WHEREAS, Earl Donald Young was born on June 2, 1940 in prison, immediately placed in a foster home, and later raised in two foster homes on Firth Street in Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Young was as young as 14 when he knew he had a passion for music and drumming, which led to his use of phone books, coffee cans, and pencils to practice before saving enough money to purchase his first ever drum set from a pawn shop; and
WHEREAS, Young’s unique drumming style earned him recognition as the “Legendary Timekeeper for The Sound of Philadelphia”; and
WHEREAS, Young got his big break when Kenny Gamble invited him to record with The Intruders on “I’ll Always Love My Momma,” which would later shape the Philadelphia soul and disco movements. He would begin recording
at Sigma Sound Studios, Philadelphia’s global music hub where a number of artists came to record
; and
WHEREAS, As the founder of The Trammps, Young played an important role in the monumental rise of disco with “Disco Inferno” becoming an international sensation, leading to its feature on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack and earning him two Grammy Awards; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Young contributed to over 70 gold and platinum albums, earned three Grammy Awards, has been recognized with multiple plaques on the Philadelphia Walk of Fame, and was recently on the cover of Modern Drummer Magazine as “The Beat of Philadelphia”; and
WHEREAS, Young’s unique contributions to the arts and culture of Philadelphia are immeasurable, and his influence on music continues to inspire generations of musicians and producers worldwide; and
WHEREAS, As Mr. Young approaches his 85th birthday, he remains a humble and dedicated artist whose work has shaped the very identity of Philadelphia’s musical legacy; and
WHEREAS, Esteemed figures such as Stevie Wonder, Kenny Gamble, and Ronnie Moss of The Spinners have expressed their support for honoring Earl Young with a street naming, recognizing his profound musical genius in the industry and in the cultural fabric of Philadelphia; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Firth Street between 15th Street and Sydenham Street shall also be named as “Earl Young Way.”
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to Earl Young as evidence of the true and sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
End