The Clarksdale Walk of Fame honors notable people from Clarksdale, Mississippi who've made their mark on the culture of Clarksdale, created in 2008. The plaques are located near a site of historical significance associated with the honoree.
In 2010, Ike Turner was honored with a marker, followed by a panel discussion. Turner, who began his career playing blues and boogie woogie piano in Clarksdale, was born at 304 Washington Avenue in the Delta city’s Riverton neighborhood, on November 5, 1931. The blues trail marker was placed at the Central Building, originally home of the Hotel Alcazar at 127 Third Street, where Turner got a job in his pre-teen years operating the elevator and doing janitorial work. The building later housed WROX radio, after Turner became a deejay on the station.
Several members of the Turner family turned up for the ceremony, including cousins C.V. Veal, a former Kings of Rhythm drummer; guitarist Andrew “Shine” Turner; and gospel singer Myra Turner; along with Ike’s daughter, Linda Turner Bullock, who attended with her husband James Bullock and her mother, Ike’s second wife, Velma Davis.
Date: August 06, 2010
Location: Delta Blues Museum