ATLANTA, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Musicians Kenneth "Babyface'' Edmonds, Whitney Houston and Wynton Marsalis were among those honored at the sixth annual Trumpet Awards honoring black achievers.

Retired Gen. Colin Powell received the Living Legend award at the ceremony sponsored by Turner Broadcasting System. Houston and Marsalis were given special honors.

"All of the awards and honors I receive are important to me,'' Houston said in accepting her "Pinnacle'' award. "The ones I treasure most are those which are a result of my contributions to the well-being of children.''

Trumpet Awards were given to Edmonds, baseball pitcher Don Newcombe, Ebony magazine executive editor Lerone Bennett, Jr., and nuclear engineer Margie Lewis, among others. A Family Spirit Award was presented to Deloris Jordan, the mother of Michael Jordan.

Edmonds credited his mother with instilling "a spirit in me of not ever giving up'' as she raised six boys after the death of her husband.

"When I look at this Trumpet Award, I think we all are like instruments. We have notes that we want to play and notes that we want to sing and sometimes it takes a push from somebody else to make those notes come out,'' he said.

TBS said the awards are intended to honor blacks who, through consistency and longevity, have inspired others and achieved success in a chosen profession or career.