Six musical personalities were inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame on Monday, including Brother Wease and Garth Fagan, among others.
The induction ceremony is designed to celebrate and preserve the legacy of music of Rochester natives or music professionals who spent their formative years in Rochester. The all-volunteer board modeled the induction ceremony on similar award shows, including the Kennedy Center Honors and the Grammy Awards.
“Rochester has a rich and diverse musical heritage, and we are proud to foster and celebrate that through the Rochester Music Hall of Fame,” said Jack Whittier, president of the Rochester Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
On Monday, board members officially unveiled the names and photos of this year’s lineup. The official induction ceremony is scheduled for April 30 at the Eastman Theatre, 26 Gibbs St., starting at 7 p.m.
The event will feature musical performances honoring each inductee, including live performances by Fred Costello, The Majestics, Tweet, and dancers of Garth Fagan Dance, along with celebrity guest performers.
Here are the Rochester Music Hall of Fame 2023 inductees:
Brother Wease
Alan Levin, otherwise known by his radio personality, Brother Wease, was the first-ever Rochester radio personality to be inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2021. He was earlier inducted into the New York State Broadcaster Association Hall of Fame in 2009 and has continued to experience success throughout his nearly four-decade-long career. Wease has also regularly used his radio presence and popularity to do good for others and his community, founding several nonprofits.
Garth Fagan
Garth Fagan is a Tony Award-winning choreographer who revolutionized modern dance and Broadway dance with his groundbreaking contributions to The Lion King stage musical.
Fred Costello
Fred Costello is an organist for the Rochester Red Wings. Costello is also the longest-serving organist in U.S. history.
Tweet
Charlene Keys, also known as Tweet, is a vocalist and songwriter who has provided backing vocals on recordings for Missy Elliott, Madonna, Whitney Houston, and more. In 2003, Tweet was nominated for “Best New Artist” by the Soul Train Awards, and her latest album “Charlene” was named to the list of “Best R&B Albums of 2016” by Rolling Stone Magazine.
The Majestics
The Majestics, the reggae-styled Rochester band is celebrating its 50th anniversary, with experience playing throughout the northeast and opening for some of the most popular reggae acts in history, including Burning Spear, Toots and the Maytals, Ziggy Marley, and more.
Sebastian Marino
Sebastian Marino is a concert producer, songwriter, and lead guitarist, Marino initially performed with the heavy metal bands Anvil and Overkill before pivoting in the late 1990s to work as a vendor for live performances, creating the Batavia-based concert production company Audio Images Sound & Lighting.
Rochester Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony tickets
Tickets for the induction ceremony and performance are available for purchase at the Eastman Theatre box office and online at EastmanTheatre.org or RochesterMusic.org. Ticket prices range from $59 to $99, excluding service charges.
