2013 INDUCTEES
ARTISTS
CHRIS BOTTI: Trumpeter and composer Chris Botti was born in Portland and grew up in Corvallis. He picked up the trumpet at age nine. After playing in the clubs in Portland while still in high school, Chris ended up at Indiana University. He then went off to New York where he played with Frank Sinatra and Buddy Rich before playing and recording with Paul Simon for 10 years. He has since played or performed with Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Bette Midler, Joni Mitchell, and Sting among others. He has released 13 albums including 3 reaching the #1 spot on the Billboard Jazz charts. He has had five Grammy Award nominations and won one at this year’s awards.
HAZEL: Hazel came together in Portland in 1992. Pete Krebs, Jody Bleyle, Brady Smith along with dancer Fred Nemo made a big impact on the then alternative rock scene in Portland. They were signed to the Sub Pop label releasing two albums. Hazel’s music was unlike most of the then grunge sounding bands on Sub Pop, then again their music was unlike anything anyone was doing at that time. Their shows are legendary with Fred’s dancing presence enhancing the music of the band in a very unusual and exciting way. In 1997, they released an EP before officially calling it quits but have from time to time got together for a reunion show including last year at MFNW.
POISON IDEA: Poison Idea began in Portland in 1980 by vocalist Jerry A. They have had numerous band members over the years but will always be known for Jerry A. and Tom “Pig Champion” Roberts as the main constants most of those years. Their debut album came out in 1983 and the have since had over 30 releases between albums, EPs and singles. Their music was influenced by the hardcore music that was going on in California, however their music had an influence on numerous bands over the years including Machine Head, Zeke, Turbonegro, Pantera and Nirvana. Their live shows were energy packed and often included fire-breathing finales.
KELLY JOE PHELPS: Kelly Joe Phelps grew up on folk and country music but gravitated to jazz and playing bass. He began discovering the legends of acoustic blues and moved to playing blues and roots influenced music on guitar. He released his debut album Lead Me On, on Portland’s Burnside Records in 1995. He has since released an additional 10 albums moving into many different directions of roots music including his critically acclaimed 2012 release Brother Sinner & the Whale. He regularly tours around the world. His playing has been featured on countless albums by such artists as Townes Van Zandt, Tony Furtado, Greg Brown and Jay Farrar.
RICHMOND FONTAINE: 20 years ago at Portland Meadows as vocalist /songwriter Willy Vlautin and bassist Dave Harding were picking the horses and talking music, they decided to form a band. Since then Richmond Fontaine has been churning out a very unique and exciting form of Americana music. Their first 3 releases came out on Portland’s own Cavity Search Records and they have released 10 albums in all. Their music really hit a nerve in Europe where they regularly tour and have received tremendous press including Uncut Magazine naming two of their albums, Post To Wire and The Fitzgerald, masterpieces.
SIDE PLAYERS
JANICE SCROGGINS: Janice Scroggins moved to Portland in 1978 and has been a permanent fixture on the music scene here. She was part of the band The Esquires who made three albums with Portland’s Flying Heart label, which also included OMHOF inductee Carlton Jackson. Her solo album Janice Plays Scott Joplin was well received and received a Grammy nomination. She’s one of the most in-demand pianists in town playing with the likes of Obo Addy, Norman Sylvester, Lloyd Jones, Thara Memory, Curtis Salgado and Linda Hornbuckle to name a few, both live and in the studio. She can play all genres of music but is most heard on the blues and gospel scene. Her second release came out in 2009, a duet album with OMHOF inductee, Linda Hornbuckle.
GREGG WILLIAMS: If you look up Gregg Williams, you will find over 250 credits of albums he has played drums on, produced or engineered. He has recorded with and/or toured with the likes of Quarterflash, Sheryl Crow, The Dandy Warhols, Blitzen Trapper, Nu Shooz, Jerry Joseph, Pete Droge and Emmylou Harris to name a few. He’s played in most all the clubs in Portland and has also played 15,000 seat rooms. He is the owner of Trench Studios in Portland, but he is often found traveling to work with artists at other studios around the country.
INDUSTRY
MAYOR BUD CLARK: In 1984, Bud Clark, the owner of the Goose Hollow Inn, ran for mayor of the City of Portland against Frank Ivancie. To help pay the campaign debts an event called the Mayor’s Ball was organized with many from the music community of Portland offering their services to play. Mayor Bud Clark then sanctioned a Mayor’s Ball each year for the next four years as an annual charity event. This event showcased up to 70 Oregon based artists during the night including many OMHOF Inductees. His contributions and support of the musical arts in Portland during his eight years in office was up and beyond anyone who has served as Mayor of Portland.
MARTY HUGHLEY: Marty Hughley started his music career at Music Millennium in the early 80s. In the mid 80s he started writing for the Willamette Week part time but soon took on the position of full time music editor. Marty’s support of the local music scene could be seen in his writing and you could see Marty out at live show most nights of the week. In 1990, he became a music critic at The Oregonian, a position he held for more than 16 years, until he made a change to theater and dance. He continued his support and coverage for both local musicians and local music events and to many a reader, and was one of the cities main information sources to find out what to be on the look out for and who to go see.
2012 ALBUM OF THE YEAR
CURTIS SALGADO: There were many incredible albums by Oregon artists in 2012 but the honors go to longtime Oregon artist Curtis Salgado. Soul Shot was his first solo album to come out on Alligator Records. It also proved to be the best album of his career. Curtis picked up a Muddy Award for “Best National Blues Album.” He also recently took home the Soul Blues Album of the Year Award along with Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year and B.B. King Entertainer of the Year honors in Memphis at the Blues Music Awards.
2012 ARTIST OF THE YEAR
ESPERANZA SPALDING: Esperanza Spalding is the 2012 Artist of the Year, an honor she took once before in 2010. Her album, Radio Music Society, hit #10 on the Billboard Pop Charts, as well as #1 on the Billboard Jazz Charts. She was nominated for three Grammy Awards and won for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists, which she shared with OMHOF Inductee Thara Memory. She also received Best Contemporary Jazz Album at the Soul Train Music Awards.