The Badlees, Halestorm, and more to be inducted into Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame in 2021
From a press release:
It was announced this week that the second annual Central Pennsylvania Music Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg.
This local, Grammys-style red carpet event recognizes the best local acts of the past year and honors the best artists of all time who originated from (or have resided in) the Central Pennsylvania area.
Poison, Dan Hartman, The Magnificent Men, The Sharks, Bobby Troup, and Robert White were inducted as part of the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame’s inaugural class last year.
This year, the CPMHOF Board of Directors and Advisory Committee have voted in The Badlees, Halestorm, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Jeffrey Gaines, and Pentagon.
Over the years, Central Pennsylvania has produced some incredible and accomplished musicians who have influenced generations of music lovers. In 2019, the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame was founded as a nonprofit organization to recognize, support, and grow the area’s longstanding and diverse music heritage. The organization is proud to once again have a star-studded and diverse class inducted this year.
In the 1990s, The Badlees served as the heartbeat of roots rock for Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Selinsgrove band’s success with their 1995 album “River Songs” catapulted them to national fame with the hits “Fear of Falling” and “Angeline Is Coming Home.” To the local music scene, this elevated status has never dwindled as the band and its individual members have continued to inspire, mentor, advise, produce, and perform with artists throughout Pennsylvania.
Badlees vocalist and guitarist Bret Alexander, who records many NEPA musicians as well as his own music at his Dupont studio Saturation Acres, filmed a video message thanking everyone for recognizing the band.
“We are honored to be included in 2021 class of the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame,” the Pittston resident said.
“I want to thank everybody who supported us over the years, everybody who voted for us, our fans, our families, our crew, our management, and everybody that was in the trenches with us over that time, and also the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame themselves for shining a light on our wonderful music community in our area. Thanks, guys!”
Halestorm is one of the most successful hard rock acts from the state. Lzzy Hale and her brother Arejay Hale began performing locally when they were just 13 and 10, respectively. Formed in Red Lion in 1997, Halestorm signed with Atlantic Records in 2005. They won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for the song “Love Bites (So Do I)” in 2013, becoming the first female-fronted band to win in that category, and they continue to tour persistently (2020 excluded), sometimes up to 250 days a year. Once inducted, Lzzy Hale will be the first female in the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame.
“We are so honored and excited to be inducted into the 2021 class of the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall of Fame. Thank you so much to everybody that helped raise us and launch us into where we are today. We will see you all on the other side,” Lzzy Hale said.
The Dorsey Brothers were both extremely successful musicians and bandleaders during the big band era. As a singer/songwriter, Jeffrey Gaines has been a pillar of the local music scene. Lastly, Pentagon is celebrating their 50th year as a band this year; they toured through their early years and are still rocking today.
Tickets to the second annual Central Pennsylvania Music Awards and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will go sale to the general public on Friday, Dec. 26.
The CPMHOF welcomes the involvement of musicians, venues, fans, teachers, instrument shops, booking agents, recording studios, sound techs, DJs, photographers, journalists, bloggers, community volunteers, businesses, corporate leaders, and anyone else who supports local music to join the organization in celebrating not only Central Pennsylvania’s rich music history, but also the music in us all.
