Billie Holiday, The Roots join Walk of Fame

From Broadway to disco to big-hair rock, from the Philly Sound to the Great American Songbook, the just-announced 2015 class for the Philadelphia Music Walk of Fame covers much musical ground.

The lineup, announced by the Philadelphia Music Alliance on Thursday, also fills a long-standing absence: that of singer Billie Holiday, born in Philly and a frequent performer at the Showboat at Broad and Lombard Streets and the Earle Theatre at 11th and Market Streets.

Soon, she'll be on Broad Street along with the Trammps, famous throughout the galaxy for "Disco Inferno"; Andrea McArdle, who played the title role in the original Broadway production of Annie; the all-Philly, all-world Roots (wait, the Roots weren't there already?), house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and curators of Saturday's Roots Picnic; Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel; longtime WOGL jock Harvey Holiday; and big-hair metal-rockers Cinderella, at one time almost always on MTV video rotation.

Installation happens on Broad Street on the afternoon of Oct. 26; that night will bring a big gala at the new Fillmore Philadelphia. Hosts and lineup are to be announced. (For tickets and information, see www.pmawalk.com.)

This was the first class of inductees into the Walk of Fame since 2013. The alliance took a hiatus in 2014 for reorganization.

Of Holiday's inclusion on the Walk, Faye Anderson, director of the music conservation website All That Philly Jazz, said: "It's about time. It's never too late to do the right thing, and the Philly musical audience has now done the right thing. I look forward to being at the installation."

Reached at her New York home, McArdle said: "I'm a Philadelphia girl at heart, and I always will be. This means as much to me as the Tony Award." She started out doing dinner theater at the Downingtown Inn ("we got paid in mints"). A role in the soap opera Search for Tomorrow got her noticed, and in 1977, she was picked to replace the very first Annie in that very first production. When many people think of the ringletted Annie, they think of McArdle. Her award-winning performance led to a career in musical theater and cabaret. Her training was all Philly, including work with Jack Faith, famed arranger for Gamble and Huff.

"I'm excited because this is a place in history, a mile marker for me," said Earl Young of the Trammps. A ubiquitous Philly Sound drummer and one of the founders of the four-on-the-floor disco beat, Young created the Trammps out of two other Philly groups, the Volcanos and the Exceptions. This is his fifth honor on the Walk of Fame, possibly the most of any artist. He's there with Ronnie Baker and Norman Harris, with whom he owned the Golden Fleece record label; and the band MFSB from the Sigma Sound Studios. And there may well be more stars in his future.

Speaking from his home in Maryland, Young said: "I've been very blessed, right from the start. I started with the house band at the Uptown Theater back in 1965. My first recording was with Barbara Mason: 'Yes I'm Ready.' My first record, and it went gold!"

"Disco Inferno" was a tune lost and found. Released in late 1976, it was an East Coast dance and R&B hit but not a national smash. But when it landed on the Saturday Night Fever sound track in 1977, all was altered. In May 1978, it hit No. 11 on the singles charts and became permanent. Young sings bass and plays monstrous drums on the track, which has a remarkable, throbbing presence, due partly to a fortunate error in the noise-reduction setting while recording.

215-854-4406@jtimpane