Albert King, the Memphis Jug Band and Johnny Cash are among 13 artists who will be inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame on Nov. 7.
The group is the second to be given a place of honor in the hall, a project of the the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum designed to pay tribute to Memphis musicians who had an cultural impact. Last year, the first group of 25 artists to be inducted included B.B. King, Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Al Green and Jerry Lee Lewis, among others.
This year’s list has fewer household names, but includes several figures important to the city’s rich history: the gospel group the Blackwood Brothers, the soul singer Carla Thomas, the songwriter David Porter, the music impresario Knox Phillips and the producer Roland Janes. The inductees also include the funk group the Bar Kays, the jazz pianist Phineas Newborn Jr. and the folk singer Sid Selvidge.
The hall’s executive director, John Doyle, said the nominating committee’s mandates had tried to balance bigger names with lesser known figures. “I love the fact that they see someone like a Roland Janes or a Phineas Newborn to be so significant for induction, where the average person on the street may not know them,†Mr. Doyle told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “In the end, we feel they’re contributions and artistry make them all worthy of this honor.â€
The inductees are chosen by a committee made up of music industry professionals, historians and critics, as well as officials from the museum. An induction ceremony, along with musical tribute to the new members, will take place on Nov. 7 at the Gibson Showcase Lounge in Memphis.
The Rock’n'Soul Museum administers the Hall of Fame and is in the process of establishing a physical gallery for its exhibit, expected to open in 2014. The museum also runs a Web site with information about the inductees.
