StarWalk

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The StarWalk in Nashville, Tennessee was an outdoor display of cement plaques honoring country music artists who had won Grammy Awards. [1] Honorees left handprints and other personal markings along with written messages in the cement in the manner of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. [1] At its opening, it was touted as "the country music equivalent to the Hollywood Walk of Fame". [2]

Nashville, Tennessee State capital and consolidated city-county in Tennessee, United States

Nashville is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Tennessee. The city is the county seat of Davidson County and is located on the Cumberland River. The city's population ranks 24th in the U.S. According to 2017 estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, the total consolidated city-county population stood at 691,243. The "balance" population, which excludes semi-independent municipalities within Davidson County, was 667,560 in 2017.

Country music, also known as country and western, and hillbilly music, is a genre of popular music that originated in the southern United States in the early 1920s. It takes its roots from genres such as folk music and blues.

Graumans Chinese Theatre movie theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles

TCL Chinese Theatre is a movie palace on the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6925 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California. Originally named and still commonly known as Grauman's Chinese Theatre, it was renamed Mann's Chinese Theatre in 1973; the name lasted until 2001, after which it reverted to its original name. On January 11, 2013, Chinese electronics manufacturer TCL Corporation purchased the facility's naming rights, under which it is officially known as TCL Chinese Theatre.

Contents

Background

The StarWalk project was a joint venture of the Fountain Square entertainment district and the Nashville branch of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. [2] Fountain Square was a large area developed for business, shopping, and entertainment by Aladdin Resources Inc. [1] The cement plaques formed a low wall running along a scenic lakeside pedestrian path. [1] Each plaque was framed in brass, measured 3'×6', and weighed 700 pounds. [1]

Honorees

An announcement gala was held on January 27, 1987 to promote the project and reveal the first 10 inductees: Alabama, Chet Atkins, the Charlie Daniels Band, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Milsap, the Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Reed, Conway Twitty, and Dottie West. [1] The inaugural ceremony in August 1987 brought the number up to a total of 50, and most of them arrived in person to leave their marks. Beyond the 10 previously announced, inductees included Johnny Cash, Rosanne Cash, Tammy Wynette, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Lynn Anderson, and Ricky Skaggs. [2]

Alabama (band) American country and rock music band

Alabama is an American country and Southern rock band formed in Fort Payne, Alabama, in 1969. The band was founded by Randy Owen and his cousin Teddy Gentry. They were soon joined by their other cousin, Jeff Cook. First operating under the name Wildcountry, the group toured the Southeast bar circuit in the early 1970s, and began writing original songs. They changed their name to Alabama in 1977 and following the chart success of two singles, were approached by RCA Records for a record deal.

Chet Atkins American guitarist and record producer

Chester Burton Atkins, known as "Mr. Guitar" and "The Country Gentleman", was an American musician, occasional vocalist, songwriter, and record producer, who along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, among others, created the country music style that came to be known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country music's appeal to adult pop music fans. He was primarily known as a guitarist. He also played the mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and ukulele.

Crystal Gayle American country music singer

Crystal Gayle is an American country music artist. Gayle began her career in the 1960s performing in the background of her sibling's bands, most notably Loretta Lynn. It was Lynn who helped her sister sign a recording contract with Decca Records in 1970 where she enjoyed minor success. Encouraged by Lynn to develop her own musical identity, Gayle signed a new recording contract with United Artists Records in 1974. A collaboration with producer Allen Reynolds brought forth major success by shifting her music towards a country pop style. In 1975, "Wrong Road Again" became Gayle's first major hit. However, it was in 1977 when Gayle achieved her biggest success with the single "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". The song topped the Billboard country chart, crossed over to the top five of the Billboard Hot 100, and became a major international hit.

The developers planned to induct five past or future Grammy winners every year. [1] The original wall had room for 150 commemorative plaques, and space had been set aside for expansion. [1] Later inductees included Dolly Parton (1988), [3] Jeannie C. Riley (1989), [4] the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1990), [5] Garth Brooks (1992), [6] Emmylou Harris (1993), [7] Brooks & Dunn, and Earl and Randy Scruggs (1997). [8]

Dolly Parton American singer-songwriter and actress

Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, actress, author, businesswoman, and philanthropist, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album debut in 1967 with Hello, I'm Dolly. With steady success during the remainder of the 1960s, her sales and chart peak came during the 1970s and continued into the 1980s. Parton's albums in the 1990s sold less well, but she achieved commercial success again in the new millennium and has released albums on various independent labels since 2000, including her own label, Dolly Records.

Jeannie C. Riley American singer

Jeannie C. Riley is an American country music and gospel singer.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band American band

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, an American country rock band, has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California, in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded as the Dirt Band. Constant members since the early times are singer-guitarist Jeff Hanna and drummer Jimmie Fadden. Multi-instrumentalist John McEuen was with the band from 1966 to 1986 and returned during 2001, staying 16 years, then departing again in November 2017. Keyboardist Bob Carpenter joined the band in 1977. The band is often cited as instrumental to the progression of contemporary country and roots music.

Later years

By the early 1990s, the StarWalk had been transferred to a new home at Opryland theme park. [6] After that venue closed in December 1997, the plaques were moved to locations outside the Grand Ole Opry House. [4] [9]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "A Permanent Shrine for Country Music Grammy Winners" (PDF). Cashbox . February 7, 1987. pp. 24, 27. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Country Music Stars Initiate Sidewalk Memorial". APNews.com . August 5, 1987. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  3. ↑ Staff (February 17, 1988). "Dolly Parton leaves prints at Star Walk". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. p. A2. Archived from the original on January 22, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. 1 2 Mayor, Alan (2014). The Nashville Family Album: A Country Music Scrapbook. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 76–77. ISBN   146688567X.
  5. ↑ Hurst, Jack (July 19, 1990). "Variety Works". Chicago Tribune .
  6. 1 2 Goldsmith, Thomas (March 19, 1992). "New stars travel Starwalk". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. p. 41. Archived from the original on March 1, 2019 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. ↑ Mayor, Alan (2014). The Nashville Family Album: A Country Music Scrapbook. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 84–85. ISBN   146688567X.
  8. ↑ Filippo, Chet (August 9, 1997). "Nashville Scene". Billboard . p. 24.
  9. ↑ Chappell, Susan (2000). The Opryland Insider's Guide to Nashville. New York: Random House. p. 19. ISBN   0345408837.
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