NEW YORK, June 2 (UPI) -- R&B legend Etta James was announced Friday as the recipient of Billboard magazine's 2006 R&B Founders Award.
The Grammy-winning soul singer will receive the honor during Billboard's seventh annual R&B/Hip-Hop Conference and Awards at Atlanta's Renaissance Waverly, Sept. 6-8, Billboard announced. The awards ceremony closes out the weekend.
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After five decades of performing, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer is among a select few R&B pioneers still recording and touring, Billboard noted. Her latest album, "All the Way," came out in March.
The Founders Award is given each year to an R&B and a hip-hop artist whose impact continues to be heard in modern music. The hip-hop honoree will be announced shortly, Billboard said.
