Tampa is paying tribute to the legendary performers of Central Avenue with the unveiling of a historical marker.
The city presented the "Music Legends of Central Avenue" marker on Tuesday, on what would have been singer, songwriter and pianist Ray Charles' 95th birthday.
Central Avenue was once the heart of Tampa's African American community, serving as the business and entertainment district at the time. The neighborhood, known as "The Scrub," was decimated by urban renewal and construction of the interstate in the 1950s and '60s.
It was where Charles recorded his first song, "I Found My Baby There," when he lived just off Central Avenue in 1947.
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“Central Avenue was the heartbeat of a community and the birthplace of a sound that carried far beyond Tampa,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said in a news release. “This marker reminds us that greatness doesn’t just come from the big stages. It begins right here in our neighborhoods. By commemorating this history, we ensure future generations will know the music, the people, and the stories that shaped Tampa’s soul.”
During segregation, Central Avenue was referred to as the "Chitlin Circuit," while welcoming many Black musicians, such as Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday.
The marker unveiling took place at the Kid Mason Community Center on Orange Avenue, drawing city leaders and local community members.
Castor was joined by Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers, Tampa City Council member Charlie Miranda and Guido Maniscalco, and other community leaders and residents.
Other speakers included Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council Chair Jennifer Dietz, Hillsborough County historian Rodney Kite-Powell, and Tampa Neighborhood and Community Affairs administrator Ocea Wynn.
The marker is across from Perry Harvey Sr. Park, between the Kid Mason Community Center and Greater Bethel Baptist Church.
It's steps away from Ray Charles Boulevard, a paved path through the park to Central Avenue that features an art installation and plaza celebrating the community's history.
The marker reads:
"Of all the enduring stories surrounding the history of Tampa’s Central Avenue, the ones most often told are of the musical performances and headline performers who played in the business district’s numerous nightclubs. National acts such as Cab Calloway, James Brown, and Ella Fitzgerald included Tampa on their annual trek around the Chitlin’ Circuit, and all of them played on Central Avenue.
"In addition, some of the world’s most famous musicians got their start in and around Central Avenue, including Hudson Whitaker, aka Tampa Red, Ray Charles, and the Adderley Brothers – Nathaniel Carlyle “Nat” Adderley and Julian “Cannonball” Adderley. Many of the clubs, including Joyner’s Cotton Club, were named after famous nightspots in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood."
