The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization and museum in Kannapolis, North Carolina, which was created to honor musicians, composers and artists with ties to North Carolina that have made significant impact in the music industry. The museum serves as a clearinghouse for North Carolina musicians from all time periods, and preserves a number of memorabilia artifacts for public display.
In December 2014, the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame relocated to a new home within the Curb Museum for Music and Motorsports at 600 Dale Earnhardt Boulevard.
History
The organization was founded in 1994 by businessmen Doug Croft and Joe Carroll. Originally located in Thomasville, North Carolina, the group inducted seven people in 1999 and one in 2002. Suffering from a lack of space, a historic city jail in Kannapolis, North Carolina, was chosen as the new location. Full renovation began in 2008, with the museum completed 7 months later in 2009.
Much of the renewed interest in the NC Music Hall of Fame was driven by music industry mogul Mike Curb who has ties to Kannapolis and is friends with David H. Murdock who was building the Kannapolis-based North Carolina Research Campus. He worked out a deal to lease and renovate the old city jail and police station. Curb also has his close friend and North Carolina native, music executive Eddie Ray, become operations director to oversee the day-to-day for the organization.
Mike Curb and Eddie Ray were both inducted into the Hall in 2009. Mike Curb for his contribution and support of the Hall of Fame and Eddie Ray for his lifetime achievement in the music non-performer category.
In 2012, the organization hosted its third induction ceremony which was open to the public. Being held at the Vintage Motor Club Conference & Events Center in nearby Concord, North Carolina allowed the group to sell tickets to the event.
Criteria for inclusion Musicians that were either born in North Carolina or have made it their home are eligible for induction 10 years after their entry into the music industry. Inductees are not limited to music performers, and producers, industry executives and educators are also eligible for induction.
Inductees Inductees are from virtually every genre of music, including Jazz, Opera, Hip Hop, Blues, Rock, Folk, Country, and Bluegrass. Some of the inductees include:
1999
Chairmen of the Board Charlie Daniels Bill Griffin Kay Kyser Victoria Livengood Loonis McGlohon Billy Scott
2002 Ronnie Milsap
2009
The "5" Royales Johnny Bristol George Clinton John Coltrane Roberta Flack Johnny Grant Wilbert Harrison Ben E. King Thelonious Monk Clyde McPhatter Eddie Ray Max Roach Earl Scruggs Nina Simone Kate Smith James Taylor Randy Travis
Honorary member Mike Curb - Honorary member (2009)
2010
Les Brown Shirley Caesar Donna Fargo Don Gibson Andy Griffith George Hamilton IV Oliver Don Schlitz Curly Seckler Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith Billy Taylor Doc Watson Maurice Williams
2011
Billy "Crash" Craddock Michael English Ben Folds Anthony Dean Griffey John D. Loudermilk Clyde Moody Maceo Parker Billy Edd Wheeler
2012
Tori Amos Lou Donaldson Fred Foster Stonewall Jackson Jodeci J. E. Mainer Nantucket Shirley Reeves & Doris Jackson
2013
Alicia Bridges Tony Brown Rick Dees The Catalinas John P. Kee Del Reeves Grady Tate Willie Weeks
2014
Clay Aiken Fantasia Barrino Jimmy Capps The Embers Little Eva Lulu Belle and Scotty Tab Smith Link Wray
2015
Gerald Alston Nappy Brown Eric Church The Fantastic Shakers Warren Haynes Chuck Jackson Reverend Fairthcolth Barnes Jay Spell
2016
The Avett Brothers Band of Oz Chuck Brown Carolina Chocolate Drops Percy Heath David Holt Kellie Pickler Ron Tyson
2017
Anthony Hamilton Bucky Covington Etta Baker Jim Lauderdale Richard Lewis Spencer Sensational Nightingales Steep Canyon Rangers
2018
Blind Boy Fuller Calvin Richardson Chris Daughtry Dolphus Ramseur John Tesh Luther Barnes The Hoppers
2019
Elizabeth Cotten Merle Watson Mitch Easter 9th Wonder Big Daddy Kane
2020
The Briar-Hoppers Donald Lawrence The Squirrel Nut Zippers Michael Mauldin Jermaine Dupri Charles Whitfield
2022
Nnenna Freelon Janet Paschal Stephanie Mills Bernard Edwards Charlie Poole
2023
Scotty McCreery Loudon Wainwright III Bill Curtis Fetchin Bones George Beverly Shea Betty Davis
2024
Petey Pablo Clarence Avant Mary Cardwell Dawson Merge Records Tommy Faile Bobby Hicks
2025
Luke Combs Robert Deaton Clyde Mattocks David Childers Hattie Leeper Dexter Romweber
2026
MC Sha-Rock Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliot Arrogance Barry Poss Billy Strayhorn George Clinton
See also
List of music museums
References
External links
Eddie Ray Interview NAMM Oral History Program (2013)