The Kansas Music Hall of Fame will honor 12 bands, performers and songwriters at its fourth annual induction ceremony on March 22 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence. General admission tickets are $35. Doors open at 6 p.m. Among the honorees: jazz guitarist Pat Metheny.
Six of the inductees will perform: Beth Scalet; Friar Tuck & the Monks; the Soul Express, Chet Nichols, Garry Mac & the Mac Truque; and the Classmen. The full list of inductees with bios, courtesy of the Kansas Music Hall of Fame:
Ann Brewer & The Flames, Baldwin
One of the first female vocalists and band leaders to affect the rock and roll music scene in Kansas, Ann was equally at ease singing rockabilly or covering the latest James Brown hit. She later moved to Las Vegas, where she found success until damage to her vocal chords ended her singing career. She now lives in California.
The Classmen, Kansas City
The harmonies of this group led by the Dimmel brothers made them local favorites in Kansas City and across the Midwest. Their old records bring big bucks these days online from collectors around the world. Their song “Graduation Goodbye” still gets radio airplay each spring.
Big Al Downing, Coffeyville
In a career that stretched from the late '50s until he died in 2005, Big Al had hits on the pop, soul, disco and country charts.
The Fabulous Four, Kansas City
A band best remembered for their vocal harmonies, they played in Kansas City clubs and beyond from the early '60s until just a few months ago.
Friar Tuck & The Monks, Dodge City
Out of the Western plains, this band moved to Emporia at one point and found the same success they had enjoyed at home. The band was popular at dances all across Kansas.
Garry Mac & The Mac Truque, Kansas City
This popular rhythm and blues band released an album on Capitol Records back in 1969, which featured a hot horn section and the searing hot lead vocals of Dani Gregory. Some of the guys are still playing.
Pat Metheny, Kansas City
When he played a Wichita jazz festival as a 14-year-old, he surprised a lot of people. He’s no longer a surprise, but one of the top jazz guitarists in the world. Metheny has won 17 Grammys in categories from rock to New Age.
Chet Nichols, Lawrence
This singer-songwriter, who eventually went home to Chicago, was a part of the Good Karma stable of acts in Kansas City, touring with Brewer & Shipley, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Danny Cox, before recording his first album for Kama Sutra Records. Since then he has continued to record, written a novel and acted in many movies and TV shows. Chet’s music continues to rack up awards and good reviews.
Beth Scalet, Ottawa
This folk and blues singer moved first to Lawrence, then to Kansas City, building a solid reputation for her songwriting and crystal clear vocals. She has cut back on her live performing in recent years but continues to write and record.
The Soul Express, Hays
One of the best of the many horn bands in Kansas back in the 1960s, this band was at the top of the heap in Hays. They toured extensively and always drew large crowds. Several veterans of the band continue to perform across the country.
Directors Award: Lou & Betty Blasco, Kansas City
This couple was a big part of the Kansas City music scene for many years, with a music publishing company, a record label, and as songwriters. “My Happiness” was written by Betty Blasco and Borney Bergentine in 1933 and became one of the most popular songs in the country in 1948, the biggest hit was by Jon and Sondra Steele; the Pied Pipers, Ella Fitzgerald and the Marlin Sisters also hit the charts with it that year. It’s been revived a number of times since. Connie Francis got to No. 2 on the Billboard chart in 1959, and it’s recognized as the very first song ever recorded by Elvis Presley in 1953.
Bob Hapgood Award: Bill Post, Geuda Springs
The first winner of this award, named for 2006 Hall of Fame inductee and founding member of the Hall of Fame board of directors, who died last year, is songwriter Bill Post. Post’s career began during World War II where he entertained troops in India and Burma before starting his own publishing firm in Los Angeles. He and his first wife, Doree, wrote and recorded many songs for several major labels and more than 100 of their songs have been recorded by other artists.
Connie Stevens had a huge hit with “Sixteen Reasons” in 1960. “Song For Young Love” was a hit for the Lettermen the same year. Early rocker Eddie Cochran recorded “Weekend,” and Country Music Hall of Famer Don Robertson record “Life Goes On.”
After Doree’s death in 1961, Bill returned to Kansas where he continued to write and record. His farm near Arkansas City has been turned into a musical museum that’s been visited by thousands.
Cool!!! For the love of Kansas!
Posted by: Craig Steward | March 10, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Congrats to all the inductees! This group shows the incredible depth and importance of the musical artists who have contributed to the musical history of Kansas and Kansas City!
Chet Nichols
http://www.chetnichols.net
Posted by: Chet Nichols | March 11, 2008 at 05:43 AM
I'm looking forward to another great Kansas Music Hall of Fame show. I wouldn't miss this one!
Congrats to all the inductees!
Posted by: Dennis Fox Higgins | March 11, 2008 at 07:35 AM