MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The first Black radio station owner in Tennessee, the first woman to start her own record company, and a blues legend were among six people inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame Thursday night.
The new class of inductees was honored in a ceremony at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts that included special guests John Mellencamp, Martina McBride, and Eric Gales.
2025 Memphis Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony . WREG photo
2025 Memphis Music Hall of Fame Inducteees
Art Gilliam inducted in Memphis Music Hall of Fame
2025 Memphis Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
ADVERTISEMENT2025 Memphis Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2025 Memphis Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2025 Memphis Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The 2025 Memphis Music Hall of Fame Inductees included Art Gilliam, president & CEO of Memphis’ WLOK Radio for over 45 years who became the first Black radio owner in Tennessee and the entire Southeast, Cordell Jackson, the “Rock ‘n’ Roll Granny” who became the country’s first female recording engineer and founder of Moon Records, Robert Johnson, who according to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame became one of if not “the” greatest blues musician of all time despite only recording 29 songs.
Other inductees included Denise LaSalle, the late blues singer, songwriter and producer known as “The Queen of the Blues,” Wendy Moten, whose first single hit the Top 10, recorded and toured wth other hit makers and finished first runner-up on The Voice, and Johnnie Taylor, “The Philosopher of Soul” who began his career in gospel with Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrer before creating million-seller hits at Stax Records.
Martina McBride was there to honor inductee Wendy Moten, and Mellencamp and Gales honored inductee Robert Johnson. Mellencamp was also presented with the Memphis Music Hall of Fame “Legacy Award.”
Cordell Jackson’s son accepted his late mother’s award.
The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum launched the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2012 to pay proper tribute to the hundreds of legendary musicians who helped place Memphis, Tennessee, on the world map and, in doing so, created the music that changed the planet.
In 2015, the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum also opened the Memphis Music Hall of Fame Museum.
For more about the Memphis Music Hall of Fame and the 2025 inductees, click here.
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