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Chevy hosts first concert in HOF series
The arena floor was in a nightclub setting.
YOUNGSTOWN — It was with a sense of history that the Vocal Group Hall of Fame inducted its newest members. Altogether, 48 acts — from the Fleetwoods to Fleetwood Mac — were honored at the ceremony at the Chevrolet Centre on Thursday afternoon.
Tables of eight were arranged on the arena floor in a nightclub setting, each adorned with a centerpiece that sat on a vinyl album. The white-clothed tables stayed up for the evening’s concert, the first of four featuring new and old inductees.
The vocal hall inducted three classes — 2005, 2006 and 2007 — in Thursday’s ceremony, which ended barely an hour before the concert began.
Most of the groups weren’t on hand to receive their awards, but there was a considerable amount of talent assembled. Acts included ’60s girl group the Angels (“My Boyfriend’s Back”), the Brooklyn Bridge (“The Worst That Could Happen”), Delores “Dee Dee” Kenniebriew of the Crystals (“He’s a Rebel”), Florence LaRue of the Fifth Dimension, the Lovin’ Spoonful (“Do You Believe in Magic?”), the Duprees, Joe Terranova of Danny and the Juniors, Charlie Thomas of the Drifters, Ruby Garnett of Ruby and the Romantics (“Our Day Will Come”), Peter Tork of the Monkees, and Sam Moore of Sam and Dave (“Soul Man”).
The presenters were John Bauman (“Bowzer” of Sha Na Na), Greg Loescher (Goldmine magazine publisher) and Tony Butala of the Lettermen.
One recurring theme was the effect the groups had on their fans and on pop music.
Jimmy Sacca, lead singer of the ’50s group the Hilltoppers, told of a letter he recently received from a woman. She had met her husband decades ago at a high school dance, where their first dance was to the Hilltoppers’ “P.S., I Love You.” When he went to the Korean War, the couple ended each letter to each other with “P.S., I Love You.” The husband recently passed away, and the woman had engraved on his tombstone the song title that had been their lifelong theme song.
A historic footnote came alive when it was noted that the Del Vikings were the first biracial group to have a top 10 hit (“Come Go With Me”).
The award that might have generated the biggest “I didn’t know that” moment was a posthumous honor for the Hayden Quartet, of the late 1800s. With songs like “Bring Back My Bonnie To Me” and “By the Light of the Silvery Moon,” the group became the forefather of barbershop quartets.
The bulk of the inductees spanned four decades, beginning with the doo-wop groups of the ’50s (for example, the Spaniels, the Dominos and the Dixie Cups) and moving on to the British Invasion of the ’60s (the Moody Blues, the Hollies).
Other phases, such as ’70s folk rock (Bread, America, the Byrds and Simon & Garfunkel), rhythm and blues (Kool and the Gang, the Righteous Brothers, Sly and the Family Stone) and the description-defying pop powerhouses of the ’70s and early ’80s (Queen, Journey, Fleetwood Mac) were represented.
Sam Moore, half of the duo Sam and Dave (“Soul Man”) brought up a subject that is high on the vocal hall’s list: the shortchanging of many early groups with one-sided contracts that robbed them of royalties.
“People say to me, ‘When I hear “Soul Man” on the radio, I know you are getting paid,’” said Moore. “I say, ‘No I’m not.’ ... If every time the radio played your song they would pay you, you could do whatever you want and not have to worry [about money].”
Moore is part of a movement pressuring federal lawmakers to reimburse the wronged musicians.
The evening’s concert, which attracted about 600, was hosted by Bauman, who introduced each of the 11 acts. Purple draping formed the backdrop to the stage, which extended well into the seating area, and a giant jukebox decoration was at the rear.
Bauman talked about the Truth In Music act, which has now been passed in 27 states, including Pennsylvania and Ohio. The act clamps down on imposter acts who have no original members but bill themselves as the real thing.
Vocal Group Hall of Fame concerts will continue at 7 tonight, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available at the Chevrolet Centre box office, Ticketmaster outlets and by calling the VGHF at (724) 983-2025. For a list of the musical lineups, go to vocalhalloffame.com