WHEREAS, Established in 1986, the Philadelphia Music Alliance is a community-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Philadelphia's rich musical legacy by increasing awareness of the City's great musical tradition and supporting the current music scene; and
WHEREAS, 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. On October 4th, the Class of 2017 will be added to the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame. This year’s inductees represent powerhouse vocals, signature anthems, soulful vibes, and production firsts within the R&B, pop and rock genres, with an emphasis on powerful and decorated women in music; and
WHEREAS, Jill Scott is a three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter,
New York Times
best-selling poet, and critically acclaimed actress. The platinum-selling triple threat began her career collaborating in the late '90s with Philly musical icons The Roots and Will Smith, as well as Common, and has garnered No. 1 albums that include “The Light In The Sun” and her most recent release, “WOMAN”; and
WHEREAS, Sister Sledge formed in 1971 as a Philadelphia vocal group among siblings Kathy, Kim, Debbie, and Joni Sledge as symbols of strong family values, and achieved international superstardom at the height of the disco era with their 1979 breakthrough album, "We Are Family," and its No. 1 smash title track, the Grammy-nominated anthem of togetherness written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the disco group Chic. Though the group scored several other hits into the next decade, the prevailing strength of “We Are Family” has enabled the sisters to perform for dignitaries from President Clinton to Pope Francis, while continuing to flourish on top stages around the world; and
WHEREAS, Labelle (Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash, and Nona Hendryx) formed as a groundbreaking funk-rock female vocal group in 1971 following the departure of Cindy Birdsong from the original group, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, to join the Supremes. Adding glam-rock to their unique mix in the mid-'70s, among many other distinctions, Labelle's enduring proto-disco anthem "Lady Marmalade" propelled them to become the first contemporary pop group and first black group to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House and the first black vocal group on the cover of
Rolling Stone
; and
WHEREAS, McFadden & Whitehead (Gene McFadden & John Whitehead) was a songwriting, production, and recording duo, best known for their signature anthem, the No. 1 Grammy-nominated smash "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now." They also wrote and produced some of the most popular R&B hits of the 1970s for Philadelphia International Records, including "Backstabbers," "Bad Luck," "Wake Up Everybody," and "I'll Always Love My Mama"; and
WHEREAS, Sister Rosetta Tharpe is considered "The Godmother of Rock and Roll" for her highly significant role in the creation of rock as a guitar-playing gospel star from the 1930s to the '60s, with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry citing her as an inspiration; and
WHEREAS, The Soul Survivors (Richie Ingui, Charlie Ingui, and Kenny Jeremiah) were formed as a vocal group in New York, but they adopted Philadelphia as their home in 1967, when "Expressway to Your Heart"-- currently marking its 50th Anniversary--became the first "Sound of Philadelphia" hit for its legendary architects, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff; and
WHEREAS, Chris Schwartz & Joe Nicolo made their hip-hop bones in the mid-1980s, as the manager and recording engineer respectively for pioneer (and future Walk of Famer) Schoolly D. But it was their label partnership, Ruffhouse Records, that brought them to hip-hop dominance in the 1990s, with a string of impressive signings and hits from Cypress Hill, Tim Dog, Kriss Kross, and The Fugees, which included the solo careers of Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean; and
WHEREAS, Bob Pantano is the host of the Saturday Night Dance Party on 98.1 WOGL, the first and longest running radio dance party in the nation, now celebrating 40 years. Its top-rated, generation-spanning success has earned the South Philly native the moniker, "Mr. Saturday Night," as he continues to enthrall and entertain Delaware Valley audiences every weekend on his pioneering live broadcast; and
WHEREAS, Each member of the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame Class of 2017 has made a unique and powerful contribution to the City’s rich musical legacy and is more than deserving of this tremendous honor; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and honors the Class of 2017 inductees to the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That Engrossed copies of the resolution be presented to Jill Scott, Sister Sledge, Labelle, McFadden & Whitehead, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Soul Survivors, Chris Schwartz, and Bob Pantano as evidence of the admiration and respect of this legislative body.
End