Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame

The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame was founded in 2010, its name, in the beginning, was called the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame. The project was founded and developed by 2019 American Basketball Hall of Famer and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2017 and 2018 and in 2019 nominee, the basketball legend, R&B activist, music historian and entrepreneur LaMont "ShowBoat" Robinson Once built the building will be called the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Experience Center. On June 24, 2020 the founder made it official that the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame will be built in the hometown of his childhood hero James Brown, Augusta, GA. The officials of Augusta, Mayor Hardie Davis and the City Council voted for a resolution for the project. However the mayor said the following. “In the instance of the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, it is important for all to know that choosing a ‘permanent home’ in Augusta and going through the proper approval process to become a business in this city is two very different things,” Davis said.

Davis went further, advising residents to “temper their excitement” about the Hall or the 2021 induction ceremony because any event or planned building in the city still needs to go through a rigorous review and approval process.

“The premature press releases have done nothing to bring this idea to a constructive place beyond the immediate reaction shown by the community,” Davis said.

Davis, rather pointedly, said that he had spoken to the organization two weeks ago and that they needed “more than an idea” and a “fifteen-minute conference call” to provide consideration or approval.

“Instead of sending press releases that create a false narrative, the organization would be wise to follow the appropriate protocols in place to bring a business into the City of Augusta. To that end, I would encourage the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame organization to cease and desist announcing Augusta, Georgia, as its permanent home.”[4]

Robinson is a player/owner of the Harlem Clowns[5] and a former player for the former Harlem Globetrotter great Meadowlark Lemon's Harlem All-Stars 1988 then a tour with Harlem Globetrotters and Washington Generals summer of 1989, then as an owner of his first team in the fall of 1995 "ShowBoat" Robinson's Harlem and Road Kings. Robinson's love for R&B and Soul music began at an early age. He would often attend music practice sessions with his musician uncle, a house band member at Leo's Casino[1] a Cleveland, Ohio night club. It was one of the premier clubs in the Midwest during the 1960s for R&B, jazz and African American comedians such as Redd Foxx, Flip Wilson, Richard Pryor and Moms Mabley. Otis Redding's last live performance on December 9, 1967, was at Leo's. This love inspired him to start collecting memorabilia and artifacts that reflect the history of the Rhythm and Blues era. Robinson collected many of these exclusive and rare items while traveling all over the world to play basketball with the Globetrotters and other teams.[6]

Realizing that his collection had grown to a size worthy of a museum, he wanted to share or donate some of his collection to an officially recognized location. However he was unable to locate a place that exclusively displayed, celebrated and collected information about the great accomplishments of R&B artists besides the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his hometown Cleveland. While donating some items to the Rock Hall, he realized that a lot of well deserving R&B artists will never be given the type of recognition or honor that they deserve. He then decided to pursue creating such a place, acquiring the support of friends, some of which are Rhythm & Blues and Jazz musicians.

After many years of planning, a mobile museum debuted in February 2012.[7] An annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony followed, honoring artists, non-musical individuals, venues, events and anything that has influenced the world of R&B music. A permanent physical museum was ultimately planned.

The Inaugural Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held on August 17, 2013 at the Waetjen Auditorium at Cleveland State University in Cleveland.[8] The first class of inductees included recording acts The Supremes, The Temptations, The Marvelettes, The O'Jays,[7] Martha & The Vandellas (Martha Reeves, Rosalind Holmes, and Annette Helton), The Dramatics, Ruby & The Romantics, and The Dazz Band Featuring Jerry Bell and Little Jimmy Scott; historic venue Leo's Casino; international journalist Larry Cotton; and radio hosts Tom Joyner[7] and Tim Marshall.[9] On December 20, 2017, 18 names were added to the list of inductees as 20th Century Early Music Influences such as Sammy Davis, Jr, Ruth Brown, Bill Haley, Louis Armstrong and others. On February 17, 2018, the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame founder Lamont "ShowBoat" Robinson lifelong Temptations fan and collector give a tribute concert for the late great Dennis Edwards, called The Dennis Edwards Tribute to honor him for all his musical work and for his family and fans in Detroit, MI at Bert's Entertainment Complex to a packed house. Edwards was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2013 with the Temptations and in 2015 with his own group The Temptations Review feat Dennis Edwards.

Over the years, the National Rhythm & Blues and Hip-Hop Hall of Fame inductions have taken place at the following locations, starting in 2021 the ceremonies will be held permanently in Augusta, GA:

The main purpose of developing the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame is to collect and preserve artifacts and to document accomplishments of the many well deserving individuals that have influenced lives through the many avenues of R&B and Hip-Hop music. The Hall of Fame will recognize and honor many individuals that have contributed to this music, past and present. The venue will be at the forefront of providing innovative educational programs for children by using music as a mechanism for teaching history, math and social studies, through the vehicle of high technology. In a culturally diverse world, the Hall of Fame Museum will emphasize diversity throughout its programming.

The location for the Hall of Fame has not been decided even though many cities have express interest. Once built the museum will house a collection of historical artifacts and interactive presentations. It will also provide an educational wing that will contain a library and research department, a gift shop, and possibly a juke joint style soul food restaurant. A 1,500 seat theater will allow for small concerts, lectures and the showing of documentaries. The Hall of Fame section of the facility will be a dynamic area that honors the legends and individuals that have been inducted. The Museum section will be an interactive experience using the latest in technology designed to captivate and educating people of all ages and will display the many historical and present-day artifacts that have been and are still being collected.

The museum will exhibit present-day music contributions and the history of Rhythm & Blues, Blues, Hip-Hop, Gospel, and Jazz music from the early days originating in the 1940s when "urban-based music with a heavy insistent beat" was becoming more popular. It will explore the Chitlin' Circuit where black-only clubs existed and supported black musicians. The museum plans to provide information about well known as well as unknown artists, and non-artist who have had a major influence on all black music. Plans "include an African-American Music Research Center, Gospel Music & Preachers Experience and the Hip Hop of America".[1]

The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame will be an innovative traveling exhibit housing memorabilia spanning the era of R&B/Hip-Hop and other music Jazz and the Blues is designed to travel throughout the country setting up at various locations such as libraries, schools, churches, community centers and special events. The mobile museum is an educational approach to present historical artifacts to areas of the country that would not have heard about the museum and would pique the interest of potential tourist that may visit the actual museum. The museum has collected and is still in the process of collecting thousands of rare treasures. Among its present collection are rare photos, original documents, and many items from artists whose contributions helped shape an important era of the music industry. The collection will be an unparalleled representation of any music memorabilia collection. These original items which mostly have been donated by the artist and non-artist or their estates, cover the beginnings of R&B and Black Music from its early days in the 1940s to the present day.

* 2015 Induction ceremony in Clarksdale MI
** 2015 Induction ceremony in Detroit
*** Inducted as a 20th Century Early Music Influence

* 2015 Induction ceremony in Clarksdale, MI
** 2015 Induction ceremony in Detroit

• Official website
• "Inaugural Induction Ceremony" – via YouTube.