POP MUSIC REVIEWS : Talent Places First at R&B; Awards Night

The Rhythm and Blues Foundation’s fourth annual Pioneer Awards program at the Palace on Thursday may have lacked the size, spectacle and the public visibility of this week’s Grammy Awards ceremony. But it took second place to none in the impressiveness of its talent.

Of the 20 individuals and two groups saluted, all but absent record promoter Dave Clark responded with performances. And, appropriately, the program climaxed with James Brown--who received the Ray Charles Lifetime Achievement Award--singing (but, sadly, not doing much dancing) on “I Feel Good” and “That Lucky Old Sun.”

Nearly all the honorees sounded ready to go on the road tomorrow--a fact attested to by foundation trustee Bonnie Raitt, who appealed to her contemporaries to brighten their shows by adding veteran R&B; artists as opening acts.

Little Anthony and the Imperials (with “Goin’ Out of My Head”) and Martha and the Vandellas (with “Dancing in the Street”) were vigorous and enthusiastic. Hadda Brooks touched another aspect of R&B; with a soulful reading of “That’s My Desire,” while drummer Panama Francis and bandleader Erskine Hawkins recalled the genre’s connection with swing and jazz.

The large and imposing Solomon Burke sang with an even richer gospel feeling than was apparent in his salad years in the early ‘60s. Floyd Dixon’s “Hey, Bartender,” on the other hand, defined the street life of R&B;, while Lowell Fulson and Jimmy Witherspoon paid allegiance to its blues roots.

Carla Thomas and Wilson Pickett--both of whom looked trim and sounded at the top of their form--indicated they still have the potential, given the right material, to hit the charts.

Added attractions included a performance of “Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean” by co-hosts Ruth Brown and Bonnie Raitt with alto saxophonist Vi Redd, and a tribute to James Brown by the New JBs.

The four-hour show’s onstage band featured Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper and Ry Cooder.