Lady B, Earl Young, Adam Blackstone, more inducted into Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame

The Philadelphia Music Alliance‘s Walk of Fame just got a bit bigger, as nine inductees had plaques honoring their work unveiled Wednesday afternoon outside the Kimmel Center.

Inductees in the class of 2026 are:

• Yannick Nezet-Seguin, one of the most celebrated artists of his generation, admired worldwide for his artistry, leadership, and versatility, as well as the Music Director of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
• The Philadelphia Boys Choir, America’s preeminent boy choir and men’s chorale and known as “America’s Ambassadors of Song,” ranking among the best boy choirs in the world.
• Hugh Panaro, best known for having played the coveted role of the Phantom in Broadway’s The “Phantom of the Opera” more than 2,000 times, he has also appeared in “Les Miserables,” “Show Boat,” “South Pacific,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Masquerade” and many others.
• Adam Blackstone, a multi‐faceted bass player, musician, Emmy-winning music director, Grammy-winning producer, Tony Award nominated orchestrator, and the musical mastermind behind the live shows of many of today’s biggest artists.
• Lady B, a DJ and one of the earliest female rappers in hip hop, and the first female hip hop artist to record a single, “To the Beat, Y’all.”
• Sun Ra Arkestra, remembered as the “Godfather of Afrofuturism,” he pushed the boundaries of jazz, becoming one of the first Black artists to have his own record label.
• Louise Williams Bishop, the “Gospel Queen of Radio” and one of the earliest Black females to host a radio program in Philadelphia.
• Pablo Batista, the award-winning artist and world master percussionist, clinician, educator, mentor, music composer, arranger, director, producer, and performer.

Additionally, prolific drumming icon Earl Young had his own plaque unveiled. Young is already enshrined in five Walk of Fame plaques: one each for Baker, Harris & Young, John Davis & the Monster Orchestra, The Trammps, MSFB Orchestra, and Salsoul Orchestra.

“This an honor because the day that I leave here, my grandkids can walk over here and say, ‘that’s pops right there,'” Young said. Young’s drumming was inspired by a show he saw right on Broad Street decades ago. It was Pearl Bailey’s drummer Louie Bellson who made a youthful Young pursue drums.

After starting on his first “kit” consisting of folding chairs, phone books, and Maxwell House Coffee cans, Young is considered one of the most impactful drummers in popular music.

Young is also the recipient of the Philadelphia Music Alliance’s lifetime achievement award, presented to him at a gala Wednesday night.

Blackstone told WXPN he lived across from the Kimmel Center in 2000, where he is now memorialized as part of the Walk of Fame, when he attended University of the Arts.

“This means so much to me, I can’t even fathom it,” he said.

Blackstone said he’s witnessed the work of his fellow inductees and has been inspired by them throughout his life and career. As the youngest member of the 2026 inductee class, Blackstone said young musicians should dream big and know that past doens’t always define them.

“You can get a plaque, and beyond,” he said.

And speaking about young musicians, Lady B said up and coming artists should never cater to others.

“Unapologetically be yourself, and this too can happen for you,” she said. “Believe in your craft.”

Being true to oneself is key to making impactful music, members of Sun Ra Arkestra said.

“Sun Ra taught us that music comes from the creator, and we all come from the creator,” they said. “If you’re true to yourself, you recognize the creator.”

More practically when asked how young artists can break through, they said show up to rehearsal.

See the full list of Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame inductees here.