2022 INDUCTEES THE MUSICIANS HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum inducted its class of 2022 Nov. 22, which included several of Local 257’s finest. Ray Stevens, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives — Chris Scruggs, Harry Stinson, and Kenny Vaughan, were all honored during the Nashville ceremony held at Municipal Auditorium. They were joined by inductees Billy F. Gibbons, Don McLean, Fabulous Superlative sound engineer Mick Conley, engineer George Massenburg, and producer James William Guercio.

The ceremony was hosted by Phil Vassar, and also honored CEO and Musicians Hall of Fame founder Joe Chambers, who died in September 2022. Chambers’ vision for the museum as a place to honor musicians and other creators who have made an enormous impact, with exhibits, shows, and Hall of Fame inductions, came to fruition over many years of diligent effort, in the midst of downtown Nashville’s almost inconceivable reinvention. The unique facility features rare instruments and other significant memorabilia. Chambers’ wife, Linda, has now taken on CEO duties. The evening included Local 257 President Dave Pomeroy’s remarks about Joe Chambers, and the special relationship between the AFM and the MHOF, plus many other warm mentions of Chambers as well as a performance in his memory of the song “Heaven.” The show also included music by Gill, Stevens and Stuart, along with Local 257 members Rodney Crowell, Steve Wariner, and Wendy Moten, among others.

Legendary multi-instrumentalist and artist Ray Stevens was inducted by MHOF’s Jay McDowell, who noted the spectrum of creativity represented by two of the songwriter’s compositions –“The Streak,” and “Everything Is Beautiful,” — both of which Stevens performed at the event. “I came here to be a musician, not to be a star,” Stevens said after his induction. “Along the way I wrote and recorded some hits, so it kind of took me away from the studio scene. But I spent a lot of time in the studios as a musician, arranger, and producer, so this is quite meaningful to me.”

Gill was inducted by Rodney Crowell, who also performed Gill’s hit “Liza Jane.” As the recipient of a host of awards and honors over his long career, Gill talked about the singular significance of becoming a member of the MHOF.

“As a kid, I didn’t stand in front of the mirror with a hairbrush thinking I was going to be Elvis. I had my head down, I wanted to be like Scotty Moore, his guitar player. Then it was Buck Owens’ guitar player, then I wanted to be a harmony singer. I was never that interested in being up front. So, getting this induction tonight feels like maybe a fairer and more honest representation of who I’ve always seen myself as,” Gill said.

Stuart and the Superlatives were inducted by fellow artist Steve Miller, who also sat in with them during their performance at the event.

“It’s a strange feeling because I just get up and go to work every day and that’s the truth,” Stuart said after his induction. “And then, there are these mountaintops along the way. I heard somebody say one time that everybody likes to get a gold star in Sunday school and that’s a good way to put it. It’s wonderful to be recognized and I’m really, really happy to share it with the Superlatives, that’s the beauty of this one.”

Superlatives bassist Chris Scruggs talked about joining the MHOF.

“This is one of those career pinnacle type of accolades. I can’t think of any greater recognition as a musician than to be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and there is no group of guys I would rather go in with than Marty and my Superlatives brothers. Jay McDowell informed me that I am the youngest individual ever to receive this honor and that makes me feel greatly humbled when I look at some of the other names gathered on those hallowed walls. I guess the only thing to do now is to go earn it,” Scruggs said.

Superlatives guitarist Kenny Vaughan said “We had a blast! What a show! What a night! What an honor!”

Superlatives drummer Harry Stinson said. “I feel extremely lucky to be honored within such a Hall of excellence alongside the Funk Brothers, Double Trouble, the Swampers, the Wrecking Crew and all the rest. I thank the Nashville music community as the best and most supportive in the world and hope the Superlatives inspire other artists and musicians to achieve the very best in themselves.”

All of the Local 257 inductees are starting busy years. Gill just finished a new not-yet-released album with steel guitar great, Paul Franklin, showcasing Ray Price’s music. He has also been writing songs for his own new record, due out in 2023. Marty Stuart will have a new album out in March. He celebrated 30 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry Dec. 26. Stevens continues writing songs and performing at his Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom in Nashville.

“The Musicians Hall of Fame is a special place and tells the story of the musicians behind the stars, as well as the stars whose musical expertise transcend all barriers. AFM Local 257 members Ray Stevens, Vince Gill and Marty Stuart and his great band, The Fabulous Superlatives, are all amazing representatives of our Nashville musician community, and all deserve this honor and our respect for all they have given us,” Pomeroy said.

The Vanderbilt University Blair Big Band, directed by Ryan Middagh, was named a top four finalist for their performance at the 3rd Annual Jack Rudin Jazz Championship held Jan. 14-15 at the Lincoln Center in New York City. The honor earned the band the right to perform in the concluding evening program. The group received awards for Outstanding Trombone Section and Outstanding Trumpet Section, and an individual award went to Jonathan Salcedo for Outstanding Trombone Solo.

The fourth annual For Pete’s Sake concert, benefiting The Pete Huttlinger Fund for Adult Congenital Cardiac Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was held Feb. 5 at City Winery Nashville.

Huttlinger was a renowned guitarist and composer who, throughout his life and career, dealt with rare complications from a congenitally defective heart. He died Jan. 15, 2016, at the age of 54. He was a 31-year member of the Nashville Musicians Association.

Wynton Marsalis, Artistic Director for Jazz at Lincoln Center, personally selected the Blair Big Band to participate in the weekend of workshops, performances and competitions.

“I’m very proud of our students and this incredible recognition,” said Middagh, who is an associate professor of jazz at Blair School. “It’s a testament to their hard work, the collaborative environment among our music faculty, and the spirit of creativity and discovery in our Vanderbilt community.”

On hand to perform and honor their late friend were Local 257 members John Oates, John Cowan, Guthrie Trapp, Bryan Sutton, and Jim “Moose” Brown. Other performers included Jim Messina, Teea Goans, Jack Schneider, Christie Lenee, Mark Sganga, and Don Sampson.

The Pete Huttlinger Fund for Adult Congenital Cardiac Research supports the training and research of cardiologists specializing in the care of adults with congenital heart disease. The fund was created by Huttlinger’s wife, Nashville publicist Erin Morris Huttlinger, and his long-time cardiologist, Dr. Frank Fish.

“This fund was launched not long after Pete passed away,” Huttlinger said. “So many of his fans followed us through several years of health issues and they were always eager to offer of themselves emotionally and financially. I wanted to create a home where those donations could be directed and put to a very specific use. Pete was an incredibly generous guy and often gave of his time and money. I know that he would want to give back to help further research for treatments of an affliction that plagued him since birth.”

Local 257 life member Alan Jackson was awarded the 2022 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the organization’s yearly event, held Nov. 9 at Bridgestone Arena.

The award is given to an iconic artist who has achieved international prominence through performances, sales numbers, and humanitarian efforts — and who has had continuing impact over the course of their career. Jackson has released over 20 albums and collections, nine of which went multi-platinum. He’s had 35 No. 1 hits, sold almost 60 million records, and won a host of awards.

During his acceptance speech Jackson talked about his love of country music.

“Country music has been real good to me and I fell in love with it when I was a young man…I really love the instruments, the steel guitars and the fiddles and things like that that gave it such a unique character to me and made it its own…and I love the lyrics and the songs and the artists and the melodies and the harmonies. It’s just a real American music to me.”

He also thanked his wife, Denise, and said that he’s “not always the easiest person to love, but she’s hung in there and helped me through hard times and we share great times. The good and the bad, the happy and the sad. We’ve survived a lot.”

Previous recipients of the CMA Lifetime Achievement Award include Local 257 members Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), and Loretta Lynn (2021).