Kentucky Music Hall of Fame Inducts Carly Pearce, Marty Brown and Five More
Country, Blues, Bluegrass greats among class of 2022
There’s a lot more to Kentucky music than just Bluegrass.
Kentucky has given the world some of the best rock and roll, country, R&B, blues and pop music in addition to the unmistakable sounds of Bluegrass.
On Friday, October 28, the music community came together to honor the newest inductees into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. The historic event was held in the auditorium of the Renfro Valley Entertainment Center’s New Barn, Mt. Vernon, Kentucky.
The class of 2022 represented some of the many strands that weave together into the tapestry of Kentucky music. Here are the new inductees, in alphabetical order:
Norah Lee Allen was inducted for her amazing vocal career. She is best known for her long association with the Grand Ole Opry where she has performed as a background singer for hundreds of acts since the 1980s. Norah, originally from Bowling Green, KY, is married to Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys.
Marty Brown, from Maceo, KY, had to be my personal favorite inductee of the evening! I have known Marty since I was a judge at a talent contest held at the Yellow Rose in Owensboro, KY, at which he performed (and won). Years later, at a benefit following one of my surgeries, Marty met Shellie who is now his wife! Marty is a dyed-in-the-wool country artist who became an audience favorite on season eight of America’s Got Talent.
Pete Goble was a posthumous inductee. Widely-regarded as a Bluegrass songwriting legend, Goble passed away in 2018 aged 86. He is credited with writing songs that have become worldwide Bluegrass standards, recorded by artists such as Rhonda Vincent, Alison Krauss, The Grascals, Dailey Vincent, The Browns and many more.
Carly Pearce has racked up Gold and Platinum songs that topped the Country charts in the US and Canada including “Next Girl,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now” (with Lee Brice) and “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” (with Ashley McBryde). Carly, a native of Taylor Mill, KY, was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Ricky Skaggs (himself a 2004 inductee).
Tommy White, already a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, was also inducted. He is considered a true virtuoso of the instrument. The Louisville, KY, native recorded his first album, aptly titled 100 Proof of Steel, Aged 15 Years, and has been heard frequently ever since, both on recordings and on the Opry stage.
Paul Yandell, the late guitar player from Mayfield, KY was inducted posthumously. Yandell enjoyed a long career as an in-demand guitarist, touring with acts that included The Louvin Brothers, Kitty Wells, Johnnie Wright, George Hamilton IV and Jerry Reed. Yandell had received the fifth and final Certified Guitar Player Award from Chet Atkins’ daughter Merle Atkins Russell.
Tee Dee Young, the incredible blues guitarist and singer, hailing from Lexington, KY, put on a guitar-shredding, barn-burning (luckily not literally New Barn burning) performance prior to his induction that brought a cheering, stomping audience to their feet in appreciation.
Also, Jack Pattie, a Kentucky radio legend, was presented with the Karl Shannon Legacy Award. Friends of the Hall of Fame Awards were presented to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gretsch of Gretsch Guitars, Michael Bryant, Avery Bradshaw, Paul Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Harris and Ann Henderson.
Additionally, the appreciative audience enjoyed appearances and performances by Rockland Road, Sydney Adams, Parker Hastings, Connie Smith and Steve Wariner. (By the way, three days later, Steve Wariner was himself inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame at a gala event in Nashville.)
Kudos to the excellent job done by Jessica Blankenship, Executive Director of the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, and her staff, for ‘herding cats’ and keeping everything flowing smoothly throughout the show.
If you have not been to the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a visit should definitely be on your bucket list. You'll find a treasure trove of music memorabilia and hundreds of artefacts representing every facet of Kentucky music. For more information, visit their website and keep up with news on their Facebook page. Find videos of live performances and interviews at their YouTube channel.
Photo credit: Pictured (L-R): Jim Crawford (for Pete Goble), Micah and Marie Yandell (son and wife of Paul Yandell), Marty Brown, Carly Pearce, Tee Dee Young, Norah Lee Allen, and Tommy White. Photo: Sarah Cahill.
About Preshias Harris
JournalistPreshias Harris is a music journalist who has interviewed everyone from Alabama to ZZ Top for articles and stories published in numerous music magazines. She is the author of longest-running monthly country music column in America and authored The College of Songology™ 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s ‘Need To Know’ Reference Handbook. As a music career development consultant with special emphasis on emerging and aspiring artists and songwriters, she focuses on ‘chasing the dream’ while understanding the realities of the music industry. She maintains a writers’ room on Music Row – named The Sangtuary – for her clients and their co-writers. She is a member of ASCAP (as a publisher), BMI, The Country Music Association (CMA), The Recording Academy, The National Association of Talent Directors (NATD) and a life member of Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).
You can find out more about Preshias at https://www.collegeofsongology.com and find her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
