Seven new nominees will be entering the Memphis Music Hall of Fame this fall.
The honorees, who will be joining 47 current Hall inductees, include –
Al Jackson, Jr.
Jackson, Jr. was the long-time drummer for famed Memphis instrumental groups Booker T. & The MG’s (1962-1975), and concurrently The Mar-Keys for ten years, until his passing in 1975.
Alberta Hunter
Hunter was a successful singer and songwriter from the early 20’s through the late 50’s, when she gave up music for a career in nursing for 20 years – only to make a musical comeback in the early 80’s. She died in 1984 at the age of 89.
Charlie Rich
Originally a multi-genre singer-songwriter (including rockabilly, country and jazz), Rich was known as ‘The Silver Fox’ in his later years. He scored a Top 40 pop hit in 1965 with Mohair Sam, followed by two big country-pop crossover hits in 1973 – Behind Closed Doors and The Most Beautiful Girl. Rich passed away at only 62 in 1995.
Justin Timberlake
Originally a child TV-actor (including the Mickey Mouse Club), the multi-faceted Timberlake rose to music fame as co-lead singer of the late 90’s boy band NSYNC. Since then, Justin has gone back and forth between acting and music careers, and has also been owner of both a record label and restaurants. He’s now 34.
Memphis Slim
A blues pianist-singer-composer, Memphis Slim (real name; John Len Chatman) led a number of bands who performed a sub-genre of the blues in the 40’s called ‘Jump Blues.’ The hard-working Memphis legend recorded over 500 songs, including the blues standard Every Day I Have The Blues. He died in 1988 at the age of 72.
Sam & Dave
There’s not enough space here to write all that could be said about music legends Sam & Dave (Sam Moore (left, above) and Dave Prater), who became the greatest soul/r&b duos of the Top 40 era. The tenor-voiced Moore and baritone/tenor Prater mainly recorded for the premier record label in Memphis – Stax Records – for whom they scored huge hits like Hold On, I’m Comin’, You Don’t Know Like I Know, I Thank You and their signature hit Soul Man. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, sadly, Prater was killed in a car accident four years earlier, on April 9th, 1988 – exactly one month before turning 50. Moore celebrates his 90th birthday this October.
Scotty Moore
Winfield Scott “Scotty” Moore grew up in Tennessee admiring the work of legendary guitarist Chet Atkins, and became Elvis Presley‘s guitarist beginning in 1954; playing on all of the hits by the King through the early 60’s – just prior to Presley’s Hollywood movie recordings era. Moore, now 83, was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
The induction ceremony will take place on October 17th in Memphis.
•
Memphis Music Hall of Fame Current Members
Read More
Source: ABCRadioNewsOnline.com
