There are many ways to honor those we admire and respect. I'm told that some chefs do this by cooking a well-known dish of someone they adore and then adding their own twist.
This mimicking may also show up in writing or performing, too. Artists can be quick to list their influences and inspirations and highlight such impact in their final masterpieces.
To whom does your work pay homage? Whose influence is seen in what you produce each day?
And notice that we "pay" homage; we don't give it or wish it. Honoring those who came before is the tax we pay on improvement and success.