Okay, so the dedication of Willie Phoenix Way at 16th & High on Thursday went GREAT: the weather held out; Willie was honored by City Council president Shannon Hardin & Tom Krouse of the Columbus Music Commission, among others, and Pencil Storm’s own Colin Gawel delivered a closing speech that knocked it out of the park. You can view a video of the ceremony here…….

City of Columbus Livestream Link, Willie Phoenix Way

(editor’s note: the City Council presentation begins at the 4:17 mark of the video)

We also wanted to call people’s attention to a stellar article from Columbus Alive by Joel Oliphint that you’ve GOTTA READ…….

The Long Winding Road to Willie Phoenix Way - by Joel Oliphint

In the past two-week run-up to getting Pencil Storm material together for the dedication ceremony for Willie Phoenix Way, I’ve been listening to nothing but Willie Phoenix music here at home. And the thing is, the huge majority of all that material is brilliant, because Willie is brilliant. And that brilliance isn’t limited to the past, Willie kicks out the jams on CD (the aptly-titled, newly-released This Ain’t 1968) and live shows (check WilliePhoenix.com) right up to today.

In closing we want to thank - along with many others - Bruce Garfield & Tom Krouse from the Columbus Music Commission; Mary Rathke from WOSU; and especially Lee Cole, Michael Brown & Shannon Hardin from the City of Columbus for recognizing the rock & roll heart & soul of Willie Phoenix, and honoring him with Willie Phoenix Way.