MInnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame Show Scheduled for May 2-3, 2008 at the Medina Entertainment Center, Medina, MN

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) April 17, 2008 -- The Minnesota Rock and Country Hall of Fame has announced the list of this year's inductees for the May 2-3, Induction Show at the Medina Entertainment Center in Medina, MN.

The weekend event will also kick off the official start of the organization's new name, the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame. The name change is a reflection of the broader spectrum of genres represented by the Hall. "The Board of Directors felt that the new name will be a better representation of our inductees, both past and present", according to Director, Doug Spartz. "We have individuals and groups ranging from rock, country, blues, gospel, R&B, jazz, reggae, and the forerunners to today's eclectic groups."

Friday, May 2, 2008-Admission $20

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Medina Entertainment Center

Medina, MN

763-478-6661

This year's Hall of Fame weekend will begin with a special induction ceremony from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Performing inductees featured in this segment include Arne Fogel and Peter Lang. Non-performing inductees include Dick Shapiro, Peter Steinberg, Barry Thomas Goldberg, Gary Paulak, Dale Menten, Irv Williams, Ken Horst, and Carole Martin.

Following a special autograph session between 8:00 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. will be the performing induction show. Scheduled to appear are Willie Murphy, Irv Williams Jazz Quintet with Carole Martin, C. A. Quintet, Willie Walker, High Noon, Marilyn Sellars ("One Day At a Time"), Mike Waggoner & the Bops, the Amazers/Swans, the Doc Holliday Band, Steve Wroe and the Fury's, and Free and Easy. The evening will finish up with a special dance party featuring the sounds of Free and Easy.

Saturday, May 3, 2008-Admission $22

Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

Saturday's activities will kick off at 1:00 p.m. and will include performances by the group Judd, Wilbert Dugas and the Bb Blues Band, Showtime I and II induction, Bob and Dale Strength induction, Denny Charnecki and the D.C. Drifters, and the Surf Dogs. Lifetime Recipient Awards will be presented to Keith Zeller, Jim Greenwall, Don Roberts Formanek, Jerry LeMire, Kenny Schossow and Jordan Gish.

There will be an autograph session with the inductees from 6:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. followed by a live auction of an inductee autographed guitar at 7:45 p.m. followed by the evening induction ceremony at 8:00 p.m.

Performing inductees include international treasure Ipso Facto featuring the wonderfully successful Wain McFarlane, Jeanne Arland Peterson, Patty Peterson and the Peterson Family, the KanDells, Mary Macgregor ("Torn Between Two Lovers"), Michael Johnson ("Bluer Then Blue"), Dr. Mambo's Combo featuring Margaret Cox, Melanie Rosales, and Cynthia Johnson, Mike Glieden & the Rhythm Kings, Judd, Lynn Anderson, Liz and Casey Anderson, the Chancellors, Whiskey River and Curtiss A. The evening will cumulate in a Saturday Night Dance Party with Danny's Reasons featuring Danny Stevens, Rockie Robbins, Carl Bradley, and Showtime's Craig Derry, amongst other special guests.

There will be a silent auction of music memorabilia, sports items, and musical instruments starting on Friday night and running until 10:00 p.m. on Saturday.

The weekend will include over 18 hours of music, featuring the best of Minnesota's musicians and artists and will include performances ranging from rock and roll, country, blues, gospel, folk, funk, punk, to R&B. "We're getting calls from musicians that are coming in from all over the country to reunite for one last performance. There is no doubt that this is becoming a "not to miss event", Spartz notes. "Many of these groups will be reuniting for the first time in decades.

Highlights of Upcoming Show:

National recording artists Mary Macgregor* and Michael Johnson have both enjoyed national success with their respective career, Macgregor with her #1 single "Torn Between Two Lovers" and Johnson who has charted with numerous songs including "Bluer Then Blue" and "Give Me Wings"; but they trace their musical roots back to pre-stardom days when they performed in a trio in the Minneapolis area. They will be sharing the same stage at the induction show for the first time in many years.

*Per Mary Macgregor this is the correct spelling of her name. Her record label spelled it MacGregor.

Minnesota native Lynn Anderson will be inducted along with her parents, Liz and Casey Anderson. Lynn Anderson is best known for her hit song "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden", but her parents are also respected songwriters and performers in their own right, having penned Merle Haggard's song "All My Friends Are Going to Be Strangers" and "The Lonesome Fugitive". Liz Anderson also had a #5 country hit with her single "Mama Spank" and teamed up with daughter Lynn for the 1968 hit "Mama May I".

National recording artist and Minnesota native, Rockie Robbins will be performing with Danny's Reasons to close out the Saturday show. Robbins, a Minneapolis native, worked with the Mystics, before being signed to the A&M Records where he had numerous R&B hit songs. His release "Emergency" was featured in the movie "Beverly Hills Cop".

Twin Cities legendary and beloved showman, Wain MacFarlane will reunite with Ipso Factor for an induction performance. MacFarlane is the leader of the Minneapolis based reggae/funk/jazz group and has been recuperating from his recent kidney transplant. In March 2007, a benefit concert was held for MacFarlane, featuring Soul Asylum, Cyndi Lauper, Mint Condition, and Lighthouse.

Honors will also be given to several long-time Minnesota performing groups that have stood the test of time and are still actively working after decades in the business--blues legend Willie Murphy, Mike Waggoner & the Bops, Mike Glieden & the Rhythm Kings, High Noon, Dr. Mambo's Combo, Curtiss A, and Willie Walker.

Groups that will be reuniting for the show include Fargo's own Steve Wroe and the Fury's, the Doc Holliday Band, Judd, the KanDells, the More-Tishans, original members of the Chancellors, original members of Dr. Mambo's Combo and Whiskey River.

This year will be first time in the history of the event that a gospel group will be performing. The Swans will be on hand to perform with the Amazers.

Returning for a special performance on Friday night will be Marilyn Sellars. Sellars was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the first induction show in 2004. She is best remembered for her number one hit song "One Day at a Time". Sellars will also be headlining a Sunday show at the Medina Entertainment Center. For more information go to www.medinaentertainment.com.

Ticket Information:

Special advance ticket prices are $37 for a two-day pass, or you can order Friday tickets in packs of 10 for $160 or Saturday tickets in packs of 10 for $180. These are available by either sending check or money order to the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame, PO Box 283, Hackensack, MN 56452 or by emailing (rchtickets @ msn.com) or going to www.rockcountryhall.com. Tickets are also available at the Medina Entertainment Center by calling 763-478-6661 or online at www.medinaentertainment.com.

Contact Information

Event Publicity:

Cindy Hudson-Grant    

Call or email to schedule interviews with any of the Great North Music individual inductees.

218-820-8302

(greatnorthmusic @ hotmail.com)

Television and Radio Publicity:

Timothy D. Kehr

(timothydkehr @ earthlink.com)

Event Organizer

Doug Spartz, Director

Minnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame

320-250-1902

(dspartz @ tds.net)

Dale Menten

Minnesota Rock Country Hall of Fame

952-474-9463

(dmenten @ visi.com)

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