PAWTUCKET – With eight inductees in Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2016, organizers have split the celebration into three separate events. On Thursday, April 21, jazz musicians Greg Abate, Carol Sloane, and Frankie Carle will be inducted into the Music Hall of Fame at Chan’s in Woonsocket. On Sunday, April 24, all eight 2016 inductees will see the unveiling of their Hall of Fame exhibit followed by performances and inductions at The MET, 999 Main St., Pawtucket, RI. On Saturday, April 30, Bill Harley will perform a family concert at Cumberland’s Blackstone River Theatre.
The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame’s 2016 inductees are: Greg Abate, Frankie Carle, Bill Harley, Carl Henry, Carol Sloane, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, Richard Walton, and The Young Adults / The Fabulous Motels / Rudy Cheeks.
Robert Billington, Chair of the RIMHOF noted, “Our Induction Ceremony and concert in April has become the place for a ‘who’s who’ in Rhode Island music. It is the place to be and be seen at as we continue to showcase the fascinating history of Rhode Island’s musical heroes. As we celebrate our fifth year of operation, we are excited this year to expand to three events and to also shine the light on three of Rhode Island’s premier music venues.”
Bruce McRae, aka Rudy Cheeks, will be inducted as an individual and also as part of two of Rhode Island’s legendary bands. He noted, “I am especially pleased to see the Fabulous Motels and the Young Adults going into the RI Music Hall of Fame. A lot of great artists went through these ranks and it is nice to see them acknowledged.” Fellow inductee Sugar Ray Norcia adds, “It’s such an honor for my music to be recognized and to know I have brought joy to so many people. Thank you Rhode Island!”
This year’s jazz inductions will take place on Thursday, April 21, 7:00 p.m. at Chan’s, 267 Main St., Woonsocket. Being honored on April 21 will be Greg Abate, Carol Sloane, and Frankie Carle. Tickets for the event at Chan’s are $15.00 and the evening will include inductions and a performance by Greg Abate and Carol Sloane backed by an all-star trio consisting of pianist Tim Ray and 2015 Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame inductees Marty Richards on drums and Marty Ballou on bass.
The 2016 RIMHOF Induction Ceremony and Concert is set for Sunday, April 24, 2:00 p.m. at The Met and Hall of Fame itself, both located within the Hope Artiste Village complex, 999 Main St., Pawtucket, RI. Sunday’s afternoon event will include performances by The Young Adults, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, and Bill Harley who will be performing a set of his adult folk music. Sunday’s concert will be preceded by the unveiling of all eight 2016 inductee exhibits. Tickets for the April 24 event at The Met are $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door. The 2 p.m. unveiling of the inductee exhibits is free and open to the public; a ticket will be required for entrance to the 3 p.m. concert in The Met.
On Saturday, April 30, 2:00 p.m., Bill Harley will be presenting a family show featuring music from his award-winning children’s recordings at the Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad St., Cumberland. Tickets for the April 30 event are $6.00 for children and $12.00 for adults with a family cap of $36.00. This event will be a fundraiser for the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame.
Tickets for the April 21 and April 24 events can be purchased at www.rhodeislandmusichalloffame.com Tickets for the Bill Harley family show on April 30 can be reserved by calling Blackstone River Theatre at 401-725-9272.
The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame, formed in 2011, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating, honoring, and preserving the legacy of Rhode Island musicians, educators and industry professionals who have made significant contributions to both the national and Rhode Island music scene. At last year’s sold out induction/concert event, the public saw 11 displays unveiled honoring the inductees in the museum space located in the hallways of Hope Artiste Village. This year’s induction ceremony on April 24 will see eight more displays unveiled celebrating the 2016 inductees and bringing the total to 43 inductee exhibits produced in just five years. Eventually, the museum will hold more than 100 displays as well as assorted Rhode Island music history memorabilia and interactive components for visitors to enjoy.
The Music Hall of Fame initiative,” says Rick Bellaire, vice chair of RIMHOF, “provides a great opportunity to not only acknowledge Rhode Island’s musical greats and celebrate their achievements, but to finally have an organization whose primary goal is to promote and preserve Rhode Island’s rich musical heritage in all its forms. With actual exhibit space, coupled with our online archive, we have in place the tools to curate and showcase the best of Rhode Island’s musical artistry.”
All proceeds from RIMHOF’s annual induction events go toward creating the museum displays, acquiring recordings and memorabilia, and digitizing that collection for permanent online access for future generations. All organizational work has been donated by members of the Board Of Directors and a staff of volunteers.
PAST RIMHOF INDUCTEES
– The Hall of Fame’s inaugural inductees in 2012 were John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band, Roomful of Blues, Dave McKenna, Eileen Farrell, Oliver Shaw, Ken Lyon, Anders & Poncia, and Gerry Granahan.
– 2013 inductees were Steve Smith & The Nakeds, The Cowsills, Paul Geremia, Eddie Zack & The Hayloft Jamboree, Bobby Hackett, Jimmie Crane, Bill Flanagan, Sissieretta Jones, and George M. Cohan.
– 2014 inductees were Tavares, Duke Robillard, Cheryl Wheeler, Paul Gonsalves, The Castaleers, The Mark II (Winston Cogswell & Ray Peterson), Freddie Scott, Francis Madeira, and Randy Hien.
– 2015 inductees were The Schemers/Raindogs/Mark Cutler, Brenda Bennett, Nelson Eddy, George Masso, George Wein, Duke Belaire, Marty Richards, Marty Ballou, Georgie Porgie & The Cry Babies, The Ascots, The Others, Bob Petteruti and Paco Zimmmer.
