The NYS Hall of Fame is part of a larger network of statewide halls, all of which are affiliated with the national organization based in California. The upcoming induction ceremony will honor several Saratoga blues musicians, including the Out Of Control Band (featuring its founder, Rick Siciliano and band members Rick Rourke, Denny Dwyer, Joe Rocco, Chris Cernik, Denny Dwyer, Ken Drumm, Joe “Box” Dragone, Tony Gambaro, and Lucas Ruedy); The E.B. Jeb Band (Artie Brown, Ed Young, Pete Jones, Bernie Mignacci, Kevin Garmley, Barry Jones, Mike Miranda and Mike Ambuhl), and George Fletcher’s Foldin’ Money (Michael LoMaestro, James Gascoyn, Johnny Saris) as a band only—Fletcher was already inducted into the Hall as an independent musician last year.
“It’s a totally unique ceremony featuring local musicians—they’re professional but they’re not famous by any means,” said George Fletcher, leader of George Fletcher’s Foldin’ Money band. “We’re your neighbors—we help you change your tire and run schools and teach your kids guitar. This is a way of recognizing the unsung folks who keep the blues alive.”
Fletcher added that it’s important for blues musicians to be recognized for their dedication to the genre because they are so often overlooked.
“Folks like us aren’t usually greatly compensated, so we play just for the satisfaction of doing it,” he said. “It’s nice to be recognized for doing what you do—it’s people who are skilled in multiple areas and to be nominated is huge. It’s a nationwide, and soon to be worldwide, organization.”
Additional individual musicians being honored at the upcoming ceremony include Tony Perrino, Pete Vumbaco, Joe Roy Jackson, Michael Lomaestro Jr. and Phil Drum, founder of the Saratoga Acoustic Blues Society (SABS). Other inductees aren’t musicians but play a support role in the area’s music scene, such as the host venue Saratoga City Tavern, which regularly features live blues bands, and Saratoga Guitar Center founder Matt McCabe.
The afternoon-long ceremony will be conducted from 1—6 p.m. August 11, with most inductees performing a short set after their presentation. The event will be emceed by radio personality Steve Daub, host of WRPI’s long-running “Stormy Monday” blues program. It will also be hosted by Blues Hall of Fame “ambassador” and Windmill recording artist Michael Packer.
Fletcher said most people don’t recognize just how much influence the blues have had on almost every type of music genre, even today.
“You can hear the blues in so many different forms—ZZ Top, Jimi Hendrix, even Eric Clapton’s best albums have been in his blues collection,” Fletcher said. “There’s so much blues in pop music, and southern rock is also blues. Even the Beatles had blues songs—they were just done in Beatles’ style.”
The ceremony on August 11 will take place at the Saratoga City Tavern on Caroline Street from 1—6 p.m. Cover charge for the event is $10. For more information on the event, visit www.blueshalloffame.com.
“Blues is for everybody,” Fletcher said. “Some people think it’s only for older people or just certain musicians, but you’d be surprised.”
