August 8th 2023.
On July 22, 2021, James Brown was one of twenty-three inductees honored at the grand opening of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame. He was joined by other music legends, including Philippé Wynne of The Spinners, Louise Shropshire of the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome,” and Babyface’s original R&B group The Deele.
This star-studded class joined the 2021 founding inductees Bootsy Collins, the Isley Brothers, Dr. Charles Fold, and Otis Williams, as well as the 2022 inductees Penny Ford, Midnight Star, Wilbert Longmire, and Hi-Tek. This opening was the first to reveal the official Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame.
The grand opening came on the heels of Black Tech Week and the annual Cincinnati Music Festival. This addition to the city celebrates Black excellence in a unique way. Hamilton County Commissioner Reece shared, “What I love about the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame is that it brings all those pieces together. When this wonderful weekend is over, the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame becomes a permanent fixture that people can go to 365 days.”
The interactive features of the Walk of Fame give visitors a chance to experience the music of Cincinnati’s iconic stars. They can listen to songs by Philippé Wynne and John Legend, dance with Bootsy Collins and Penny Ford, and play the drums with Hi-Tek.
Cincinnati native and Black music legend Bootsy Collins was honored as a founding inductee in 2021. He was excited to be involved and said, “This is something I definitely want to commit my time to. It was right on time.”
The grand opening coincided with the Cincinnati Music Festival, bringing tourists and a $107 million boost to the city’s economy. The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame will add to the city’s attractions and create jobs related to tourism. Commissioner Reece shared, “It creates the springboard for jobs for a tourism attraction because make no mistake about it, the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame is a tourism attraction.”
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