Walk of Fame honors for Philly faves

Two female Philadelphia artists of historic musical note will be among the honorees Thursday as the Philadelphia Music Alliance Walk of Fame installs five more bronze plaques in the sidewalk of the Avenue of the Arts (aka Broad Street).

Dee Dee Sharp, the first black female idol of the "Bandstand" TV show and tragic, Mount Airy-spawned legend Tammi Terrell will be among the honorees.

While Sharp (born Dionne LaRue) recorded for a bunch of years and later went into artist management, she is still best remembered for her first hit, "Mashed Potato Time," one of those instant dance sensations that "Bandstand" host Dick Clark guaranteed would sweep the nation.

Terrell (born Thomasina Montgomery) had her biggest hits on the Motown label dueting with Marvin Gaye on classics like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "You're All I Need" and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing."

She died of a brain tumor at age 24.

Also getting their due with bronze plaque installations will be R&B vocalist Billy Paul and the highly influential (especially in Britain) '50s Philly rocker Charlie Gracie, both still active, and the most eloquent of cool school jazz trumpeters, the late Clifford Brown.

The survivors will be on the scene for the festivities on South Broad Street (near Locust) from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday. Come on down to cheer them!

- Jonathan Takiff