Paramount Plaza Walk of Fame facts for kids
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| Established | 2006 |
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| Location | Wisconsin |
The Paramount Plaza Walk of Fame is a special place in Grafton, Wisconsin. It honors amazing artists who recorded music for Paramount Records. These artists get their names carved onto unique 'piano keys' on the ground. It's a way to remember their important contributions to music history.
What is the Walk of Fame?
The Walk of Fame celebrates musicians who made recordings with Paramount Records. This record company was very important in the early 1900s. Many famous blues and jazz artists recorded their songs there. The Walk of Fame helps keep their music and stories alive.
The Piano Keys
The 'piano keys' are the main feature of the Walk of Fame. Each key is about 2 feet (0.6 meters) wide and 7 feet (2.1 meters) long. They are made from black granite, which makes them look like giant piano keys. These special markers are placed in Grafton, Wisconsin. This is where many of the original Paramount Records were made.
Each year, new keys are added by the Village of Grafton. These new keys have the names of more artists who recorded for Paramount Records. There will be a total of 44 keys when the project is finished. This ongoing project started in 2006.
Honoring Music Legends
The first artists to be honored on the Walk of Fame were chosen in 2006. They were picked by an organization called Paramount GIG. GIG stands for 'Grooves In Grafton'. These first inductees were very important musicians. They included Charley Patton, Ma Rainey, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Skip James, Thomas A. Dorsey, and Henry Townsend. These artists helped shape the sound of blues and gospel music.
