The F Word: Rochester Music Hall of Fame

1. I can only speak as one member of the Board of Directors of The Rochester Music Hall of Fame, I can’t talk for the Board. Frank, I love you, really I do and I know you have been to at least some of our events if not all and I hear you and I understand what you are saying. However, when you attach the name Hall of Fame to something there is the implication of a significant body of work. As great as Joywave is or Mikaela Davis is or Kate Lee, who you didn’t mention…though the body of work they all have produced is great, it isn’t a big body yet. I believe it will be for all the artists that you mentioned and I believe that they all will have their time to be inducted if their body of work continues to grow. And there is the crux of what is going on. Yes, Al Jardine may not have spent a lot of time here but he lived here for four years before moving to California. He has an amazing body of work and he is thrilled to be inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame. And because he is the kind of artist that will put people into seats we can also induct Jeff Springut who has worked behind the scenes and may not be a ticket draw. But I guarantee by the time the event is over there will be a ton of Beach boy fans who will admire Jeff and Dave Kane for that matter. As to not believing in the local music scene to draw people into the Eastman, let me go through a few names of local “trench” musicians who have played in our various events to capacity crowds at the Eastman Theater: Jeff Martin, Mike Gladstone, Rob Smith, Jeff Cosco, Don Mancuso, Debbie Randyn Saltrelli, John Akers, Linda Rutherford, Richard Greene, Elvio and our house band Prime Time Funk. That is not a complete list but it sure is a big one. I understand that when you put yourself in the position of handing out awards you put yourself in the position of controversy. But I would challenge anyone to come up with people who have been inducted who don’t deserve to be there of who should wait to be inducted so a younger person with a far less body of work can go first to attract other generations. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland established a rule that an inductee’s first album had to have been released 25 years prior to induction. There is a reason for that. Rochester has such a deep vein of musical talent. We will keep working on this and the next generations of board members will continue to work on this because this Hall of Fame is a living, breathing organization that will go on far past the current boards tenure. Again, I am only speaking for myself

2. Frank- your comments and suggestions are always welcome and as one who as been
   omni-present on the Rochester music scene for years, they are usually insightful. However, just as our organizations nominations to the ROCHESTER MUSIC HALL OF FAME appears to be getting stale in your words, so is the argument you offer. Everyone feels justified to criticize us when the artists they like have not yet been nominated and inducted. Thats understandable but its also selfish. That is not to say most of the artists you mention as being overlooked are not worthy of induction; they are, but we do not focus on one specific area of music, we cover it all. We have inducted a number of worthy classical musicians (Dorion Anthony Dwyer; Jeff Tyzik; Howard Hanson); theatrical performers such as William Warfield, James Rado, and Charles Strouse; blues artists like Son House and Joe Beard; punk musicians like Wendy O Williams; Rhythm & Blues icons such as Pee Wee Ellis and Wilmer & The Dukes; Gospel heroes like The Campbell Brothers; jazz greats such as Chuck & Gap Mangione, Ron Carter; and Cab Calloway; Radio personalities and stations like Nick Nickson, Jack Palvino, Uncle Roger, and WDKX; and yes, a good share of established rock stars such as Lou Gramm, Gene Cornish of the Rascals; Gary Lewis & The Playboys and others. We have honored the legacy of local heroes like The Rustix and Duke Jupiter who had a period of national recognition; and of course, world class studio/touring performers such as Tony Levin & Steve Gadd, who frankly played on more hit records than most of us have blood cells. We have also honored institutions like The House of Guitars and record executives like Mitch Miller and music marketing mavens such as Ferdinand J Smith. And in the end, we have done some pretty cool things like reuniting Don Potter and Bat McGrath as a duo for the first time in over 40 years and giving a chance for Gadd, Levin, Ferde, John Beck, the Campbells, and Robert Randolf to jam out, on of all things, a smoking version of Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze. You call that stale? We have made it a point to pay attention to diversity in our selections, both in terms of the people we induct and the type of music we honor. Sure, it would be great to cater to a younger, hipper audience but if true music fans are hip, then they will get what we are doing; and they do, because we have lots of under 30 aged people in our audience. There are other factors to consider. When we formed as an organization we said we would only undertake this endeavor if we could do it right and with the integrity and promotion it deserved. Our board of directors are 17 people (along with countless volunteers) who work all year long to make this happen. We have raised thousands of dollars in sponsorships to keep it at the level we have; and we also use our success to underwrite a number of music education initiatives and financial awards that are funneled back into this community and the young musicians Rochester is currently developing. Ever wonder what it costs to put on an event like our induction ceremony at a place like The Eastman Theater? In any given year, this event can cost upwards of six figures to produce; and we have still been profitable since year one and given a significant amount of those profits back to our own arts community in Rochester. You questioned the validity of inductees like Al Jardine, saying he only lived here for 5 minutes. Well, actually it was 4 years and he began playing music here. The Beach Boys have been called Americas rock band, and its 1966 album Pet Sounds has been named by many rock critics and media outlets as the Greatest Rock Album of All Time, and Paul McCartney even has said it was the true inspiration for Sgt Peppers and the transformation of The Beatles from a pop band to the studio icons and brilliant songwriters they became. The last time I looked places like The Baseball Hall of Fame, The Football Hall of Fame, and yes, The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, all seemed to be honoring inductees with long, rich histories and legacies. We want to honor as many of these artistic heroes as we can while THEY ARE STILL ALIVE. Bands like Joywave, Mastodon and Flogging Molly have Rochester natives as members and deserve to be inducted, as do many of the local and regional acts you mentioned in your F WORD BLOG, such as Colorblind James Experience. We have tried a number of times to induct The Chesterfield Kings, however, you have to get those guys to be willing to stand in the same room with each other first. Not an easy task, so maybe the answer is to induct Andy Babiuk and Greg Prevost each on their own; but is that fair to all the other guys who played, wrote, rand recorded with The Chesterfield Kings? So, the Board of Directors show up day after day; week after week; month after month and year after year and try to shape an event that puts Rochesters music in the national spotlight and pays tribute to the thousands of great musicians and behind-the-scenes people who deserve that recognition. Bringing in world class celebrities like Paul Simon, Paul Shaffer, Fred Wesley, and Mace Parker to help elevate our celebration to a level of ticket sales that will fill a 2400 seat theater. And now, we are moving in other areas such as our BOOKS BACKSTAGE series of music author presentations; using our new East End facility to further promote music history and performances in Rochester. And our members do it all as volunteers. No one at The Rochester Music Hall of Fame Board gets any compensation. So, the next time you think what we are doing is stale, go out and buy a loaf of fresh bread and make yourself a ham sandwich; and sit back and watch other Rochesterians do all the work. With Love, from Bruce Pilato, Rochester Music Hall of Fame Board member and show producer.

3. Sorry Frank, looks like these guys are committed to irrelevance. You can lead a horse to water, but you cant make em drink.

4. Frank I am a former member of the RMHF Board. If there is a individual or group you think should be inducted go to the RMHF web site and nominate them. It takes a little time but it’s not difficult. Last year I nominated the great Scott Mayo who has an outstanding resume and I hope to see his name on the list sometime in the future. The board works their butts off. Their is an endless list of talent with ties to Rochester that was put together about 10 years ago. Each name has a paragraph or two that talks about accomplishments. The listis several pages long. Everyone in Rochester should be proud of what the RMHF has done over the past 10 years and everything in their future plans which is so much more than the once a year induction ceremony. So to make it the ceremony a celebration they have to limit the number of inductees to 5 or 6 each year. Some very deserving people have to wait. So pick an artist or two and go through the nomination process to do your part to get things started.

5. WHY would anyone induct ME or any OTHER ex member of the Chesterfield Kings separately??? That is a farce–I did A LOT of stuff that NO ONE in Rochester knows about WAY before the CKINGS that I consider important as did many others that were THERE–I did albums AFTER the band–does this stuff deserve an award? Hardly—This is my commentary that I posted on Frank’s FB Page–this sums up what I feel–Frank-I love your assessment. At the same time I have to agree with the RMHOF choices. Like everything else, it involves economics, advertisers and having an event with overwhelming success. I am honored that you mentioned my old band the Chesterfield Kings. The Chesterfield Kings have no place in the RMHOF. I am friends with many of the Rochester Hall board members and I cringed when the prospect of being inducted came up. I will flatly decline if it ever comes to that point. Anyone who read articles that I wrote in the mid-70s through the late 90s in magazines that I published (Future, Outasite) and my column Yeah, I Hate in Hit List in the 2000s knows that I do not cater to awards and things like the Grammy Awards, RnR Hall Of Fame etc People like Lou Gramm deserve to be in the Hall-he had commercial success with two bands (Black Sheep, Foreigner) both on major labels-the latter with MEGA worldwide hits-Lou had a lengthy and successful solo careerMy former groupI started it with the idea to play barbaric rock n roll. The band had a lot of good things happen over the years but I wont go there. We NEVER had commercial success, never had a hit record, were NEVER on a major label, and were never respected by the masses. We were not pop sensations or musical Einsteins. We were crude, sloppy and barbaric. People that came to see the band came to see if Id puke on the front row or if Id tear out the ceiling of the club -they could have cared less what we sounded like. For that matter-I can guarantee that at least 90% of the people reading this never SAW the band live, and if they did, they will agree with my summation. There is also the stipulation that if you ARE inducted your band has to perform two songs at the presentation. That will never happen. I will never take 1000 steps backwards and enter a stage under the name The Chesterfield Kings. It goes against everything I believe. That door has been closed. I also believe that there is nothing more pitiful than a sorry assemblage of middle-aged guys that havent played together in 99 years ambling around on an oversized stage in a controlled environment-trying to “rock out”–more stage fodder for an old folks home than a way to remember a band. I prefer people that were THERE to remember the mayhem, violence, destruction and deafening sounds—

6. GREG- we respect your feelings about the Chesterfield Kings being in the ROCHESTER MUSIC HALL OF FAME, and I think many on the selection committee also feel you and Andy have had very notable musical careers outside of the band. Many people have asked us about the CKs and when are they going to be inducted. We have not pushed it anymore because we know how the members feel about it. The Sex Pistols (and I have represented Glen Matlock of that band) were inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and declined to be attend or accept for many of the same reasons you stated in your post. That’s cool and understandable based on their personalities. As far as I am concerned, the Chesterfield Kings are in their own Hall of Fame.. one that relies on memories and attitude. And maybe that’s a more appropriate home for the band’s legacy. Wishing you and all the former members the best in all your musical endeavors.

7. To Bruce Pilato: PS: Like you said–inducting me and Andy indicates that WE were the ONLY “important” members of the Chesterfield Kings–NOT TRUE–OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BAND: RICK CONA, DOUG MEECH, OREST GURAN, BOB AMES, FRANK MOLL, STEVE LARREAU, WALT O’BRIEN, MIKE PAPPERT, ANDY PAPPERT, PAUL ROCCO, BRETT REYNOLDS, KRIS HADLOCK, TED AND JEFF OKOLOWICZ, MIKE BOISE, PAUL MORABITO, ZACHARY KOCH—All these guys went through the ringer–many contributed to songs-played for years–roughed it–They don’t deserve any honors? —

8. Bruce-Walt O’Brien has been active since the demise of the band-he was in several bands including the Insiders who were on the scene when the CKIngs were in the past–Mike Pappert had bands-Kris Hadlock was on Dr. Phil’s show, Paul Rocco was in a band with Frank DeBlase, Rick Cona was in several bands after the CKings..almost everyone that was involved with the band went on to do other musical things…not sure how come some members are considered “more notable” than others–its a matter of taste really.

9. Frank, please keep doing what you’re doing. Eventually these guys will move on and we can start putting legitimate local talent in our Roc Hall, including your band. Leave it to (c)Rochester to screw up one of the best things we have, our local music. Sorry guys, but Jardine has no business in our HOF, no matter how eloquently you try to defend yourselves. I m embarrassed by these choices. Jack Nietzsche

10. You’ll never please everyone… Hall of Fame who needs it???

11. Jack DiMartino, please remember that the guys who you cant wait for to move on did all the work to put the RMHF together. You seem to think its all about picking who you and others want to induct. You have no idea what it took to make the RMHF happen. Its a business that has to account for what every successful business has to. Some of it is not the fun part but has to be done. Its a full time job my friend and nobody has ever received a cent for their hard work. I say full time job because its not just about picking inductees. We are committed to music education in a big way. We go into schools and give music presentations. With some of the money we get from ticket revenue and donations and sponsors we give it back to the community via the Doug Lowry Music Awards. Its real easy for you to sit there and rip who weve inducted and if you want to do that thats youre right. But to basically insult the board of directors who have given so much is so wrong.

12. Who cares who the Rochester Music Hall of Fames does or doesn’t induct? As I posted elsewhere, they lost all credibility on Day 1 when, in a pathetic and lame attempt at legitimacy, they included Jenny Lind in their first group of inductees , despite the fact that her only connection to Rochester was that she gave two concerts here in the 1850s. By that logic EVERY noted musical artist who has given a show or two here should be inducted.

13. Jenny Lind was not inducted. Please refer to the RMHF website.

14. Karl LaPorta – Would that be the website which lists the following…..?

    2012 Inductees

    The ROCHESTER MUSIC HALL of FAME
    CLASS of 2012

    Corinthian Hall / The Performances of Jenny Lind

    So the two points remain valid. 1) there was no reason to drag in Jenny Lind except to grab a little cheap reflected glory to give the Hall a boost, and 2) any local venue, plus any well-known performer who appeared there, has every bit as much right to be inducted into the Hall along with the Corinthian and Lind.

15. Mr. Laporta And of course we have this press release from 2012

    Induction ceremony to be held for Rochester Music Hall of Fame

    By ANTOINETTE ESCE
    April 26, 2012

    “The decision was made to honor not only musicians, but occasionally special venues or specific performances as well. In fact, Corinthian Hall and the performances of Mademoiselle Jenny Lind, a Swedish opera singer, made the inaugural list of inductees.”

    Under the circumstances, it seems fitting that P. T. Barnum, the King of Hype, was Lind’s impresario for her US tour.

16. I read your criticism the first time. That’s your opinion and you’re welcome to it. My response was to correct your misinformation on this post regarding the induction of Jenny Lind. Have a nice day.

17. LaPorta – What misinformation? Your organization’s own press release and web site make it clear Lind was inducted into the Hall. Or do you want to pretend that there’s a difference between inducting Lind and inducting her performances? And while I will agree that the Hall has had little credibility since that day, I do accept its word about who they have inducted. But for some reason you don’t How strange.

18. Kimball – Let’s try this another way.

    Misinformation- Jenny Lind as a person was inducted.
    The Dictionary describes a person as a human being.

    Correct information- The Performances of Jenny Lind was inducted.
    The Dictionary describes a performance as the action of entertaining other people by dancing, singing, acting, etc.

    There is a distinct difference between a person and a performance.

    As far as trying to keep the criticism of the RMHF going I already told you that’s your opinion.

19. I too have a problem discerning a distinction between honoring a performer and honoring their performances. But without a semantician to referee, this debate isn’t going to be resolved.

    That aside, I do agree that the connection between Rochester and Jenny Lind is so tenuous that the selection of her, or her performances, for a local hall of fame seems to be a bit of a stretch. It also opens up the question as to why other equally internationally-recognized performers, or their performances, who have no connection to Rochester other than having stopped here to give a concert, have been ignored. If we grant the legitimacy of inducting Lind/Lind’s performances, then why has there been no move to induct:

    Enrico Caruso
    Sergei Rachmaninoff
    Jascha Heifetz
    Ignaz Paderewski
    Mischa Elman
    Fritz Kreisler

    Each of those performers is celebrated and has as great an impact on music as art as did Miss Lind. And each performed in Rochester. In fact it can be argued that in her day Lind was far more famous for being famous than she was for the quality of her singing and so is less deserving to be honored than those listed above.

20. Mr. Nighan, Thank you for your response and I’ll try my best to explain.
    For a performance to be inducted into the RMHF the impact on our community although not the only factor, should be of great historical importance. In 1852 Jenny Lind was on the level of the modern day Beatles. Tens of thousands came to New York Harbor to get a glimpse of her when her ship pulled in. Her visit and performance in our city was like nothing that was ever experienced before and after the event. Lind mania as the press back then coined it was on full display in Rochester. Her performance tickets were so sought after that they were auctioned. The demand to see her perform was so overwhelming that she agreed to a second performance. She donated all proceeds of her second show to charity. Although today her performances probably brings a shrug of the shoulders to most, the RMHF realized the Performances of Jenny Lind were part of the great music history in our
    community.

    As far as the names you mentioned, all are excellent choices. I don’t know about the historical significance their performances had on the city of Rochester, and to answer as to why they haven’t been inducted as of yet, I don’t believe any in our community has gone to the RMHF nomination page http://www.rochestermusic.org on our website and has submitted their names along with as much supportive information based on research. We have encouraged the public to do this since day one. Hundreds of people have used our nomination page. It would be almost a full-time job for someone to do the research on the hundreds of submissions placed on our website, this is why the RMHF along with other city’s who have music halls of fame use this process.

    Finally, we can’t induct every nominee at once and we ask for the publics patience in this regard. We also know that we will never ever satisfy everyone with our methods and we are certainly not perfect, so we will accept the criticism as it is the publics every right to do this. Although not able to make everyone happy as trust me there are hundreds of ideas on how we should do things, we listen and we do discuss things at our board meetings. Thank you Mr. Nighan for your excellent post.

21. Mr. LaPorta……Thank you for the suggestion. I just submitted Caruso’s name as a nominee for the Rochester Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020. As an FYI, he performed here on May 13, 1908. He sang arias from Aida, Faust and I Pagliacci, and was called back for six encores. The crowd of approximately 2,000 went wild. Given his musical standing and a connection to Rochester identical to that of Jenny Lind, I look forward to seeing him inducted next year.

22. Mr Nighan, Thank you for your submission, but nobody’s, mine included get’s to choose the year their nominee is inducted. The RMHF has hundreds of nominations that cover a wide music spectrum. The selection committee reviews the nominees and makes their annual selection. Each year many disagree and would like their nominees chosen and also chastise the RMHF selections. In the end the RMHF can’t win no matter who or what is chosen. I’m no longer a board member so you can certainly write to the RMHF on their website or Facebook page with further questions. In any event the amount of work put into the RMHF by our board members and volunteers year round is more than most imagine. Nobody gets paid. It’s all donated time. Many in our community understand and appreciate this. Thank you again Mr. Nighan. Your knowledge of music history is terrific.

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