The West End Stories Project Presents: Alicia Reece

Written by Keloni Parks, Branch Manager, West End Branch Library

For our first episode of the West End Stories Project Presents, we spoke to the founder and creator of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame, opens a new window, Hamilton County Commissioner Alicia Reece. She discusses her musical beginnings, what inspired her to create this monument to Cincinnati music, and what she hopes visitors take away from it.

Episode Notes

This episode features the song “I Need You,” sung by Commissioner Reece’s mother Barbara Howard. The song is featured on her debut album, “Barbara Howard on the Rise,” which was produced by Commissioner Reece’s father Steve Reece in 1969. The album was re-released, opens a new window by Colemine Records in 2019 and can be heard in its entirety on YouTube, opens a new window.

Stay tuned for more episodes of the West End Stories Project Presents, which will highlight more of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame’s musical influencers.

For more information about the Black Music Walk of Fame and this year’s inductees, check out this blog post, "Borrow Music of Cincy Black Music Walk of Fame Inductees" by West End Stories Project Presents co-producer, Kent Mulcahy and Reference Librarian, Brian Powers.

Listen to past and future episodes of the West End Stories Project podcast by subscribing today. Find more CHPL podcasts on our website.