ATLANTA — A trio of legends was recognized before Black History Month ended in Atlanta on Feb. 28. Bobby Jones and Danny Glover were celebrated as the newest inductees of the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame along with Ambassador Andrew Young, who received the Crown Jewel of Excellence for his impact on U.S. and international culture.
“It’s so great for these legends to receive these kind words while they can still hear them,” the Walk of Fame brunch’s emcee Isaac Carree said.
Young was saluted for his work in the civil rights movement, as an elected official and entrepreneur. Glover was applauded for being an award-winning actor and working as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program. Jones was honored for his legacy in gospel music and being a host on “Bobby Jones Gospel.”
Other event attendees included Killer Mike, pastor Jamal Bryant and Yolanda Adams.
At the brunch, rolling out had the chance to catch up with Demmette Guidry, the co-founder of the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame, director Will Packer and producer Dallas Austin.
How do you define Black music?
Demmette Guidry: Black American music is the greatest art form on the planet. It’s all about narrative. If you can control the narrative, you can control the economics.
It’s important we celebrate the art form, first and foremost, but that it’s celebrated for us. It’s incredibly important to celebrate because, again, it’s the best art form on the planet. And there’s no better place than to do it here in Atlanta, which is the mecca of Black music and entertainment.
Dallas Austin: Excellence. Black music is a part of the culture. It’s like a diary for our existence and culture. It always has been. I think that now, it’s really about the voice. It’s all about voices elevating and having a voice to just communicate what’s actually going on in your culture. That’s what Black music really is for me.
Will Packer: Black music leads the culture. Black music sets the tone, sets the standard and leads the way. It’s about culture, it’s about people, it’s about a feeling. There’s nothing like Black music, and all music has derived from Black music.
