Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame
The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame is an independent organization honoring the historical preservation of rhythm and blues, gospel, jazz, and hip-hop music and culture.
History
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 2017-2019 nominee, 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 he has chosen the city of Augusta, GA, the hometown of his childhood hero, James Brown, in which to locate the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. The 2021 induction ceremony will also be held in Augusta. The County Commission of Augusta unanimously voted for a resolution of support letter for the project. It was signed by the Mayor of Augusta, Hardie Davis, Jr. However, after the National R&B HOF's press release saying that they were officially coming to Augusta, mayor Hardie Davis Jr. released his own press release, stating that more work needed to be done to make Augusta the official home of the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.Robinson is a player/owner of the Harlem Clowns 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 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.
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. 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.
National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame Weekend, Induction Ceremony
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. The first class of inductees included recording acts The Supremes, The Temptations, The Marvelettes, The O'Jays, Martha & The Vandellas, 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 and Tim Marshall. 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:
| Date | Venue | Location |
| August 17, 2013 | Waetjen Auditorium Cleveland St. University | Cleveland, OH |
| August 24, 2014 | Palace Theatre | Canton, OH |
| June 6, 2015 | Clarksdale Civic Auditorium | Clarksdale, MS |
| October 4, 2015 | Charles H. Wright Museum Of African American History | Detroit, MI |
| August 21, 2016 | Ford Community & Performing Arts Center | Dearborn, MI |
| June 11, 2017 | Detroit Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts | Detroit, MI |
| June 3, 2018 | Charles H. Wright Museum Of African American History | Detroit, MI |
| June 23, 2019 | Charles H. Wright Museum Of African American History | Detroit, MI |
Hall of Fame
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".