Homer Rodeheaver - Starr-Gennett Walk of Fame

The Homer Rodeheaver–Starr-Gennett Walk of Fame honors some of the most influential figures in early American recorded music and gospel hymnody. Located in Richmond, the walk of fame celebrates the historic legacy of the Starr Piano Company and its recording division, the Gennett Records, which played a major role in the development of the recording industry during the early twentieth century.

The site commemorates the former location of the Gennett Records recording studio, where many pioneering musicians made some of the earliest commercial recordings in American history. During the 1910s and 1920s, the Richmond studio attracted artists from across the country and recorded a wide variety of musical styles, including jazz, blues, country, and gospel.

One of the notable figures honored on the walk of fame is Homer Rodeheaver. Rodeheaver was widely known as the song leader for evangelist Billy Sunday and later became a leading publisher and promoter of gospel music. His recordings and publishing work helped spread gospel songs throughout churches and revival meetings across the United States.

The walk of fame features plaques recognizing influential artists who recorded at the Gennett studio, including pioneers of jazz and early gospel music. By honoring these musicians, the site highlights Richmond’s important contribution to the growth of the American music industry.

Today, the Homer Rodeheaver–Starr-Gennett Walk of Fame stands as both a cultural landmark and a tribute to the musicians, producers, and song leaders whose recordings helped shape American musical traditions and preserve the sounds of an important era in recording history.

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Image Source/Credit (in order):
• Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 29, 2023 for HMDB.org