The O’Jays with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff; Credit: Scott WeinerSoul greats The O’Jays, eclectic pop-rock group The Hooters and disco star Evelyn “Champagne” King. were among the seven inductees Tuesday into the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney presided over the event, during which bronze plaques were unveiled along the city’s Avenue of the Arts in front of Dorrance Hamilton Hall. This year’s other honorees included the Philadelphia Orchestra, music industry executive Jody Gerson, late philanthropist Dorrance “Dodo” Hamilton, and radio personality Pierre Robert.
You can watch video of the ceremony at the official Facebook page of the Philadelphia Music Alliance, which created the Walk of Fame to honor local music stars and promote the city’s contributions to the arts and culture.
After the ceremony, a gala celebration was held at The Bellevue Philadelphia that included performances by The O’Jays, The Hooters and King.
The legendary songwriting and production team of Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff inducted The O’Jays and presented the group with the Philadelphia Award. Todd Rundgren did the honors for The Hooters, while King was inducted by producer T. Life, who discovered the singer while she working as an office cleaner at Gamble & Huff’s Philadelphia International Records. Gamble, Huff and Rundgren are all previous Walk of Fame inductees.
As part of Roberts’ induction, Graham Nash and Bon Jovi members Jon Bon Jovi, Tico Torres and David Bryan sent video messages congratulating the veteran DJ.
Original MTV VJ and Philadelphia native Mark Goodman hosted the gala.
Several other Walk of Fame alumni were in attendance at the bash, including one-time teen idol Bobby Rydell, Labelle‘s Sarah Dash, The Dovells‘ Jerry Gross, and The Soul Survivors‘ Charlie Ingui.
Proceeds from the gala support the Philadelphia Music Alliance’s new Music Education Fund.
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