Vocal hall has high hopes for the spring

An area performance by Simon and Garfunkel is not too likely, but one by The Lovin’ Spoonful is.

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

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 Centre 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 also was enshrined into the hall’s Walk of Fame in front of the Columbia Theater by casting his foot and hand prints into concrete.

Financial complications and the renovation of the theater 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.

Suggestions welcome

Musicologists, former inductees and Web site visitors can make suggestions for groups to be added to the qualifiers list. The VGHF Induction Committee determines a group’s eligibility before nominating a group to the ballot. The public gets to help choose which groups are inducted.

The announcement took place inside the Columbia, which is undergoing massive renovations and is hoped to be the venue for future induction ceremonies. Scaffolding fills the theater.

Though the planning for the spring concert will continue through the end of this year and into the next, Butala said he thinks chances are good that such groups as 1950s performers The Fleetwoods (“Come Softly to Me”) and The HiLo’s (a jazz group); and 1960s groups The Duprees (“You Belong to Me”), The Hollies (“The Air That I Breathe”), The Lovin’ Spoonful (“Do You Believe in Magic”) and The Shangri-las (“Leader of the Pack”) will perform.

Groups whose participation he estimated to be closer to “50/50” are 1950s acts Bill Ward and the Dominoes (“60-minute Man”); 1960s performers The Byrds (“Mr. Tambourine Man”) and the Moody Blues (“Nights in White Satin”); 1970s groups America (“Ventura Highway”), Queen (“We Will Rock You”) and Bread (“Make It With You”); and 1980s group Journey (“Open Arms”).

He said getting Simon and Garfunkel, the third duo group accepted (“Bridge Over Troubled Water”), is probably less likely than 50 percent.

Pre-1940s

Butala said organizers hope to have representatives attend for the pre-1940s group Hayden Quartet, which began in 1899 and had 66 chart records; and the 1940s group The Deep River Boys (“By The Light of the Silvery Moon”).

The announcement of the 2006 class was only a part of the festivities that included a performance by the black Converse-wearing Bauman, backed by the group The 2nd Avenue Project, and the annual Sharon Car Cruise taking place throughout the downtown area.

Bauman showed his versatility by playing some classical music as he explained that he had attended the Julliard School of Music in New York City starting at age 12. Bauman, chairman of The Truth In Music Committee, also discussed the legislation he has promoted, now law in 18 states, that prevents groups from pretending to be legendary singing groups when they are nothing more than a “tribute” show.

For those attending the show, Bauman and Sha Na Na will be remembered for the song “Goodnight, Sweetheart,” which closed their television show, which aired from 1977 to 1981.

“When I was little, we would watch the show, and sometimes my dad would try to get us to go to bed early, but we couldn’t until we heard ‘Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight,’” said Dawn Chute, 35, of Sharon.

runyan@vindy.com