By Bernadette Watson
Herald Contributor
Hamilton County Commissioner and founder of the new Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame (CBMWF), Alicia Reece announced the CBMWF Induction Ceremony and dedication will take place at the Andrew Brady Music Center on Saturday, July 23 from Noon-3 p.m. during the Cincinnati Music Festival weekend. The CBMWF induction ceremony and celebration will be free and open to the public.
“The Cincinnati Music Festival Weekend is one of the largest African American music festivals in the country and has a major economic impact on our county. Our county and state have a rich history of African American music artists, producers, and song writers and our Black Music Walk of Fame will ensure a permanent place to recognize their accomplishments for the entire world to see,” says Commissioner Reece. “This partnership creates a mega music weekend.”
Commissioner Reece, whose late mother was a national recording artist who performed at the music festival many years ago and father owned an independent label, expressed that her parents met through music, and she grew up being exposed to a lot of artists and heard many of their stories, but those stories and their accomplishments had not been captured in a permanent way.
“I would not be here if the music had not brought my parents together. That’s how they met. The CBMWF will be a permanent place to honor our African American music legends and allow everyone to see their worldwide music impact. Most of the inductees we will be honoring have performed at the music festival over the years.”
The CBMWF is a new interactive outdoor park being built by Hamilton County across from the county’s NFL Paul Brown Stadium which is home of the AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals and the Cincinnati Music Festival. Stars of the founding members of the CBMWF – Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Bootsy Collins and the Isley Brothers, Gospel Grammy Winner Dr. Charles Fold, and Doo-wop Hall of Famer Otis Williams will be unveiled along with the new 2022 Induction class which will be announced during Black Music Month this June. “There is nothing like this in the country to date,” added Commissioner Reece.
The Cincinnati Music Festival Weekend will headline Janet Jackson and Charlie Wilson at Paul Brown Stadium and will also feature a themed Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame lounge. Procter & Gamble is the presenting sponsor of both the Cincinnati Music Festival and the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame festivities.
