Toni Basil to Receive Big Hip-Hop Honor
Written by admin on July 17, 2009
MTV and dance/choreography legend Toni Basil is a woman for all music genres. While most know her from her 1982 hit song “Mickey,” Basil has been on the music scene since the 1960s. A memorable lost classic performed by the energetic sensation is the melancholy “I’m 28” from 1966, which was put out as a B-side to her “Breakaway” single. Her non-“Mickey” 80s repertoire includes “Shopping A to Z,” “Over My Head” and the Love classic “Little Red Book.”
According to her website, Basil will receive the Living Legend of Hip-Hip honor at the Hip Hop International awards ceremony on August 2nd in Las Vegas.
Basil certainly has remained busy across the musical and performance spectrum. She has been working with Bette Midler for several years and is the Associate Director and Chief Choreographer for Tina Turner’s 2009 tour. Basil’s notoriety as a performer may have been from “Mickey,” which not only made her a household name at the time but also inspired one of the better Weird Al Yankovic parodies (“Rickey”). In her several subsequent videos, Basil may integrated her new wave sound with several other performance styles including ballet, African dance, Classic TV, shopping and her own brand of what could be called “avant garde,”
Much of Toni Basil’s contributions to music and entertainment for the past 35-plus years might have gone unnoticed by many who just watch and appreciate performance excellence, yet she is the driving force behind several great talents, shows and other spectacles, Being that this honor by Hip Hop International will be presented as several great dancers from around the world compete for a title from the prestigious organization is an example of one of her many diverse talents.
