Washington to Rename Street for R&B Group The Jewels

The city will unveil a sign for The Jewels Way on October 29 to honor the group's historic musical contributions.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in R&B

Washington to Rename Street for R&B Group The Jewels

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Washington will honor the R&B group The Jewels with a street renaming ceremony on October 29, 2026. A sign for The Jewels Way will be installed on 13th Street NW in front of Theodore Roosevelt High School.

Why it matters

The tribute recognizes the group's cultural impact on Washington and the national music scene following a formal legislative process initiated by Councilmember Janeese Lewis George. Filmmaker Beverly Lindsay-Johnson championed the effort to celebrate the ensemble's legacy.

The group's 1964 hit song Opportunity reached No. 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained on the list for 12 weeks. The ensemble gained prominence during a touring career that included performances with James Brown.

The players

The Jewels

An R&B music group originally formed at Theodore Roosevelt High School that toured with James Brown.

Janeese Lewis George

A D.C. Councilmember who submitted the legislation to honor the musical group.

Muriel Bowser

The Mayor of the District of Columbia who provided approval for the commemorative legislation in June 2026.

Beverly Lindsay-Johnson

A filmmaker who proposed the tribute event to recognize the group's contributions to the arts.

Sandra Bears

A member of The Jewels who is currently 82 years old.

The details

The official dedication follows legislation introduced in June 2025 that gained approval from the D.C. Council and Mayor Muriel Bowser. The group, which formed at Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1958, performed together on and off until the death of member Margie Clarke in 2019.

The Jewels formed at Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1958.
The group released their single Opportunity in 1964.
The group remained active until member Margie Clarke died in 2019.
Legislation to honor the group officially became law on July 18, 2026.
The street sign unveiling and tribute event will occur on October 29, 2026.

Industry Dynamics

This tribute highlights a growing trend of cities formally institutionalizing the legacy of local musical acts into the physical urban landscape. Such recognitions serve to preserve the cultural history of regions that were central to the development of mid-century R&B and soul genres.

Residents and fans can attend the street sign unveiling at 3:30 p.m. on October 29. The subsequent tribute event is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. at Theodore Roosevelt High School.

The takeaway

Recognizing local artists with permanent markers preserves a community's unique musical history for future generations. Fans of regional music history can look to similar municipal commemorations as a way to engage with the legacy of artists who contributed to the national soundscape.