Gennett Walk of Fame
In September 2007, the Starr-Gennett Foundation began to recognize the most important Gennett artists on a Walk of Fame near the site of Gennett's Richmond, Indiana recording studio.
The Gennett Walk of Fame is located along South 1st Street in Richmond at the site of the Starr Piano Company and embedded in the Whitewater Gorge Trail, which connects to the longer Cardinal Greenway Trail. Both trails are part of the American Discovery Trail, the only coast-to-coast, non-motorized recreational trail.
Markers are three-dimensional, cast bronze and colored tile mosaic emblems in the form of 78 rpm phonograph records. Each marker features the classic Gennett label design and an artistic mosaic rendering of the represented musician. A smaller bronze plaque is installed next to each record to recognize the accomplishments of the inductee. The Foundation estimates that the Walk of Fame eventually will contain up to 80 markers.
The Foundation convened its National Advisory Board for the first time in January, 2006, to select the first 10 inductees for the Gennett Records Walk of Fame. The Advisory Board selects inductees from these categories: classic jazz, old-time country, blues, gospel (African-American and Southern), American popular song, ethnic, historic/spoken, and classical, giving preference to classic jazz, old-time country, blues, gospel, and American popular song.
The Advisory Board's consensus selection for the first inductee in the Gennett Walk of Fame was Louis Armstrong. The following is a list of the first ten inductees:
- Louis Armstrong
- Bix Beiderbecke
- Jelly Roll Morton
- Hoagy Carmichael
- Gene Autry
- Vernon Dalhart
- Big Bill Broonzy
- Georgia Tom
- Joe "King" Oliver
- Lawrence Welk
A second set of ten nominees was inducted in 2008:
- Homer Rodeheaver
- Fats Waller
- Duke Ellington
- Uncle Dave Macon
- Coleman Hawkins
- Charley Patton
- Sidney Bechet
- Blind Lemon Jefferson
- Fletcher Henderson
- Guy Lombardo
2009 Inductees:
- Artie Shaw
- Wendell Hall
- Bradley Kincaid
- Ernest Stoneman & Hattie Frost Stoneman
- New Orleans Rhythm Kings
2010 Inductees:
- Alberta Hunter
- Lonnie Johnson
- Pace Jubilee Singers
2011 Inductees:
- Roosevelt Sykes
- Bailey's Lucky Seven
2012 Inductees:
- Scrapper Blackwell
- Jelly Roll Morton
Read more about this topic: Gennett Records
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