Orlinda Celebrates Life Of Former Resident & CMA Exec. In Posthumous Ceremony & Marker

Orlinda Celebrates Life Of Former Resident & CMA Exec. In Posthumous Ceremony & Marker

State Of Tennessee And Metropolis Of Orlinda Honor Nation Music Business Pioneer Jo Walker-Meador With The Unveiling Of “Tennessee Music Pathways” Marker In Her Hometown

The State of Tennessee and Metropolis of Orlinda honored nation music trade pioneer Jo Walker-Meador with the revealing of a “Tennessee Music Pathways” marker within the Nation Music Corridor of Famers hometown Friday, Oct. 21, 2022. On the unveiling, Nation Music Affiliation’s CEO Sarah Trahern and Walker’s household, together with native and Senator Kerry Roberts spoke on the significance of this commemoration.

“Again in August the Tennessee Division of Tourism Contacted Robertson County Financial Improvement Assistant Director Sara Warren with the thrilling information that Orlinda had been chosen as the positioning of the subsequent Tennessee Music Pathways signal. Orlinda was chosen as a result of it’s the hometown of Ms. Jo Walker-Meador, a real legend within the enterprise finish of nation Music, together with being former CEO of the Nation Music Affiliation, stated Orlinda Metropolis Supervisor Keving Breeding.

On October 21, 2023, we had the official unveiling of the signal honoring Ms. Walker-Meador. I’ve by no means been extra pleased with the Orlinda Neighborhood that I serve. Not solely was it inspiring to know this group and its folks helped type the character of somebody who achieved a lot, nevertheless it was additionally touching to see so many individuals come out to honor this particular person and her household, which included beloved resident Pete Denning, 92. There was a protracted checklist of Robertson County leaders in attendance who have been all appreciated, nevertheless it was the daughter of the honoree who introduced many people to tears throughout her speech by saying “my mother was inducted into the Nation Music Corridor of Fame, however she could be way more pleased with being honored on this method, by these folks, on this city”.

Jo Walker-Meador’s Tennessee Music Pathways Marker
is positioned at 1203 East Church Road Orlinda, TN 37141.

As government director of the Nation Music Affiliation (CMA) from 1962 till 1991, Jo Walker-Meador’s profession mirrored the expansion of the trade she led. She turned a tireless proselytizer for nation music. Below her management, the Nation Music Corridor of Fame, the CMA Awards, and Fan Truthful (later the CMA Music Pageant) have been established, along with many trade initiatives.

Born Edith Josephine Denning in Orlinda on February 16, 1924, she later married native radio government, Charles “Smokey” Walker. He died in 1967, and 14 years later she married enterprise government Bob Meador. She held plenty of positions after shifting to Nashville, turning into the CMA’s first worker upon its launch in 1958.

Below her management, the CMA produced promotional kits and demographic analysis extolling the advantages of nation programming for radio stations. The variety of stations that includes nation music started to steadily enhance. Walker-Meador took care of many related day-to-day points, akin to making certain report distributors carried nation music in markets the place stations switched format to nation.

In 1961, the CMA created the Nation Music Corridor of Fame. Plaques have been displayed within the Tennessee State Museum till the opening of the Nation Music Corridor of Fame and Museum in 1967. The CMA’s annual awards present additionally started in 1967, and tv protection started the next 12 months. Walker-Meador additionally performed a big position within the creation of Fan Truthful. Seeing the variety of followers who attended the annual Dee Jay Conference in Nashville, the CMA and the Grand Ole Opry noticed the potential in making a parallel occasion for followers. The primary Fan Truthful was held in 1972 at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, and its progress pressured a transfer in 1982 to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. (In 2004, after Walker-Meador’s retirement, the occasion was renamed the CMA Music Pageant.

Most of Walker-Meador’s exercise concerned behind-the-scenes advocacy, however she was famend all through the trade. Upon her retirement in December 1991, longtime CMA board member Invoice Denny famous that she was a proficient statesperson. When the CMA was shaped, there have been simply 81 full-time nation radio stations. By 1991, there have been over 2,400. After retirement, Walker-Meador continued to help with initiatives that enhanced nation music’s standing. In 1995, she was elected to the Nation Music Corridor of Fame. Jo Walker-Meador died on August 16, 2017

About TN Music Pathways

Launched by the Tennessee Division of Vacationer Improvement in 2018, Tennessee Music Pathways is a web-based planning information that connects guests to the state’s wealthy musical heritage at tnmusicpathways.com. From the most important cities to the smallest communities, Tennessee Music Pathways stretches throughout all 95 counties and options tons of of landmarks from the seven genres of music that decision Tennessee residence.

Extra about Jo Walker-Meador:

(August, 2017) Nation Music Pioneer Jo Walker-Meador Of Orlinda Dies, She Was 93