BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC ASSOCIATION (BAM) AND GEORGIA ENTERTAINMENT CAUCUS (GEC) ANNOUNCE BLACK MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT WALK OF FAME NOMINEES FOR INAUGURAL CLASS 2021
Black American Music Association (BAM) Founders Michael Mauldin and Demmette Guidry, and Georgia Entertainment Caucus (GEC) Founders State Representative Erica Thomas and Catherine Brewton, announced the inaugural class of nominees for the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame (BMEWOF) at a private reception at The Gathering Spot ATL hosted by V-103’s Kenny Burns.
Special guests included GRAMMY® Award-winning Rapper and Actor, Ludacris, GRAMMY® Award-winning Producer and Songwriter, Dallas Austin, Stellar Award winner Isaac Carree, Actor and TV personality, Miss Lawrence, and Head of Artist & Talent Relations for Spotify, Chaka Zulu.
The evening included a soul-stirring tribute Medley by R&B artist Jac Ross in honor of foundational inductees James Brown, Otis Redding and Quincy Jones, and a surprise performance by multiple GRAMMY® Award winner CeeLo Green of “Jesus Is Love.” He also shared a new poem, inspired by the event entitled, “To Know the Difference Between Being Black and Dark.”
Also in attendance were representatives from the Georgia House of Representatives Representative Debra Bazemore, Representative Calvin Smyre, Representative Miriam Paris, Representative William Boddie, Representative Derick Jackson, Representative CaMia Hopson, Representative Park Cannon, Atlanta City Councilman Antonio Brown, School Board Member Syntel Brown, Congressman Kwanza Hall, ID8 Multimedia Derek Dudley, Vice President of Events and Game Experience at Mercedes Benz Stadium Tameka Rish, Parker Poe Partners Ellen Smith and Jeff Cunningham, LEED AP and Vice President of Holder Construction Greer Gallagher, and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, City of Atlanta, Phillana Williams, GRAMMY® nominated Artist and Producer Sean Garrett, International Ventures’ Efe Ogbeni, One Music Fest Founder Jay Carter, as well as renowned artist, D.L. Warfield, who together with sculptor and historian Ed Dwight, created the “Crown Jewel of Excellence” emblem that will be embedded on the BMEWOF representing each inductee.
The first of its kind, the BMEWOF honors some of the most influential Black artists and entertainers in American history.
The first-class of inductees, selected from the nominees below, will officially be inducted during Black Music Month, June 2021, at a formal ceremony in Atlanta, Ga. With both a national and international appeal, the BMEWOF will be permanently installed in the historic downtown Atlanta area on the sidewalks of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Northside Drive.
It was an evening that made history with the announcement of the BMEWOF nominees and the passion shown by all who participated.
The following is a list of the nominees and presenters:
Presenter: Isaac Carree
Mainstream Male
- Charlie Wilson: Years active: 1972 – present (2017|RCA)
- Pharrell: Years active: 1994 – present (2020|Columbia)
- Usher: Years active: 1993 – present (2020|RCA)
- Maxwell: Years active: 1990 – present (2018|Columbia)
- Babyface: Years active: 1974 – present (2015|Def Jam)
Mainstream Female
- Beyoncé: Years active: 1997 – present (2020|Parkwood)
- Janet Jackson: Years active: 1973 – present (2018|Rhythm Nation/Cinq Music Group, LLC)
- Mariah Carey: Years active: 1989 – present (2020|Columbia)
- Mary J Blige: Years active: 1991 – present (2020|Def Jam)
- Anita Baker: Years active: 1979 – present (2012|Blue Note)
Presenter: Miss Lawrence
Gospel
- The Clark Sisters: Years active: 1966 – present (2020|Motown Gospel)
- Kirk Franklin: Years active: 1992 – present (2019|RCA Inspiration)
- BeBe & CeCe Winans: Years active: 1982 – present (2009|Malaco)
- Shirley Caesar: Years active: 1951 – present (2016|Light,eOne)
- Donald Lawrence (2019|Provident Label Group/Sony)
Presenter: Dallas Austin
Male Hip-Hop
- Nas: Years active: 1991 – present (2020|Mass Appeal)
- Outkast: Years active: 1992 – present (2006|LaFace)
- Run DMC: Years active: 1983 – present (2001|Arista)
- LL Cool J: Years active: 1984 – present (2016|G.O.A.T. Records)
- Public Enemy: Years active: 1985 – present (2020|Def Jam)
Female Hip-Hop
- Ms. Lauryn Hill: Years active: 1993 – present (2019|Sony Music Entertainment)
- Missy Elliott: Years active: 1991 – present (2020|Atlantic)
- MC Lyte: Years active: 1987 – present (2018|My Block Inc)
- Lil Kim: Years active: 1994 – present (2019|Queen Bee
- Entertainment/Entertainment One)
- Da Brat: Years active: 1992 – present (2020|Ishotcha Music/JABS Ent.)
Presenter: Ludacris
Music & Entertainment Mogul
- Sean Combs: Years active: 1990 – present
- Dr. Dre: Years active: 1985 – present
- Queen Latifah: Years active: 1989 – present
- Will Smith: Years active: 1986 – present
- Jay-Z: Years active: 1988 – present
Legacy Artists (1922 – 1979)
- Lionel Richie: Years active: 1968 – present (2019|Capitol Records)
- Diana Ross: Years active: 1956 – present (2006|Manhattan Records)
- Michael Jackson: Years active: 1964-2009 (In Memoriam)
- Stevie Wonder: Years active: 1961 – present (2020|UMG)
- Chaka Khan: Years active: 1970 – present (2019|Island)
Foundational Inductees
Quincy Jones – Presenter: Chaka Zulu
James Brown (In Memoriam) Presenter: Catherine Brewton
Otis Redding – (In Memoriam) Presenter: Michael Mauldin
About the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame
The Walk of Fame is a joint initiative by the Black American Music Association (BAM), a 501©(6) membership professional trade organization, and Georgia Entertainment Caucus (GEC), a 501©(4) organization. With both a national and international appeal, the BMEWOF will honor iconic individuals and organizations that have impacted Black culture and community alongside those who continue to lead us into the future.
About the Black American Music Association (BAM)
Founded in 2017, the Black American Music Association (BAM) is a 501(c)(6) membership professional trade organization comprised of music professionals, creators, scholars, stakeholders, and communities working to preserve, protect and promote the legacy and future of authentic Black American Music as an indigenous art form. BAM provides “a unity of purpose” for more than 42 stakeholder categories within Black American Music. And it utilizes the art form’s global cultural influence to impact local communities and empower future generations through professional training, education, preservation, financial literacy, and advocacy.
About the Georgia Entertainment Caucus (GEC)
The Georgia Entertainment Caucus is an Atlanta based organization that focuses on bridging the gap between the Georgia Political Sector and the Entertainment industry.
