Stars from the sports and entertainment world were out in full force at City College last night to honor more than a dozen legendary celebrities at the Second Annual National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Among those inducted last night were jazz legends Count Basie, Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday.
Baseball’s all-time home run king, Hank Aaron, former heavyweight champion Joe Louis and Olympic sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner were among the athletes honored.
“Words cannot describe it. I am full [of emotion],” said 75-year old African drumming legend Babatunde Olatunji before his induction.
Also inducted were non-blacks who helped open doors for blacks, such as Paul Shaffer, David Letterman’s band leader.
“It’s the biggest thrill of my life and truly an honor,” Shaffer said.
Special awards were given to rap impresario Russell Simmons and Percy E. Sutton, the co-founder of the Inner City Broadcasting, which purchased WLIB-AM, the city’s first black-owned radio station, in 1971.
The Post, one of the sponsors of last night’s gala, will help sponsor the soon-to-be-built museum where the honorees will be enshrined.
