On Thursday, August 13th, there will be a Brass Note Dedication for Dewey Phillips at 9:30 AM in Memphis, TN. The ceremony will take place in front of W.C. Handy Park, located on the northeast corner of Third and Beale Streets.
The Beale Street Brass Note Committee will be honoring Dewey Phillips with a brass note on Beale Street’s “Walk of Fame.” Phillips was one of Memphis’ most famous and entertaining disc jockeys who in 1954 was the first DJ to give air time to Elvis.
Chips Moman will receive a brass note on Beale Street. The Beale Street program has dedicated 73 brass notes on Beale since 1986 honoring the Mid-South's musical stars and pioneers. 16 musicians are being recognized with the plaques through April 2010.
The balance of the honorees includes local and regional greats, among them big-band leader Jimmie Lunceford, influential rock and roll deejay Dewey Phillips, and songwriter-producer Chips Moman. The list of 2010 recipients announced so far features musical greats from Mississippi including hill country bluesmen R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, slide guitar master Fred McDowell, and fife band patriarch Otha Turner.
The committee is made up of members from NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences), the Blues Foundation, musicians, and local club owners. In January, Rosco Gordon will also recieve a brass note on Beale Street. Each brass note weighs in at 20 pounds.
The ceremonies are open to the public.