BESLA is honored to announce that we will be celebrating the life and achievements of one of our very own, the late Percy E. Sutton as we induct him into the BESLA Hall of Fame.  Mr. Sutton was thought of as the  . . .
Black broadcasting 'founding father.’

The spectacular legacy of Black broadcasting legend Percy E. Sutton began in November 24, 1920 in San Antonio, TX. Sutton’s Inner City Broadcasting would eventually become the "Urban Contemporary" sound in the African-American "listener" experience. Sutton himself served as a leader-member of the NAACP and was successively elected President of its New York Branch in 1961 and 1962.

Sutton's leadership positions at the NAACP put him front and center of America's turbulent '60's period not only as an advocate and adviser, but as a hands on campaigner as he took part in civil rights sit-ins and was the attorney to the late Malcolm X and his family.  Sutton was overwhelmingly elected as New York Borough President and served an eleven year term from 1966-1977 as "the highest elected African-American official in the state."  During the 1980's Sutton's Inner City Broadcasting Corporation continued its investments with venues connected to the African-American community and other media to form ventures with the Time Warner Company and the famous Apollo Theater for its subsequent production of the "It's Showtime at the Apollo" television program.  Mr. Sutton Saved the Apollo!