Canton, Ohio is famous for a couple of things – it’s the home of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame and the birthplace of one of soul’s top groups – the wonderful O’Jays. Very soon it will also be the venue for the Official R&B Music Hall Of Fame. Organisers are seeking to raise $10 million to site a state of the art installation in the city to honour the legends of R&B, soul and gospel. They got the ball rolling last year with the first induction at Cleveland State University. Induced that night were James Brown, Jackie Wilson, The Four Tops, The Temptations and The O’Jays.
This coming August the second induction will take place. Heading the list of inductees are Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston – also honoured on the night will be The Whispers, The Impressions, The Delfonics, The Dells, The Spinners, The Funk Brothers, Chubby Checker, Marvin Gaye, The Sweet Impression, Norn N. Nite (radio personality) and Russell Tompkins of The Stylistics.
The ceremony will take place on Sunday August 24, 2014, at the Canton Palace Theatre. Performing that evening will be Enchantment, The Dramatics starring Willie Ford, The Kinsman Dazz Band, The Hesitations, The Dynamic Superiors, The Delfonics and The Sweet Inspirations and tickets go on sale April 4, 2014.
In the meantime a mobile R&B Hall Of Fame exhibit is touring the US and you can find out more @ www.RBHallofFame.com
