Vocal Hall announces it will add 16 groups

SHARON. Pa. — Tony Butala, Vocal Group Hall of Fame chairman and founder, says he’s optimistic that a large percentage of the 16 groups announced into the hall on Saturday will perform at three days’ worth of induction concerts, possibly at the Chevrolet Center in Youngstown, next spring.

Butala presided over the 2006 announcement that featured groups such as Journey, Queen, Bread, America, The Moody Blues, and the Shangri-las. The day also featured a performance by Jon “Bowser” Bauman, formerly of Sha Na Na, who was also enshrined into the hall’s Walk of Fame in front of the Columbia Theater by casting his foot and hand prints into cement.

Financial complications and the renovation of the theater as the home for the hall have set back hall of fame activities, but Butala hopes to be caught up next spring when the induction and concerts are held at once. No inductions have been held yet for the 2005 and 2006 inductees.

Butala, of The Lettermen, said a three-day concert in the spring will include performances by inductees from 2005, 2006 and 2007. The 2007 inductees will be selected this fall.

For more, see Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com