Lena Spencer, Blotto to Be Honored at UPH in March

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Caffe Lena founder and owner Lena Spencer and legendary 1980’s Capital Region band Blotto are among the 2020 inductees in the recently created Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame.

The “Eddies” were created in 2019 by Jim Murphy and Salvatore Prizio of Schenectady-based Proctors Collaborative to celebrate professionals working in the area’s music scene. “Eddies” is named for Thomas Edison, who conceived the phonograph and relocated his Edison Machine Works to Schenectady. 

Lena Spencer was founder and owner of Caffe Lena from 1960 until her death in 1989.

Blotto was active 1978-1984, in addition to subsequent reunions. They sported pseudonyms on recordings and on stage; their songs were played on radio’s “Dr. Demento Show” and the video for “I Wanna Be A Lifeguard” was played on MTV’s first day on the air in 1981. 

The induction ceremonies will take place at Universal Preservation Hall, on Washington Street in Saratoga Springs on March 9. The venue is slated to have its grand reopening 10 days earlier. UPH will also site the Eddies Hall of Fame and will feature a plaque with the likeness of each inductee, as well as videos about all who are enshrined. Future plans include exhibits of local music memorabilia.

The induction ceremony includes a dinner and live music. The event is open to the public; tickets are $50 and are available at universalpreservationhall.org