En Vogue Receives Black Honors Urban Music Honors Icon Award

If you are not excited, then you haven’t heard about Black Music Honors. This annual two-hour television special was established to honor the legendary artists who have influenced and made significant contributions to African American Music. 

The honorees for the 5th annual 2020 television special are none other than Grammy Award-winner, actress Deborah Cox and Multiple Stellar Award plus Grammy Award-winner and producer Fred Hammond. Set to receive the Urban Music Icon Award this year for 30 years in the industry will be the R&B legends, Grammy Award-nominated, one of the top five highest-selling American female music groups in history, En Vogue. With over 20 million albums sold worldwide, hitting the scene in 1989 with the hit single “Hold On,” the legendary R&B Divas have become well-known artists. After three decades together, we compliment you all for holding on to your beauty and talent with amazing grace.

Black Music Honors, hosted by funnyman Rickey Smiley airs on November 21 through December 13, 2020. Until we are able to watch one of the best and most successful female groups of all time be honored, this is what Cindy, Terry, and Rhona had to say:

 

Q: Congratulations to En Vogue! How does it feel to be honored with the Black Honors Urban Music Honors Icon Award?

Terry: It feels incredible, realizing the amount of time and work; having the longevity of 30 years in the industry is pretty incredible, and I don’t think it has sunk in yet for us. We are still evolving and enjoying what we are doing. We still have a lot of passion for creating music and performing. I don’t think it has hit us yet, but it is truly an honor, and we are so grateful.

Cindy: Definitely, very honored, and very humble. I feel like there are so many other talented artists that could have been chosen. It is very humbling to know that we have been selected to be honored this year.

Rhona: I am just grateful and honored to e able to sit at the torch of the En Vogue brand. It has been my privilege to work alongside Terry and Cindy for so long and to watch this brand continue to thrive the way that it has.

Q: In April, we marked the 30th Anniversary of Born To Sing. How does it make you feel knowing your music’s impact is still such an important part of pop culture today?

Cindy: We are very proud. No one could have convinced me that we will still have a place today in the industry. It means everything to be recognized. 

Q: How has it been for you all with the pandemic, especially the way it has impacted this year with the big Anniversary.

Terry: With all things considered, it’s been an amazing year. It could have been a whole lot different. For us to still have the opportunity to work, create, and be honored is incredible.

Rhona: We are celebrating our 30th this year, and we realize that things could have gone a totally different way.

Q: What has black music done for you, and why is it so important to celebrate it?

Cindy: Black music has been the key inspiration to make me want to be a singer. It’s great entertainment. It has been a very high bar set for me to grab hold of. This has been a negative year on so many levels, not for just America, but worldwide. For us to have great entertainment and something to focus on is a plus.

Q: Who are you guys interested in seeing during The Black Music Honors? 

Terry: Oh my God, When I saw the lineup, I was blown away. Looking at the lineup, I’m just grateful we are able to share the same virtual space with all of these incredible artists. A group called Junes Diary will be there. We had the opportunity to work with them and mentor them, such beautiful young talented ladies. Musiq Soulchild, Rickey Smiley, Major. We are honored to be in the same honoree network with Deborah Cox and Fred Hammond.

Cindy: Everything Terri just said (laughing).

Rhona: I agree (smiling).

Q: What do you attribute to longevity in this business for still going strong 30 years later? 

Cindy: I think it’s the music. We love what we do. We love performing and connecting with our fans. I think you must love what you do and have a passion for it.

Terry: Since starting this 30 years ago, we have had the most incredible base of supporters. They have been amazing. We want to thank you for being such die-hard supporters for 30 years.

Q: What is one way that you remain authentic to who you are as a professional?

Terry:  You have to pick your lane and stay in it.

Rhona: Vision, teamwork, prayer in your life, willing to embrace change.

Q: What are some of your favorite musical moments of protest, particularly during this year? 

Cindy: For me, seeing several people online doing reminiscing of various songs. To see this going on virtually is etched in my memory. 

Q: Tell us something about yourself fans do not know, but you would like them to know.

Cindy: I play a little guitar, kind of; before En Vogue, I studied classical voice. I auditioned to be a part of the San Fransico opera. I didn’t make it. (smile)

Rhona: I’m an open book, I am a life coach, and I use a lot of my life experience. I am a blue-collar girl. I bowl, and I roller skate.

Terry:  I am a crafter, arts, and craft. I love making things. I’ve always journaled, but I got more satisfaction from making the journal than actually journaling. 

Q: For years, we heard about the death of R&B. What are your thoughts when you hear people say this?

Rhona: It seems like it’s thriving more than ever now. Maybe not on the radio.

Terry: R&B music will never die. It ain’t going nowhere. (head shake)

Cindy: It still has a place, it thrives, maybe not on mainstream radio, but it is definitely not going anywhere.

Q: How important are events like Black Music Honors when it comes to keeping R&B out front?

Rhona:  I think it’s very important. It displays the talent of black music.

Q: When did your love affair with music start?

Rhona: I got bitten by the entertainment bug at a very early age. I used to go to Alabama in the summer, and I was always singing and performing. I was probably around 7 or 8 years old. 

Cindy:  As for me, my whole family sang. When I saw the Jackson 5 come out, I realized that’s what I wanted to do. I saw that you did not have to be grown up to be on the radio.

Terry: I saw Whitney Houston receive a soul train award, and I remember saying to myself, I’m going to get one of these one days. I never thought about it again. I just began to sing, and it became my career.

Q: How do you maintain your mental health during this pandemic? What advice would you give another artist who may be feeling isolated and uninspired?

Terry:  We launched an addition because we understand the importance of family. We understand how heavy this can be on everyone right now. Stay connected with your loved ones as much as possible.

Cindy: It’s also important to stay in a routine for yourself. Take care of yourself. Keep your mind active, if you are able, learn a new language, learn a musical instrument, exercise if possible. Our podcast is a way to stay active and connected to our fans and to Terry and Rhona.

Rhona: We are human, and we are building on connection. Go to the park and breath deep, go to the ocean, and mediate.

Q: Tell us about your podcast, Funky Divas. What do you enjoy about it?

Terry:  Oh my Gosh, creating the podcast has been exciting and fun, and enlightening for us. We get to interview people we love and have been connected to for years. 

Q: Who do you feel should be honored in something like Black Music Honors? Who do you think was overlooked? 

Terry: Yes! I’m going to say it for all of us, and his name is El Debarge. We love him, not to mention his legacy of music and song. His voice is angelic. We can not stop listening to his albums. We feel like he deserves his flowers now. 

Cindy and Rhona: Amen to that!

Q: Why do you feel it’s important to use your platform and making our black voices heard? What are your thoughts about Kamala, and what does this mean to you as black women?

Terry:  I think about the man in the mirror. I can’t imagine using this platform for anything less than uplifting, celebrating, and elevating our culture, and that’s what’s Kamala represents to me. She represents the struggle we have been through, and I think we still have a lot of work to do. That’s why we need to continue to use our platform for that.

Rhona:  Terry said it all. I don’t think I can add anything better to that.

Cindy: Absolutely agree.

Q: What do you guys think about the versus battle? What group would you battle if you did?

Cindy: I think it would be Boyz 2 Men. How awesome would that be? Female versus male. We love them.

Q: If En Vogue had a Biofilm done, who would you want to portray you?

Terry:  For the older version of me, I would choose my best friend, Holly Robinson Pete.

Cindy: It would be Zoey Zendaya.

Q: “Free Your Mind” became a powerful song for social thinking? Was that the thought behind it, and how do you feel about that now. 

Cindy:  From the beginning, we were writing about our life experiencing and putting them into music. We were happy it was well-received; we were pushing the envelope way back then when we decided to mix rock and edge. We would have never guessed that the things we were writing about would still be relevant years later. It’s surprising, and we are happy that we were able to perform this.

Q: What is some of the best advice someone has ever given you, and what is some advice you wish someone had given you?

Terry: I was a teenager singing in Japan, a friend of mine, who’s band I was singing in, told me never to be afraid to make mistakes. He said always do it from the perspective that you are reaching. When you reach, you are bound to learn and succeed. So, I learned, do not be afraid to reach. The other one is always listening to your intuition. 

Cindy: I think the best advice very early is to know your vision. Know as much about it as you can. 

Q: What is it that they are never gonna get?

Terry: The message was that if you don’t respect me, then you don’t get respect. 

Rapping up this interview, I hope everyone got a chance to listen and “Free Your Mind” because they certainly did not tell any “Lies,” and they reminded us not to let go of your dreams because we are “Never Gonna Get It” if we don’t work hard and “Give Him Something He Can Feel”! 

 

SwagHer Magazine’s Clairica Lange attended and reported on this event.