Stars Come Out To Celebrate Philly Music History As Philadelphia Music Alliance & Avenue Of The Arts Present 2015 Walk Of Fame Gala & Induction Ceremony
The Roots, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, Billie Holiday, Cinderella, The Trammps, Andrea McArdle, WOGL’s Harvey Holiday To Be Honored in Style at First Evening Gala in Over 20 Years
Monday, Oct. 26 at the New Fillmore Philadelphia
Hosted by SNL’s Joe Piscopo with Special Guest Appearances by Dionne Warwick, Mayor Michael Nutter, Broadway’s “Annie” creator Martin Charnin, WMMR’s Jacky Bam Bam, Philadelphia Sports Hall of Famer Sonny Hill, American Idol Alum Haley Reinhart, “The Geator” Jerry Blavat, and More!
Original Members of The Trammps to Reunite for First Performance in 30 Years
Additional Live Performances by ‘American Idol’s’ Haley Reinhart, School of Rock, Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts Choir, Urban Guerrilla Orchestra
Charity Auction to Include Billboard Music Awards Tickets, ‘Flower Power’ Cruise, ‘Tonight Show’ Tickets, and More High Profile Items
PHILADELPHIA (October 16, 2015) For the first time in more than two decades, the Philadelphia Music Alliance (PMA) will be hosting a stellar evening gala to celebrate its newest group of inductees on the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame.
The PMA and the Avenue of the Arts, Inc., proudly present the 2015 WALK OF FAME GALA on Monday, Oct. 26, honoring The Roots, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, Billie Holiday, Cinderella, The Trammps, Andrea McArdle, and WOGL air personality Harvey Holiday at the new Fillmore Philadelphia, frequently hailed as “the most beautiful club in America.”
Afternoon ceremonies inducting the Walk of Fame’s Class of 2015 will be held the same day along the Avenue of the Arts in front of the Kimmel Center, with live music by the Philly Pops Brass Band.
Saturday Night Live alum Joe Piscopo will be hosting the grand evening gala, with special guest appearances by Dionne Warwick, Mayor Michael Nutter, Broadway’s “Annie” creator Martin Charnin; WMMR’s Jacky Bam Bam, Philadelphia Sports Hall of Famer Sonny Hill, “The Geator” Jerry Blavat, and more surprises to be announced. A 30-year reunion of the original surviving members of The Trammps will highlight an array of live performances by American Idol alum Haley Reinhart, the School of Rock, and the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Choir. The world-renowned Urban Guerilla Orchestra will be the house band for the evening.
The sold-out event, with catering by Wolfgang Puck, will include a charity auction with high profile items including:
- Two (2) Floor tickets to the Billboard Music Awards 2016
- A veranda cabin for two (2) on StarVista Live’s “Flower Power” Cruise starring Blood, Sweat and Tears feat. Bo Bice, Micky Dolenz (The Monkees), Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, Jefferson Starship, The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie, The Guess Who, and more
- Four (4) tickets to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
With 16 Grammy Awards and a Tony Award nomination among the new honorees, spanning the musical gamut from Jazz, Country, Disco, Hip Hop/Neo Soul, Rock, Broadway and radio, the long-awaited return of the evening gala considerably amplifies the vital significance of the Philadelphia Music Alliance and Walk of Fame as its 30th anniversary approaches in 2016.
“Celebrating this tremendous array of legendary talent during a gala event at the prestigious new Fillmore is a major step in reiterating our level of importance to the music and business communities of Philadelphia,” says PMA Board Chairman Alan Rubens. “This enables us to enhance our mission of honoring and helping to support the future of the vast musical talent that continues to come out of our city.”
The PMA also is honoring the CAPA Foundation, with the Educational Award, a financial donation for Outstanding Excellence in Arts and Music. The CAPA Foundation is an independent non-profit organization providing sustained support to CAPA High School students by engaging CAPA alumni and parents, the Philadelphia arts community, corporate partners and foundations focused on arts education. The CAPA Foundation was formed in response to a $1.1 million cut in the operating budget of The Roots’ alma mater as a result of the School District of Philadelphia budget crisis.
Frank Giordano will be honored with the Platinum Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Philadelphia Music Community. The Platinum Award is given to an individual, organization or company that has been a leader and champion in supporting the music making community in a significant way. Mr. Giordano’s significant contributions to Philadelphia’s music community include his work with The Philly Pops, and the Philly Youth Orchestra.
Major sponsors include Live Nation, Hotel Monaco Stratus Lounge, Great Lakes Brewery, Philadelphia Distilling, ESM Productions, Blank Rome, LLP, O’Donnell & Naccarato Inc, The Clayman Foundation, Martell Cognac, Replica Creative, and Vinedrea Wines.
About the Philadelphia Music Alliance
The Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame is a living tribute to Philadelphia’s rich music history and a vital force unifying the city’s diverse cultural communities along the Avenue of the Arts. The Philadelphia Music Alliance is a community-based, non-profit (501c3) organization, with an overall mission to shed new light on the City’s cultural legacy and incredible contribution to the world of music past, present and future as a major tourist attraction, and to encourage the creation, celebration and historical preservation of Philadelphia music.