They were all there, in spirit if not in body: The Man in Black, The Queen of Stax, The Velvet Bulldozer, even one of the Little Green Men. A baker’s dozen of music legends — including Johnny Cash, Carla Thomas, Albert King, and Roland Janes — were named as inductees into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.
The Hall — a project of downtown’s Smithsonian-connected Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum — announced its 2013 honorees during an event at Jerry Lee Lewis’ Café and Honky-Tonk on Beale.
The Hall of Fame candidates are chosen by a nominating committee, made up of a cross-section of music industry professionals, cultural historians and authors, and museum and foundation directors.
The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, which administers, funds, and will house the Hall of Fame, is in the process of establishing a physical gallery and online “virtual” hall, both expected to open by 2014. There has also been consideration given to a stand-alone location for the hall.
Induction ceremonies are at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 at the Gibson Showcase and Lounge, 145 Lt. George W. Lee. Tickets: $50 and $100. To purchase, call (901) 205-2536 or go to MemphisMusicHallOfFame.com.
Read more at The Memphis Commercial Appeal.