The Red & Black is a 501c3 nonprofit. Please consider a one-time gift or become a monthly supporter. Cancel anytime. In downtown Athens, sidewalks shimmer with bronze guitar picks engraved with names — some familiar, others lesser-known. Rock stars, rappers, performers and pioneers alike are commemorated on the Athens Music Walk of Fame, where the city’s rich musical history rests just below our feet. The walk of fame was installed in 2020 with 10 initial inductees. Since then, 25 more names have been added. Most recently in 2026, Mary Frances Early, Elite tha Showstoppa, Hugh Hodgson, The Jesters, and Wuxtry Records were announced at the annual AthFest Music and Arts Festival. Spanning two blocks between Lumpkin and Pulaski streets, the walk passes historic venues including the Morton Theatre, 40 Watt Club and Georgia Theatre. Notable honorees include artists such as The B-52’s, R.E.M. and Widespread Panic, along with institutions like Nuçi’s Space and 40 Watt Club. Among the existing 35 inductees is Love Tractor, a local alternative rock band from the 1980s that helped shape the foundation of Athens’ alternative music scene. Members of the group include Mark Cline, Mike Richmond and bassist Armistead Wellford, who are all University of Georgia Alumni. “Being on the Walk of Fame is great,” said Mark Cline, founder of Love Tractor, in a previous interview with The Red & Black. “It’s like seeing family. I feel like it was our generation of bands that put Athens on the map……
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