JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the nation marks 250 years of American history, Jacksonville is celebrating the music legends who helped shape the culture of Northeast Florida — and in many cases, the world.
The River City’s music background dips into a plethora of genres: the southern rock anthems of Lynyrd Skynyrd, to the soulful tunes of Ray Charles, to the pop-punk hits of Yellowcard.
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Jacksonville’s music heritage runs deeper than many people realize. The city’s newest tribute to that legacy can be found at the Riverfront Music Garden and Walk of Fame in downtown Jacksonville.
Jill Enz, chief of Natural and Marine Resources for the City of Jacksonville, oversaw the project from start to finish, with an end goal that goes beyond honoring the past.
“The vision was really the history of Jacksonville musicians and celebrating that history, so that along with kind of playful interactive elements for people to use and explore music on their own,” Enz said.
The Walk of Fame features a roster of musicians whose influence stretches far beyond Florida’s borders — including the Johnson Brothers, Ma Rainey and Tim McGraw.
Lisa Thomas, marketing director for Duval Hall, said those names represent something bigger than music.
“They’re everything,” Thomas said. “It’s not just our music history. It’s Jacksonville as a whole.”
Thomas pointed out that Jacksonville’s musical identity predates many of the city’s other cultural touchstones.
“Before the Jags were here, we had our music,” Thomas said.
The Walk of Fame spans multiple genres, reflecting the breadth of Jacksonville’s contributions to American music, with some surprising names along the way.
“You even have Mae Axton, who wrote ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ for Elvis Presley,” Thomas said. “I mean, she’s on this walk, as she should be.”
Not every Jacksonville music legend has their name on the Walk of Fame — but their stories are no less significant. Historic Mt. Zion AME Church is one of the places where that history lives.