If you want to learn more about the black music history in Cincinnati you need to check out The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame.
The interactive permanent tourism attraction highlights black artists in the music industry with ties to the Queen City.
Where is The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame Located?
The Cincinnati Black Music Hall of Fame is located the Ohio riverbanks at 190 W Mehring Way, Cincinnati, OH next to the Andrew J. Brady Music Center.
Paycor Stadium is a short distance west of the WOF and Smale Riverfront Park that resides along the Ohio River is located south of the WOF across the street.
When is The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame Open?
The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame is open from 6 AM -11 PM with a light show at 9 PM and 11 PM.
This one of a kind family tourism attraction is FREE to visit and is accessible to all because it is free of stairs.
The displays will also feature copy in braille and a haptic panel that will allow hearing impaired visitors to “feel” the music.
Cincinnati is proud to host this international state-of-the-art, outdoor interactive permanent tourism attraction!
Who Does The Cincinnati Black Music Hall of Fame Honor?
The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame celebrates the legacy and untold stories of music artists, songwriters, producers, and musicians from Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and Southwest Ohio.
When Did the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame Open?
The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame opened on Saturday, July 22, 2023 and was founded and created by Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece.
The celebration began with the historic grand opening of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame and featured a special performance by The Ohio Players and induction ceremony.
2023 Inductees:
- The Deele – which featured famous music personalities LA Reid, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Carlos Greene, Kevin Robertson, and Darnell Bristol
- “Godfather of Soul” James Brown
- Philippé Wynne – the lead singer from The Spinners known for “Rubberband Man”
- Gospel composer Louise Shropshire known for the lyrics of the hymn “If my Jesus wills”
2022 Inductees:
- Hi-Tek
- Midnight Star
- Penny Ford
- Wilbert Longmire
2021 Inductees:
- Dr. Charles Fold
- Otis Williams and the Charms
- The Isley Brothers
- William “Bootsy” Collins
Featured Influencers
- 24 Carat Black
- Barbara Howard
- John Legend
- Kathleen Battle
- The Ohio Players
- Kathy Wade
- Mamie Smith
- Mel Carter
- P. Ann Everson-Price
- Zapp & Roger
- Phelps “Catfish” Collins
- Randy Crawford
- Sheldon Reynolds
- Shirley Murdock
Listen to the Music of the Artist on Interactive Kiosks
My husband and I enjoyed discovering the variety of music showcased along the walkway by featured artists and groups.
After pushing the button on the interactive kiosks, we discovered that we recognized songs by many of the artists that we didn’t know by name.
Older visitors will especially appreciate the trip down memory lane with many of the songs.
It was fun to have so many “aha” moments after a few second of sounds from artists ranging from funk, jazz, pop, and gospel, to hip-hop, classical, R&B, and rock.
If you want to learn more about the artist’s history and legacy, scan QR codes on each display.
There is even an augmented reality experience that you can view that brings the artist’s work to life!
We learned so much along during our time at the The Cincinnati Black Music WOF!
Did you know that Antonio Marquis “L.A.” Reid was a Cincinnati native or that James Brown spent a lot of time recording at King Records?
Play Different Styles of Music on the Beat Maker Interactive Drum
Kids and adults will enjoying tapping the interactive drums to the beat.
The drum pad lights up when your supposed to tap it to help you stay on beat.
There are three different types of genres that you to test your drum skills on.
Record Your Dance Moves
The Walk of Fame has interactive displays where you can show off and record your dance moves.
Play in a Band With Bootsy Collins
This interactive display is a lot of fun!
You stand on the designated footprints and you’re assigned an instrument to play.
Bootsy Collins leads the band with vocals and you’ll see yourself and other participants on the screen playing along on the drums, bass guitar and keyboard.
The Cincinnati Music Festival Display
The Cincinnati Music Festival takes place in late July each year at Paycor Stadium and the Black Music History Walk of Fame is must for concert attendees while they’re downtown.
The annual Cincinnati music festival draws over 50,000 in attendance with top R&B artists. Headliners from previous years included Babyface, Snoop Dogg, Al Green, Big Daddy Kane, Jill Scott,
Stay Connected to The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame
You can connect with The Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame on their website, Facebook and Instagram.
