WYXR Dowd Awards

Each year, WYXR 91.7 FM presents the Dowd Awards, a ceremony celebrating the contributions of Black musicians who have defined Memphis’ imprint on the world. Not only do we pay tribute to their studio accomplishments, but also their service to our community.

Presented annually during Black Music Month, the DOWD Awards honor Black musicians, creatives, and community leaders whose contributions have shaped the sound and spirit of Memphis. Named for Nat D. Williams—legendary DJ, journalist, and educator—the awards celebrate individuals whose artistry, mentorship, and public service continue to inspire across generations.

Our honorees’ impactful work both on and off the stage helps shape the Memphis sound for new generations, honoring Memphis’ rich musical heritage. From secret weapons of the music industry to influential names invoked backstage, our honorees are truly cherished.

This year’s honorees include:

Carla Thomas 
Memphis soul icon whose debut single helped launch Stax Records. Co-founder of Artists in the Schools and longtime mentor at the Stax Music Academy.

Art Gilliam 
Yale-educated pioneer who became Memphis’s first Black TV reporter, first Black columnist, and in 1977 the first Black owner of WLOK. Still on air at 83.

Talibah Safiya 
Memphis-born soul artist whose 2024 album Black Magic — created as Artist in Residence at the University of Memphis School of Music Business — was named one of NPR’s favorite albums of the year. A former board member of Historic Clayborn Temple, she now serves as Narrative and Storytelling Manager at The BIG We, leading arts and cultural programming rooted in community healing.

Earl Randle 
Delta-born pianist who spent a decade writing at Willie Mitchell’s Hi Records, crafting songs for Al Green, Ann Peebles, Syl Johnson, and Etta James — including the global hit “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down.” Decades later, he brought that same musicianship to seniors across Memphis through Creative Aging, performing the music of their lives in nursing homes and community centers.

Stan Bell 
Began at WDIA at 16 and spent 30+ years as Memphis’s “Bell Ringer” at V101 before returning to the WDIA Morning Show. Simultaneously taught in Shelby County Schools, carrying Nat D.’s tradition forward.

Christie Taylor 
Award-winning radio personality whose 30-year career spanned stations from Detroit to Memphis to St. Louis, and who co-wrote the 2010 feature film N-Secure, distributed by 20th Century Fox. Founder of Christie Taylor Consulting and RadioGyrl Media & Film, where she coaches creatives in communication, media, and storytelling. 

Deanie Parker 
Stax’s first publicist and co-writer of 180 songs, who spent 25 years preserving its legacy as the founding president & CEO of the Soulsville Foundation. Two Grammy Awards in 2024.

Josephine Bridges 
Memphis schoolteacher turned co-founder of We Produce Records, leveraging relationships with Don Cornelius, Quincy Jones, and Jet Magazine to champion her artists.

Larry Clark 
Founder of UGTV on public access — the only TV outlet for Memphis rap in the early ’90s. Producer of 200+ music videos, 6 feature films, and official production company of the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.

Thomas Bingham 
Memphis guitarist and composer whose session work spans four decades of recording, including playing guitar on Otis Rush’s Grammy-winning 1998 album Any Place I’m Going — for which he also composed the track “You Fired Yourself.” A Booker T. Washington High alumnus, he has remained a fixture in Memphis studios and a mentor to younger musicians throughout his career.

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2025 Honorees:

• Kurl, Paul, & Alvin McKinney – A multi-generational Memphis music family blending jazz, education, and ministry into a soulful legacy of service and sound — from classrooms to concert halls.
• Mark Stansbury – WDIA radio legend, civil rights photo documentarian, and higher education leader who has uplifted Memphis through gospel broadcasting and historical preservation for over six decades.
• Johnnie Walker – Trailblazing music executive and founder of NABFEME, creating pathways for Black women in entertainment through mentorship, advocacy, and performance platforms.
• Ray Griffin – The quiet force behind over 100 soul, funk, and gospel recordings — a foundational bassist who laid down the grooves that built the Memphis sound.
• Lannie McMillan – Veteran saxophonist and educator whose horn work defined Memphis jazz and R&B while mentoring the city’s next generation of musicians.
• Antonio “2Shay” Parkinson – Hip-hop artist turned state legislator using music, public service, and grassroots initiatives to champion Memphis culture and civic engagement.
• Kurt “KC” Clayton – Grammy-nominated producer, educator, and cultural ambassador shaping Memphis music from the studio to the classroom and beyond.

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