Who should be inducted in the Philly Music Hall of Fame?
Last week on WHYY’s Radio Times, talk show host Marty Moss-Coane gathered several folks to discuss the proposed Philadelphia Music Museum and Hall of Fame. Moss-Coane’s guests were Philly native Greg Harris, co-founder of the Philadelphia Record Exchange, and the current president and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland; Dyana Williams, legendary radio personality and president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Recording Academy; and Francis Davis, jazz critic for The Village Voice.
Ever since Philly lost the bid to be the home to the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame when it was built in 1986, it seems as though every couple of years, talk of creating a Philly music museum and hall of fame rises. The latest news, reported by the Daily News in June, is a campaign spearheaded by Congressman Bob Brady. The idea for a Philly music museum and Hall of Fame is also supported by the Philadelphia Music Alliance, the primary organization in Philly that builds awareness of Philadelphia’s great musical traditions, and has been a unifying force in keeping Philly music’s history alive, particularly with the Philadelphia Walk of Fame.
During her conversations with her guests, Moss-Coane asked then to suggest musicians that should be inducted into the Philly Hall of Fame. Among the many long lists they each contributed, Dyana Williams chose Bunny Siegler and Jean Carne Francis Davis chose John Coltrane and Sun Ra, and Greg Harris selected Bill Haley and The Comets, and gave some mad props to 80s underground bands like The Stickmen, Bunnydrums, and Executive Slacks (Greg, we know where you hung out). Among the other Philly musicians they discussed were the Delfonics, Billie Holiday, Hall & Oates, The Roots, the Soul Survivors, Jazzy Jeff, Will Smith, King Britt, as well as non performing contributors to the Philly music scene over the years including legendary DJ’s like The Geator With The Heator, Jerry Blavat, and Hy Lit.
We asked a handful of folks who they would nominate for the first group of inductees in the Philly music Hall of Fame. Here’s their responses:
David Dye, Host and Producer, World Cafe: John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Jimmy Smith, Hall & Oates, Cameo Parkway Records, Patti LaBelle, The O’Jays, The Hooters, Larry Ferrari.
Helen Leicht, Mid-Day Host, WXPN: Hall & Oates, Stanley Clarke, John Coltrane, Todd Rundgren, Chubby Checker, Billie Holiday, The Hooters, Grover Washington Jr.
Dan Deluca, Music Critic, Philadelphia Inquirer and co-host of the Dan and Dan Music Podcast with WXPN’s Dan Reed: Marian Anderson, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Chubby Checker, Gamble & Huff, Thom Bell, Bill Haley & The Comets, and a special category for blues greats from the South who lived here late in life: Bessie Smith, Skip James, Lonnie Johnson.
Dan Reed, WXPN Music Director and Afternoon Host: Gamble & Huff, Todd Rundgren, Schoolly D, Amos Lee, Dead Milkmen, The Hooters, The Roots, Meek Mill, Butcher Brothers.
Charlie Hall, drummer, The War On Drugs: John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones, Sun Ra, Todd Rundgren, Patti LaBelle, Billy Paul, Hall & Oates, Nate Wiley and the Crowd Pleasers.
John Vettese, editor of The Key: Boyz II Men, The Roots, Dr. Dog, Bahamadia, James Poyser, Dead Milkmen, Jill Scott, Teddy Pendergrass
Let us know who you think should be inducted into the Philly Music Hall of Fame in the comments below.