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History of The Hall.
Should
the State of Florida have a Music Hall of Fame? Does the "Sunshine
State" have a rich and diversified musical heritage that's
worthy of recognition, honor and preservation?
Have the state's
residences and businesses truly played an important role in
defining and developing the American and International music
industry? Are there cultural contributions woven through the
fabric of modern society, or are they mere footnotes to the
"star making machinery" that churns in places like
New York, Nashville and Los Angeles?
The answers to the
first four of those five questions are emphatically and undeniably
"YES"! And it's time for those folks whose lives have
been touched, impacted influenced and changed by Florida music
to stop talking about it and start working to establish a Florida
Music Hall of Fame and Museum that will preserve honor and enhance
the state musical legacy through education and celebration!
Building
the Case
We can hear the questions coming already! Why? What difference
does it make? And why should we worry about whether future generations
will understand the genesis of (among other things) The Lynyrd
Skynyrd band's Southern rock anthem "Sweet Home Alabama?"
It's because in
the in the 21st Century, Music is culture. Its what's endured
the test of time. It's what one generation hands down to the
next - much more so than fine art, or dance, or photography,
or architecture, or even literature.
Music is the stuff
that dreams and memories are made of. It's the backdrop upon
which grandparents paint verbal picture of their "younger
days" the context within which a youngster can relate his
or her experience to that of a parent or teacher. It's significant
because of it's ability to transport us to a different time
and place and to tear down the walls that separate one generation
from another.
Planting
the Seed
The
notion of creating a Florida Music Hall of Fame was born in
1998 while founder Kevin Gartland was driving down interstate
75 from Atlanta to Tampa with an Allman Brothers song spinning
in the CD player. "See the Georgia Music Hall of Fame"
was the message on the roadside billboard, "Downtown Macon
- 15 miles". Photos of Gregg and Duane Allman, Ray Charles
and Bo Diddley adorned the billboard... and Gartland was pretty
darned sure that all four of those guys were from Florida!
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So he exited in
Macon, headed straight for the hall and spent the next two hours
touring the museum and learning a heck of a lot about the role
which Georgia musicians, songwriters, producers, promoters and
record executives had played in the development of the American
Music Industry. And just as he had suspected, a surprising number
of those enshrined in the Georgia Hall had their roots in Florida!
The
seed had been planted, and a year later it began to germinate.
In late 1999 Gartland joined with two friends and incorporated
the name "Florida Music Hall of Fame," with every
intention of building a museum that rival those in Georgia,
Alabama and other states. But life, love, kids, school, work
and family commitments got in the way, and seven years later
the Florida Hall was no closer to reality than it was on that
summer day in 1998. But all that's about to change.
Florida does,
indeed, occupy a uniquely influential place in the history of
American music. And the Florida Music Hall of Fame & Museum
will help the state's residents and visitors develop a broader
understanding and appreciation of the wide variety of musical
genres that have manifested themselves in Florida society …
from the work of folk music legends like Steven Foster to Southern
rock pioneers like the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd; from
bluegrass vanguards like Vassar Clements to the trend-setting
Cuban/Miami sounds of Gloria Estefan … and everything in
between.
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Fulfilling
the Mission
The mission of the
Florida Music Hall of Fame & Museum - as stated by its founding
members in 1999 - is fairly straightforward and simple: "To
ensure that Florida's rich and varied musical heritage is preserved
and honored, through education and celebration." To fulfill
that mission, a number of steps have already been taken.
- Application
has been made to the Internal Revenue Service for designation
as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
- A formal
nomination and selection process has been adopted to identify
those individuals, groups and organizations worthy of inclusion
in the Hall of .Fame.
- A "virtual"
(online) Hall of Fame has been built to begin the process
of preserving the state's musical heritage, and to further
the goals of educating the public and honoring the state's
music industry leaders.
- A series
of focus group meetings has been held involving Florida musicians,
songwriters, record producers, concert promoters, booking
agents, marketing professionals, business leaders, politicians
and music fans, to determine what each of those groups would
like to see included in a future Hall of Fame.
- Production
and staging of an initial Induction Ceremony & Concert
is being planned for the Spring of 2008, to recognize those
who've made significant contributions to the state's musical
legacy, to celebrate their achievements, and to educate the
public about the role which Florida (and Floridians) have.played
in the music industry.
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See
the video?
click here
The
Florida Music Hall of Fame is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization,
application in process. For more information
contact
info@flmusichall.org
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Leading
the Charge
In addition, an Advisory
Board representing the state's music industry and Florida's
music-loving public has been formed, to guide the organization
as it continues to work toward the establishment of a permanent,
bricks-and-mortar Hall of Fame & Museum.
Those currently serving on the Advisory Board include:
Click here for a look into the future
...
Our vision for the Florida Music Hall
of Fame!
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