All of us at Pencilstorm are extremely excited to announce that the City of Columbus will be placing a street marker at 16th Avenue and N.High St declaring it Willie Phoenix Way, in honor of Columbus’ own genius rocker - Willie Phoenix - in a ceremony on Thursday, October 15th, at 1 pm. Here is the city’s press release announcing the dedication of Willie Phoenix Way, followed by Colin’s original petition pitching the city on the idea and getting the process started.
Watch Pencil Storm for much more Willie Phoenix material all through October.
City of Columbus to Honor Local Rocker Willie Phoenix
16th Ave. at High Street to become Willie Phoenix Way in virtual dedication event
[COLUMBUS, OH] One of the legends of Columbus rock-n-roll is about to get his name enshrined on the Columbus streets forever. "It's so easy to find me/Wherever good love can be found," wailed local singer and guitarist Willie Phoenix on the song Still a Bad Boy from the album Blues My Soul. Now we can find him at the corner of 16th Avenue and High Street.
On Thursday, October 15, at 1pm, Columbus City Council and the Columbus Music Commission will conduct a virtual event to dedicate Willie Phoenix Way and celebrate the guitar-shredding Columbus rocker. The dedication will air live on www.facebook.com/ColsCouncil.
Columbus City Council and a collection of local artists, fans and admirers will come together to acknowledge and commemorate Phoenix's long-standing contribution to the cultural arts in Central Ohio.
"This is a great honor that I accept with humble soul and bones," said Phoenix. "Thank you City Council, Mayor Ginther and fans. Love you all! Oh yeah, and Columbus Rocks!"
"Willie Phoenix is a unique creative force of nature and Columbus is proud to call him our own," said Columbus City Council President Shannon G. Hardin. "It is our hope that this street marker will inspire young musicians who walk down High Street to pick up a guitar, sit behind a keyboard or rock a turntable to write the next chapter of Columbus Ohio rock, roll and soul."
For decades, the stretch of High Street across from Ohio State University was the center of the capital City's music scene. The Agora (later The Newport), Zacharia's, Mr. Brown's Descent and more have all thrived on High Street, opening their doors to local artists. Phoenix played and ruled them all. Bernie's Bagels, located right 16th Avenue, was Willie's office, his playground, his musical laboratory, his home away from home.
Those buildings are largely all gone now, but Willie is still here, doing what he does best, doing what he was born to do - perform and record music. He has never stopped. Not for a month, not for a week, not for a day.
"The only reason myself and my bandmates in Watershed chose to attend Ohio State was so we could see Willie Phoenix as much as possible," said Colin Gawel, lead singer and guitarist of the rock band. "Seeing him at Bernie's was the Columbus version of seeing Springsteen at the Stone Pony. It was as good as rock-n-roll had ever been or ever would be. He raised the bar for not only us, but for every band playing on High Street."
Phoenix has released 29 full-length records and his secret vault is rumored to contain three times that amount. Jumping genres from rock-n-roll to pop, to blues, to psychedelia, to acoustic – from album to album and sometimes in the same set – he is a master of the science of the six-string guitar. And his incendiary live performances are equal parts Muddy Waters, Wilson Pickett and Elvis Costello.
"As the music city of Columbus grows, it is important for us to annually honor and commemorate our musical pioneers. It is they who have embraced us with their talent and set the tempo for the future," said Bruce Garfield, Executive Director of the Columbus Music Commission.
"Willie is only focused on the next song, the next show. He has no time for nostalgia. He is also too humble to seek any accolades,” Gawel continued. "That doesn't motivate him. So the fans started the petition for Willie Phoenix Way to give something back to Willie after all he has given to us and the City of Columbus."
COLIN’S ORIGINAL PETITION
Text of petition is below….
Willie Phoenix is a Columbus Ohio rock/blues legend. He has been writing and performing music in Central Ohio for fifty years and remains active to this day. Those who are familiar with Willie will undoubtedly agree he is a creative talent unique to our community. For those who wish to learn more, click here for a Willie Phoenix profile by Joel Oliphint for Columbus Monthly.
From 1975-2015, the buildings at the corner of 16th and N. High St. served as the epicenter of the Columbus rock music scene and Willie himself. Bernie’s Bagels and The Distillery was where Willie could be reached by phone and home to some of his most powerful performances. He also rehearsed and recorded with his bands in a basement studio just across 16th from Bernie's. On the same block, Mole’s Records and Johnny Go’s House of Music sold Willie’s records and later CDs. From 1972 - 1982, 16th Avenue was the home of Columbus’ annual Community Festival. No artist has performed at Comfest more than Willie. In 2005 the festival bestowed him with the prestigious ‘Honored Artist of the Year’ award.
Speaking for myself, I grew up in Worthington Ohio and when I chose to attend The Ohio State University I didn’t do it for any academic program or to attend football games, I wanted to be part of the music scene. The very first thing I did when arriving on campus was go see Willie Phoenix perform at Bernie’s Bagels. It changed my life. I have had the good fortune to know and occasionally work with Willie over the years and after every encounter I come away feeling better about the world. He has had this positive affect on many, many people.
The buildings may have changed, but I still see a dreadlocked local hero with a huge smile flashing a peace sign as folks driving by would roll down their windows and yell “Hey Willie!” as he stood on the corner of 16th and High taking in a nice spring day. Won’t you please join me in asking for this historic corner to be renamed Willie Phoenix Way.
- Colin Gawel 5/13/2020