 years, WZAK in 1982, also known as America’s Bad Boy, and wrote the infamous song, I Need A Freak. And those who kept the beat going for over 35 years, Louis Moore Jr, concert promoter and The Line Dance King, Robert Johnson Jr.
“Nobody has paid attention so it’s nice. I appreciate Cash is paying homage to Cleveland and taking the time for those who have paved the way and bringing us together,” said Dave Tolliver.
Kevin “Chill” Heard, (JFK), rap artist, former entertainment editor of Call & Post newspaper’s Showtime Magazine and presently, host of ChillTalk podcast, served as host with co-host, Tiarra Braddock, TV News Channel 19, for the red carpet event.
Cash’s StarMakers produced a documentary, in 2020, that chronicles many of the GRBLMA honorees, through personal interviews, offers advice on the business side and provides warnings to younger musicians. It includes an interview with Louise Boddie of Boddie Recording company, Cleveland’s first Black owned, operated from 1958 to 1993. The documentary can be viewed on YouTube and Tubi TV which also helped bring the GRBLMA.
“These artists paved the way for generations of musicians who are all a part of Cleveland’s R & B history. These are guys who impacted the game. You have to establish relationships and be loyal, it outdoes money. You don’t do it alone. Everybody cared about each other. And more importantly, stay out of the streets. Gerald (Levert) was always working while others were in the streets. My door is always open. Come on in,” said Cash.
Gerald Levert, a common denominator in the success of the majority of these legends through song writing, producing, introducing, mentoring and touring. Cash said Gerald did a lot for Cleveland.
“Cleveland’s new artists need to know their roots. I just wanted to honor our Cleveland legends while they are here,” said Cash.
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