The Gap Band to Receive Icon Honor at 5th Annual BMI Urban Awards Aug. 26 in Miami

NEW YORK (BMI) - BMI today announced that the members of legendary soul/funk group the Gap Band will be honored as BMI Icons at the performing rights organization's 5th annual Urban Awards. The gala ceremony and dinner will take place August 26 at Club Tropigala at the Fontainebleau Hilton Resorts & Towers in Miami, coinciding with the MTV Video Awards being held on August 28.

Fronted by Charlie Wilson and his brothers Ronnie and Robert, the Gap Band is one of the most influential groups in R&B history. Songs like "You Dropped a Bomb on Me," "Party Train," "Burn Rubber," "Oops Upside Your Head," "Early in the Morning" and "Outstanding" rank as some of the most sampled tracks in today's urban music. The trio, who will be saluted with an all-star musical tribute that evening, are cited for their "enduring influence on generations of music makers."

The Gap Band enters the elite company of previously praised BMI Icons, including Bill Anderson, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Bo Diddley, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Little Richard, Loretta Lynn, Van Morrison, Dolly Parton, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon and Brian Wilson.

The BMI Urban Awards recognize the songwriters and publishers of the most played urban songs on U.S. radio and television. An Urban Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Publisher of the Year and Producer of the Year will be named during the ceremony. In addition, the writers of the songs that reached the No 1 spots on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop and Hot Rap Tracks charts will also be honored.

Now marking its 65th year in business, BMI is an American performing rights organization that represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music. With a repertoire of more than 6.5 million musical works from around the world, the non-profit-making corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.