The Black Women in Jazz & the Arts Awards Association announced today its 2016 Lady Jazz Master Award recipient, Melba Joyce. 
 
The award will be presented at the 3rd Annual Black Women in Jazz & the Arts Awards held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia in Atlanta, Ga., on April 10, 2016.
 
“Melba Joyce is a Master of Jazz. She is indeed an accomplished woman: educated, beautiful, family oriented, intelligent, kind and elegant..." said Erika Mitchell, the association’s chair.
 
Joyce’s career has spanned six decades of sharing top billing with such giants of the music world as Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughn, Louis Jordan, Lionel Hampton, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and many others. What's more, she has been twice nominated as best female vocalist by Downbeat Reader's Poll.
                
Other awardees during the event will include Cicely Tyson, who will receive The Arts Award and Joyce's daughter, Carmen Bradford, will also receive the Lady Jazz Master Award.
 
"The Award was established in 2013 to recognize an individual with 30 or more years of exemplary works, contribution and dedication to service to the community via jazz or performing arts,” said Sha Battle, director, Black Women in Jazz & the Arts Awards.
 
If you are in the New York City area on November 27, 2015, stop by Minton's Jazz Club, 206 West 118th Street, Harlem, NY, to hear jazz legend Melba Joyce sing. The two shows will begin at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Confirm your reservations at (212) 243-2222.
 
For more information about Joyce, visit www.melbajoyce.net