Athens Music Walk of Fame

In 2020, the first ten inductees of the Athens Music Walk of Fame were installed in a two-square-block area in downtown Athens bounded by Pulaski Street, West Washington Street, North Lumpkin Street, and West Clayton Street. The walk passes several renowned music venues in western downtown, including the Morton Theatre, the 40 Watt Club, and the Georgia Theatre. In continuation of recognition of the artists who have helped make Athens a destination for music fans, the Athens Music Walk of Fame Committee selects five inductees each year to add to the walk. 

2020 Inductees

1. The B-52s

The B-52s are an American rock band that formed in 1976 in Athens, Georgia, United States. A major part of the new wave scene, the band started out as Fred Schneider (vocals), Kate Pierson (vocals, organ), Cindy Wilson (vocals, bongos), Ricky Wilson (guitar), and Keith Strickland (drums).

2. Danger Mouse (Brian Joseph Burton)

Brian Joseph Burton, known professionally as Danger Mouse, is an American musician and record producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from the Beatles' The Beatles, also known as The White Album. In 2008, Esquire named him one of the "75 most influential people of the 21st century"

3. Drive-By Truckers

Based in Athens, Georgia, the Drive-by Truckers are a southern rock band. Renowned for earnest songwriting, a heavy touring schedule, and a distinctive musical style drawing from southern rock, country, R&B, punk, and soul, the group has developed a devoted following across the world. The band is known for its robust three-guitar sound, which has been likened to that of legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

4. The Elephant 6 Recording Company

A musical collective connected to Athens, GA. Notable bands associated with the collective include the Apples in Stereo, Beulah, Circulatory System, Elf Power, the Minders, Neutral Milk Hotel, of Montreal, and the Olivia Tremor Control. Although bands in Elephant 6 explore many different genres, they have a shared interest in psychedelic pop of the 1960s. Their music sometimes features intentionally low fidelity production and experimental recording techniques.

5. Hall Johnson

Born in Athens, GA, Hall Johnson was a highly regarded African American choral director, composer, arranger, and violinist who dedicated his career to preserving the integrity of the Black spiritual as it had been performed during the era of slavery. The Ware-Lyndon House Museum at the Lyndon House Arts Center has an exhibit entitled Resilient Civic and Musical Life which features Hall Johnson, as a descendant of persons enslaved by the families there. 

6. Neal Pattman

Born in Madison County, GA, Pattman was an American electric blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. Sometimes billed as Big Daddy Pattman, he is best known for his self-penned tracks, "Prison Blues" and "Goin' Back To Georgia". In the latter, and most notable stages of his long career, Pattman worked with Cootie Stark, Taj Mahal, Dave Peabody, Jimmy Rip, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Guitar Gabriel, and Lee Konitz.

7. Pylon

An American new wave/post-punk band from Athens, Georgia, United States. The band's danceable sound, a blend of new wave, post-punk, jangle pop, alternative rock and funk rock, influenced the Athens music scene and the 1980s American pop underground. AllMusic wrote that Pylon's "role as elder statesmen of the alternative rock explosion is unassailable"

8. R.E.M.

An American rock band from Athens, Georgia, that was formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist/backing vocalist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe. R.E.M. was pivotal in the creation and development of the alternative rock genre.

9. Vic Chesnutt

James Victor Chesnutt was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990. His commercial breakthrough came in 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a charity record of alternative artists covering his songs.

10. Widespread Panic

A rock band from Athens, Georgia, United States in 1986, originally formed by John Bell and the late Michael Houser. The band currently consists of Bell (vocals, guitar), Jimmy Herring (guitar), Dave Schools (bass), John "JoJo" Hermann (keyboards), Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz (percussion) and Todd Nance (drums).

2021 Inductees

11. Bob Cole

Born in Athens in 1868, Cole was a national figure around the turn of the 20th century, best known for collaborating with brothers J. Rosamond and James Weldon Johnson on over 200 compositions. Cole helped elevate vaudeville performance beyond minstrelsy and stereotyping towards the sentimental, romantic, and elegant.

12. Lo Down & Duddy

Groundbreakers of local hip hop, this duo helped put Athens on this genre’s map with appearances on national television with David Letterman, collaborations with Bubba Sparxxx, Timbaland, Yung Joc, and tours with musicians such as Blink-182 and Maroon 5.

13. Of Montreal

Lead performer and songwriter Kevin Barnes has solidified of Montreal’s reputation by releasing an album per year for over two decades; still active and touring, they have become a mainstay in psychedelic pop nationally while continuing to call Athens home.

14. Nuci’s Space / Linda Phillips

Phillips established Nuçi’s Space on the eastern edge of downtown Athens in 2000 with the expressed mission of preventing and ending suicide; over the years, Nuçi’s Space has expanded its mission as a health and resource center for Athens musicians to include low-cost rehearsal space, free legal advice, and support of the musician community in countless other ways.

15. Art Rosenbaum

Known also as a visual artist, University of Georgia professor emeritus, musician, and folklorist Rosenbaum has documented Athens-area and other traditional musicians around the country, winning a 2008 Best Historical Album Grammy award for his Art of Field Recording Volume I: Fifty Years of Traditional American Music Documented by Art Rosenbaum.

2022 Inductees

16. Bloodkin

Danny Hutchens and Eric Carter arrived in Athens in 1986. Already musical partners, they formed Bloodkin and created music beloved in Athens and beyond for the next 35 years. During that time, they released 8 studio albums and a 5-disc boxed set of outtakes. Their songs have been covered by many artists, most notably fellow Athens Walk of Famers, Widespread Panic, including a top 40 Billboard single, "Can't Get High." Danny Hutchens died in 2021. Eric Carter continues to make music as Bloodkin, with a rotating cast of respected musicians.

17. Tituss Burgess

Born and raised in Athens, attending Cedar Shoals High School and graduating from the University of Georgia’s School of Music, Tituss Burgess is an award winning singer, actor and theater performer best known for his high tenor voice and his leading role on the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, for which he received five Primetime Emmy Award Nominations. A veteran of the stage, Burgess made his Broadway debut in 2005 as Eddie in Good Vibrations. Since, he has held many memorable roles on the Broadway stage including Hal Miller in Jersey Boys, Sebastian the Crab in The Little Mermaid, and Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the 2009 revival of Guys and Dolls.

18. The Glands

There are some artists whose influence is not so much in having hit records, but in influencing other artists. Such is the case with the Glands. Their two original studio albums, Double Thriller (1997) and The Glands (2000) were indie rock classics. In 2018, two years after the passing of band leader Ross Shapiro, New West Records released a box set titled I Can See Your House from Here that included remastered vinyl versions of the two original albums, and a new 23-track album, Double Coda. A posthumous NPR Music review stated, “Shapiro built hooks that betrayed both sardonic armor and a soft heart. Lively but nonchalant, the band stood on the accelerator, even as the frame rattled to pieces.”

19. Ishues

Deemed one of the ‘architects’ of the local hip hop scene, rapper Ishues (born Ismeal Cuthbertson) has toured the world from California to South Africa, representing Athens, performing with legendary acts like KRS-One. In addition to his contributions to music, he’s dedicated to the community, serving as a co-founder of local youth organization, Chess and Community. After a hiatus from music, Ishues continues to record and collaborate with emerging artists.

20. Love Tractor

Founded in 1980 by guitarists Mark Cline and Mike Richmond, and bassist Armistead Wellford, students at the University of Georgia, Love Tractor are veterans of Athens’ new wave “golden era”. The band re-formed in 1996 recording 2001's The Sky at Night and 2015’s A Trip to the Museum. Their early albums have been reissued, nearly four decades after original release, proving their music to be not only important to the Athens scene’s formative years, but timeless as well.

2023 Inductees

21. Monroe Bowers “Pink” Morton

Monroe Morton (July 31, 1856 – February 12, 1919) was a prominent building owner, publisher, building contractor, developer, and postmaster in late 19thcentury Georgia. An African American, he lived most of his life in Athens, Georgia, where he published a newspaper and built the Morton Building. The building included the Morton Theatre on its upper floors, a vaudeville venue, and offices for African-American professionals including doctors and pharmacists on its ground floor. His theater, sometimes referred to as Morton's Opera House, hosted many prominent African American performers including from New York City's Cotton Club. Performers at the theater included Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway.

22. Normaltown Flyers

The Normaltown Flyers have been playing their good time/up tempo music since 1979. Band members are Brian Burke (vocals, acoustic and electric guitars), Tom Ryan (bass, vocals, and saxophone), Davis Causey (electric guitar and vocals), along with newer additions Deane Quinter (on drums and percussion) and Tim White (keyboards). Through the years John Keane (of John Keane studios) has been very instrumental in helping the band with recordings and occasionally joins them on stage. The Flyers gained popularity with their regular performances at Allen's in Athens, Georgia and in other regional venues. In 1989 they attracted the attention of legendary Nashville producer Harold Shedd. Harold signed the band to Mercury/Nashville in 1990. They produced two CDs and two excellent videos for "Rockin' the Love Boat" and "Country Boy's Dream."

23. Jackie Payne

Jackie Payne is an American blues singer. Payne was born in Athens, Georgia. He trained as a singer in his father's gospel choir and learned the blues from his uncle, Neal Pattman, who played harmonica. By the age of 13, he was singing professionally with the Allen Swing Band in Atlanta. He later joined an R&B group called The Serenaders. He moved to Houston, Texas in 1963, at the age of 17, and recorded his first regional hit, "Go Go Train" on the Jetstream label in 1965. He was nominated in both 2007 and 2008 for the Blues Music Award for Best Male Soul Blues Artist; an album he recorded with Johnny Otis was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1993.

24. Calvin Orlando Smith

A graduate of Cedar Shoals High School and the University of Georgia, Calvin Orlando Smith went on to be the first African-American accepted into Cambridge University’s prestigious Department of History of Art and Architecture and receive a degree. As a performer, he has performed in three Broadway productions and appeared in seven national, international and or limited tours. Mr. Smith has worked regionally for 40 years as a member of the Actor’s Equity Association and shared the stage with Morgan Fairchild, Cathy Rigby, Florence Henderson, Ben Vereen, JK Simmons, Isaac Hayes, the New Kids on the Block and most recently Garth Brooks. In June 2022, he made his Carnegie Hall debut in Brahms’ “Requiem”.

25. WUOG

WUOG 90.5 FM is the University of Georgia’s alternative college radio station. It is an all-student, all-volunteer, non-commercial station, first broadcast on October 16, 1972, now celebrating over 50 years of operations. On February 21, 2009, the lobby of the WUOG station inside of the Tate Center was named in honor of Wilbur Herrington for his service as station engineer since the station's first broadcast in 1972. It was on WUOG that R.E.M. were first broadcast; a live recording of "Hippy, Hippy Shake" was played in the summer of 1980. Drummer Bill Berry was also in a short-lived combo of radio personalities from the station, known as the WUOGerz. WUOG offers regular rotation programming as well as specialty shows. The program "Live in the Lobby," broadcast on Tuesday and Thursday each week, features live on air in-studio sessions from local Georgia musical artists.

2024 Inductees

26. 40 Watt Club

Originally a nickname given to Pylon’s rehearsal space located above 171 College Ave, the first “40 Watt Club” was christened in 1979. After changing locations and ownership over the years, the legendary music venue moved to its fifth and present-day location, at 285 West Washington Street under the direction of current owner Barrie Buck.

27. Bar-B-Q Killers

An alternative rock band from Athens, with the late Laura Carter (vocals, guitar), Claire Horne (guitar), David Judd (bass) and Arthur Johnson (drums). They released the album Comely in 1986. They performed on Athens, GA: Inside/Out (1987), a video documentary that was an important document of Georgia music culture.

28. George Fontaine Sr.

A UGA graduate, Fontaine is the co-founder of New West Records, based in Athens and Nashville, and co-founder of Normaltown Records with his son, George Fontaine Jr. Fontaine was part of a team that converted the Georgia Theatre into a music venue in 1978.

29. John Keane

John Keane is an American record producer based in Athens, Georgia, who has worked extensively with R.E.M., Indigo Girls and Widespread Panic. He owns and operates John Keane Studios in Athens, his hometown, which opened in 1981 and is still in operation today.

30. James R. Smith / Voices of Truth

Directed by co-founder James R. Smith, this choir specializes in traditional choral music including hymns, spirituals, anthems and gospels. They have performed for over 40 years and continue to preserve the roots of sacred music, focusing on the traditions that helped African Americans survive slavery.