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Art Gilliam, Denise LaSalle To Be Inducted Into Memphis Music Hall Of Fame
The MEMPHIS MUSIC HALL OF FAME has announced its 2025 class of inductees, with GILLIAM COMMUNICATIONS CEO ART GILLIAM among the six honorees.
The group also includes STAX RECORDS JOHNNIE TAYLOR, Blues legend ROBERT JOHNSON, guitarist/label owner CORDELL JACKSON, singer DENISE LASALLE, and singer WENDY MOTEN. The induction ceremony is scheduled for SEPTEMBER 25th at the CANNON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS in MEMPHIS.
The MEMPHIS MUSIC HALL OF FAME, operated by the SMITHSONIAN-affiliated MEMPHIS ROCK ‘N’ SOUL MUSEUM, was launched in 2012 to honor musical figures tied to MEMPHIS and the MID-SOUTH. Following this year’s class, the Hall will reach 112 members, with past inductees including B.B. KING, ELVIS PRESLEY, and JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE.
GILLIAM became the first African American columnist for THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL in 1968. That same year he became the first African American on-air reporter and weekend news anchor at WMC-TV/MEMPHIS.”
In 1974, following HAROLD FORD SR.’s election to Congress, GILLIAM joined his team in WASHINGTON, DC as an Administrative Assistant.
He returned to MEMPHIS, founded GILLIAM COMMUNICATIONS INC., and purchased WLOK-AM in 1977. It was the first Black-owned radio station in MEMPHIS and the city’s first locally owned station. Originally an R&B station, WLOK gradually transitioned to a gospel format.
GILLIAM has served on numerous boards, including MEMPHIS ADVERTISING FEDERATION, SOCIETY OF ENTREPRENEURS, MEMPHIS ZOO, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HUMANITIES COUNCIL, LE MOYNE-OWEN COLLEGE, BLACK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE HUMANITIES COUNCIL, UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS, MEMPHIS SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT, TENNESSEE ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS, LEADERSHIP MEMPHIS, NAACP, and LEADERSHIP MUSIC – NASHVILLE.