Lincoln Theatre etches three new names into its Walk of Fame to honor Columbus artists
To memorialize the often forgotten trailblazers that have poured their hearts into the city's communities and artistic spaces, three new names have been etched into the Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame.
This year's inductees are jazz musician Arnett Howard, who's performed for more than 50 years and has written several books about the genre's influence in Ohio; poet and founder of the Columbus-based “Advance Party," Charles “Is Said” Lyons; and the late visual artist Roman Johnson, who was awarded an individual artist Governor’s Award for the Arts in Ohio in 2003, before his passing two years later at age 88.
When Howard received the call that his name would be placed alongside central Ohio legends such as Nancy Wilson, Robert "Bobby" Floyd, Barbara Chavous, Wil Haygood and others, his first thought was, "Why me?"
"There are hundreds of folks around central Ohio who could be paraded and walked," Howard, 70, said. "All these names here I recognize as being dynamic people from Columbus and went on and did something big.
"There's plenty of folks who can and have been honored, so I just wonder why me."
As Lyons stood in front of the 20-plus names finely carved into the cement-covered monumen under the theater's marquee, the long-time poet pointed to every person he knew from his days performing across the city's creative grounds.
For Lyons, 86, having his name placed alongside his contemporaries was a moment fully realized.
"I feel normal and natural because I know a lot of those people," he said. "It's not like I don't know them. I knew them because I've been performing for 50 years ... I've been to New York, Washington D.C., Montreal, Canada. When you go to places like that and get in contact with people, that has just as much of an impact as this. This is just the epitome of it. This is the cream of the crop. We've been practicing for this."
Artists to be recognized Saturday night
On Saturday night, the Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame Induction Ceremony will honor the contributions made by Lyons, Howard and Johnson, men who have helped shaped Columbus' cultural landscape throughout their careers.
After coordinating these ceremonies since the Walk of Fame's inception, Lincoln Theatre Executive Director Suzan Bradford said she's always taken pleasure in commemorating the city's most beloved influencers and preserving their historic legacies.
"We want to give folks their recognition while they're alive and talk about how their work will continue on in other avenues," she said. "Their work lives on and the stars are a representation of not only the artists that they were within themselves but also in the community. I think artists feel that respect and acknowledgment when the community supports them."
2021 Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame
Starting in 2011, Bradford said the Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame has become an integral part of its mission to immortalize every artist who made his or her mark inside and outside of central Ohio. Not only showing what they did in their era but also spotlighting how their contributions have influenced the creatives of today.
"Many of us are a part of the community in an artistic way, so when we look at some of the things they've done and their accomplishments, and also who they're influencing in this generation," Bradford said. "It always gives me pleasure to see them and say, 'Hey, you're worthy of a star on the Lincoln Theatre Walk of Fame.'"
Traditionally, two people are added to the walk of fame each year. But with the cancelation of last year's induction due to COVID-19, the center selected Lyons, Howard and Johnson for the 2021 class.
The ceremonial event will include a multi-genre tribute to the inductees and performances from a variety of local artists — including Howard and Lyons. The second half of the event will move outdoors to unveil the new stars in front of the Lincoln Theatre.
In the days leading up to the event, Howard said he's been calling and emailing friends and family. And with it being the Plain City-native's first performance in some time, the event will give him a chance to embrace his past triumphs and regain a sense of purpose.
"It's been a long time since I've prepped to get up for something like this in three or four years, so I'm out of practice," Howard said. "Most days I sit around my place and look at my computer, so this gives me a chance to do something special."
While he plans to savor the moment, one that's come after the publishing of countless poetry books and performances from around the world, Lyons said he's preparing like he has all his career.
Saturday's event just happens to be a little more special.
"It's like preparing yourself for a performance, you've got to do some work that nobody sees," the Atlanta-born poet said. "This is the result of it because you have to practice, get everything in order and make sure everybody's there. This is almost the same thing, but this is the epitome of it. This is the result. Of course, we haven't felt it yet, but we will."