Gennett Records Walk of Fame – In an effort to recognize the achievements of the many talented musicians who recorded at the Gennett Studios in Richmond, the National Advisory Board of the Starr-Gennett Foundation met in 2006 to select its first ten members for its Walk of Fame, which is on the Cardinal Greenway Trail near the site of the original Starr Piano Company. Along the trail are three-dimensional, cast bronze emblems of the honored musicians implanted on the classic Gennett label design. Although the list of choices was organized into a vast array of categories including classical, ethnic, historic/spoken, blues, Gospel, old-time country, and American popular song, about half of the inductees so far are jazz musicians. The first two classes of inductees are given below, and the Foundation anticipates that the Walk of Fame will eventually include 80 musicians.
Louis Armstrong (2007)
Gene Autry (2007)
Sidney Bechet (2008)
Bix Beiderbecke (2007)
Hoagy Carmichael (2007)
Vernon Dalhart (2007)
Duke Ellington (2008)
Coleman Hawkins (2008)
Fletcher Henderson (2008)
Blind Lemon Jefferson (2008)
Guy Lombardo (2008)
Georgia Tom (aka Thomas A. Dorsey, 2007)
Uncle Dave Macon (2008)
Jelly Roll Morton (2007)
Joe “King” Oliver (2007)
Charley Patton (2008)
Homer Rodeheaver (2008)
Lawrence Welk (2007)