Philadelphia Music Alliance Goes All Jazz With Walk Of Fame Additions
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Music Alliance (PMA) has inducted six new members in its walk of fame along the Avenue of the Arts in Center City.
For 30 years the PMA has been honoring those in the music industry with Philadelphia ties. Plaques line a portion of the Avenue of the Arts. There are about 130 of them. This year, they celebrate all that jazz.
Inductees are Benny Golson, Christian McBride, Jaco Pastorius, Jazz radio broadcaster Bob Perkins and Joey DeFrancesco. Defrancesco, a three-time Grammy nominee, is known as a master of the jazz organ. He says he is honored to be an inductee and likes the location of his plaque on the sidewalk right outside the Kimmel Center.
"Yes, I mean I don't want to sound too boastful," he said, "but we did get some really good real estate."
The founding artistic director of the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Anthony Checchia, was inducted in March and his plaque also was unveiled at the ceremony.
Byron Golson was there representing his cousin Benny Golson who was unable to attend.
"It is absolutely a special honor to be here on the Walk of Fame," Golson said. "The history of music and musicians is prolific and Philadelphia is definitely a city that supports the arts."
Bob Perkins liked his marker along Broad Street.
"When I finally go underground, I'll still be above ground," he joked. "That's pretty good."
Last year's inductees included Billie Holiday, Andrea McArtle, The Roots and The Trammps.
