On Monday, October 10th, four incredible legends of Nashville music were posthumously honored with their induction into the Music City Walk of Fame. Country-folk and Americana singer-songwriter John Prine; country and pop vocalist Patsy Cline; Fisk Jubilee Singers® director Dr. Paul T. Kwami, and major industry executive Ed Hardy received this honor in a beautiful ceremony in Music City Walk of Fame Park.
These nominees represent the 94th, 95th, 96th, and 97th stars to have their names installed on the famous walkway. Their names are now embedded in the walk just across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Family members of each major music figurehead received the award on their behalf. And music city legends Brenda Lee, Trisha Yearwood, CeCe Winans, and Garth Brooks had the honor of presenting the awards.
A Statement From the Chairman
“Each of these four inductees left an enduring mark on Music City, and their influence continues today,” said chairman of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Kevin Lavender in a statement. “The Music City Walk of Fame is proud to pay tribute to these legends with their induction, and we are especially honored to have their family members attend to accept on their behalf.”
Who Are the Inductees?
Here’s some more information on the life and legacy of these four incredible Music City legends:
John Prine
Over the course of his life, Prine received four GRAMMY awards, a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, seven Americana Music Awards, a PEN New England Lyrics Award, and became a member of both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Prine is well-known for bridging the gap between country folk and mainstream pop. He worked with the likes of everyone from Johnny Cash to Norah Jones to the Zac Brown Band. He passed away on April 7, 2020.
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline one of the most classic performers of country music, seeing as she bridged the gap between country and the mainstream like few could. She got her big break in 1957 through the television broadcast of the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts, and she became an instant smash hit. Notably, she was the first female country artist to perform at both Carnegie Hall and The Hollywood Bowl and the first female country artist to headline her own show in Las Vegas. She passed away in 1963 in a plane crash.
Dr. Paul T. Kwami
From 1994-2022, Dr. Kwami was the director of The Fisk Jubilee Singers®. And he is known for bringing the historic a capella black spiritual ensemble into the 21st century. Kwami led the group to win their first GRAMMY award in 2020 for the Album Celebrating Fisk! The Group has also won a National Medal of the Arts, the Americana Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Legacy Award, the National Museum of African American Music’s Rhapsody & Rhythm Award, and a Dove Award, in addition to their induction to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Music City Walk of Fame. He died on September 10, 2022, in Nashville.
Ed Hardy
Ed Hardy was a dedicated contributor to the growth and expansion of Nashville’s music and hospitality industries. According to the Tenessee Tribune, he was the chairman of Music City Inc., the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp foundation, and previously served on the NCVC Board of Directors, including as chairman. During his career, he served as President of Great American Country (GAC) from 2004 until his retirement in 2012. Hardy served as President and Chairman of the Country Music Association Board of Directors. He was also CMA’s interim director in 2013 and on the CMA Foundation Board of Directors from 2014-2021.
