HughE Dillon: Celebrating Patty Jackson

Friends and family gathered Sunday night to celebrate Philadelphia radio legend Patty Jackson’s 30 years in broadcasting with a star-studded concert at the Dell Music Center. After a VIP affair, the concert kicked off at 7 p.m. and  featured a host of world-class R&B performers including Gladys Knight, Freddie Jackson, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, The Delfonics, Glen Jones, Enchantment and Breakwater. Here, Jackson is with Philadelphia recreation commissioner Sue Slawson and Linette Mitchell, of Our Cake Shop.
 

 
Below: Waadeah Floyd and Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. Later in the evening, the Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller, of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, the church Patty attends, presented her with a check for $1,000 written out to “Coalition Against Hunger,” one of Patty’s favorite charities. He then told her that for as long as she is on the air, every year the church will donate $1,000 to any charity Patty chooses.
 

 
Below: The WDAS team, Doug Henderson, Don Wiggins, Fred Sinclair and Sheldon Price. The guys were happy to see the outpouring of love for and the city’s recognition of Patty Jackson.
 

 
Below: WDAS’s Cut Master Butter and Mimi Brown entertained the crowd at the reception. Mimi also played host during the concert. She gave a warm and wonderful tribute to Patty Jackson, saying that not only does she inform Philadelphia about what’s going on, and what’s important, she comforts them in times of need.
 

 
Below: Kenny Gamble, chairman, Philadelphia International Records, his wife, Faatimah Abdul-Haqq, and Marlene Wells. At the VIP reception, guests dined on delicious food by Cafe Mills and Warmdaddy’s.
 

 
Below: Loraine Ballard Morrill, community affairs at Clear Channel, and Joyce Evans, Fox 29.
 

 
Below: Looking dapper, Fred Johnson is with his favorite ladies, mom Thelma and wife Fatima.
 

 
Below: Nate Dais, WDAS, Lisa Collins, and political analyst and radio personality E. Stephen Collins.
 

 
Below: We know them by now—and loved that they were there last night: Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes. Old school at it’s best.
 

 
Below: On a cool summer night, Freddie Jackson was getting all the ladies hot and bothered as he gyrated on stage, and shared more than a few kisses with admiring fans.
 

 
Below: Patty Jackson introduces son Robert to the audience, and thanks them for their support as well as all of Philadelphia for its support of her work over the past 30 years.
 

 
Below: “Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight got the entire crowd on its feet, capping off the nearly three-hour concert in honor with old songs, and a few new ones from her new CD I Who Have Nothing. You can listen to Patty Jackson on WDAS from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Congratulations Patty Jackson!!