Georgia native Ray Charles among Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame inductees
The Atlanta-based Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame has announced its 2022 inductees. The next group to be honored consists of Georgia native Ray Charles, Cicely Tyson, Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy.
The awards ceremony will be Feb. 17, during Black History Month.
In addition to those four foundational inductees, the Walk of Fame will honor:
- Lionel Richie as a legacy artist
- Mary J. Blige as mainstream female
- Prince as mainstream male
- TLC as mainstream female group
- New Edition as mainstream male group
- Yolanda Adams as female gospel
- Donald Lawrence as male gospel
- BeBe and CeCe Winans as gospel group
- Snoop Dogg as male hip-hop
- Lauryn Hill as female hip-hop
- Tyler Perry as mainstream mogul
The Walk of Fame is near Mercedes-Benz Stadium, close to the intersection of Northside and Martin Luther King Jr. drives. It is a collaboration between the Georgia Entertainment Caucus and the Black American Music Association. Plans call for at least an annual — if not twice-yearly — ceremony to honor Black entertainment greatness with plaques installed along the sidewalk.
The inaugural class was inducted in June and included Otis Redding, James Brown, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Shirley Caesar, Missy Elliott, OutKast, Beyonce, Sean Combs, Kirk Franklin and Usher.
About the Author
Nancy Clanton is a lead producer for The AJC's platforms team, but also writes stories about health, travel, events and entertainment. A native of Knoxville and graduate of the University of Tennessee, she has worked at the AJC for 24 years.
