The stars aligned in the sky and on the paved ground as attendees on a special weekend afternoon in Cincinnati, OH. The 2023 inductees of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame were celebrated and received due honor and recognition for being trailblazers in the industry.
Local officials and music industry titans stood together at the ribbon cutting, celebrating the official grand opening of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame.
“The stories behind the Black artists and musicians will be permanent,” said Alicia Reece, Founder of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame. “People from all over the world can come learn and be inspired to go forward. Make no mistake about it, this is a tourism attraction.”
Reece, who also serves as the Hamilton County Commissioner, has been a rising star in Ohio politics, serving previous roles on city council, state legislature, and a Vice Mayor. She was instrumental in recommending the Black Music Walk of Fame and raising the money to make it happen.
She draws inspiration from her career climb and public service from her parents. Her father, Dr. Steven Reece, served as Chief of Staff for the Black Mayor of Cincinnati, and her late mother, Barbara Reece, a singer who participated in Steven’s popular talent show, Operation Step Up.
The program aimed to bring positivity to communities following the riots of 1968, which spurred riots.
Reece would become impressed with the talent of 18-year-old Barbara Howard. They would eventually collaborate on an album and marry one another, which would begin a 38-year love affair.
Both of her parents were entrepreneurs with can-do and go-get-it mindsets. That, coupled with a parental foundation in politics and music, gave Reece an appreciation for the business of music and what artists give to their audiences: inspiration.
Reece’s vision for a public Walk of Fame installation to celebrate trailblazing artists has been a long time coming. With her tenacity, energy, and political savviness, what was once a dream ultimately led to taxpayer support, corporate funding, construction, and opening of a new frontier to honor the history of Black Music along the Ohio River banks.
On July 1, 2021, the idea was unanimously passed, and later the same month, the first induction ceremony was held for Boosty Collins, the Isley Brothers, Dr. Charles Foyd, and Otis Williams. Later the same year, construction for the international state-of-the-art outdoor attraction would begin.
In July 2023, over 2,000 attendees dressed in white were joined in celebration inside The Andrew J. Brady Music Center just before the outdoor grand opening of the Walk of Fame.
The 2023 Induction Ceremony celebrated The Deele, James Brown, Philippé Wynne, and Louise Shropshire.
“I’m really happy, happy for the band, happy for my brothers,” said L.A. Reid, record producer and founding member of The Deele.
The Deele was a band comprised of Cincinnati musicians such as Reid, who played drums, and even Babyface.
Reid added: “Being Cincinnati natives, this isn’t something that happens every day in Cincinnati, so I’m really thankful that Alicia Reese with her vision and tenacity, relationships, was able to pull together off so beautiful. I’m really honored.”
Godfather of Soul and funk legend James Brown is honored as a star on the Walk of Fame. His fame peaked in the 1960s with hit singles such as “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” and “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World World” from his live album, Live at the Apollo.
“I feel good!” said Dr. Deanna Brown, daughter of the late James Brown, accepting the honor.
“This is manifestation day. This is a blessing. My father started at King records many years ago and helped a lot of careers. We’re thankful. That we can be here in order to say, these are the shoulders that we stand on.”
“I didn’t want these stories to die, they must live on from generation to generation,” Reece said. “These stories will live forever. People will be able to come here and be educated and be inspired.”
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