A tribute to the best of the best in the music industry, celebrate as the inductees are formally honored at the 33rd Annual Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Induction Gala on Thursday, October 8th at the Cove, 4701 Transit Road in Depew.

2015 Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Inductees:

Vincent Blasio: This 101-year-old is a local guitar legend and teacher whose legacy dates back to the Great Depression era. He has earned recognition as both a classical and jazz player and as a teacher. 
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The Boys of Summer: One of the region’s most popular party bands, also known for their benefit performances for groups such as the Make-a Wish Foundation, Roswell Park and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

Jim Brucato: Jim is probably best known as a member of the legendary Thirds acoustic trio, but Brucato has been a member of Billy McEwen’s Soul Invaders for over 20 years, writing and producing some of their recordings. He also spent a year touring with Maureen McGovern in the 1970s, appearing on the “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” TV show. 

John Connolly: While Buffalo missed out the Beatles in the 1960s, Connolly has done his best to make up for it with the bands Switch and the BBC Band, who have been some of the area’s most popular bands over the years.

Dolly Durante: Her soulful vocals have led to her performing and/or recording with Muhammad Ali, Buddy Miles, Stevie Wonder, Ike Turner, Lou Rawls, and, yes, Rick James, too.

Jackson C. Frank: A folk singer whose song “Blues Run the Game” was later recorded by the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers Simon and Garfunkel. Frank, who went to England in the early 1960s, was a huge influence on the folk-rock scene there. He died in 1999. 

Flash: The group never officially released its recordings, but established itself as a local legend before its members – Richie Pidanick, James Ralston, Phil Dillon, Dean Mooney and the late Larry Swist – went off to achieve individual success. 

Eli Konikoff: The late trombonist played with Woody Herman and Wild Bill Davidson’s bands in the 1950s before leading his own Yankee Six traditional Dixieland jazz group in Buffalo. He continued to play traditional jazz until his death in 1996.

Linda Rose Lombardo Appleby: An educator who has taught thousands of students in Buffalo since starting her career in the 1970s. Among her career highlights are directing the co-founding the Buffalo Select Chorus, a group from 12 public high schools that performed throughout the city, on CDs with Grammy nominee Joseph Wooten. 
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Billy Nunn: The Hammond B3 master was a Rick James collaborator with the Stone City Band (including co-writing the James hit “Mary Jane”). In addition, he has also played and recorded with a plethora of stars over the past 45 years, ranging from Johnny Lytle to Phillip Bailey (Earth Wind & Fire). 

Robert “Freightrain” Parker: This bassist has performed and toured internationally performing with Johnny “Clyde” Copeland, Bill “Sauce Boss” Wharton, Ronnie Earl, piling up recording credits and participating in organziations such as "Celbrating Elijah", an organization to help families of autistic children.

Process & the Doo Rags: They were both back-up singers and a side project for legendary funkster Rick James. They recorded two albums for Columbia Records affiliated companies and hit the Billboard charts with a James song, “Shout and Stomp.”

Fred Raiser: The saxophonist’s career took him from touring Mediterranean cruise ships to the Madhatters comedy band in the 1940s to some 27,000 performances at Frank’s Casa Nova (six nights week, three shows a night from 1947 to 1974). He also owned a music store and taught before his death in 1985.

Jim Wynne: A bass player for all occasions, Wynne has performed and recorded most prominently with Gamalon, Haiku and the Dave Constantino Band. He’s a frequent studio musician as well, working with Robby Takac and Justin Rose at GCR Studios. 

Institutional Inductee - M&T Bank: The bank is presenting its 46th year of summer plaza concerts in downtown Buffalo. During that span, the bank has sought to present a broad and diverse array of performers representing the depth of musical talent in the community at the plaza concerts and other events. In particular, M&T’s Theresa Kazmierczak coordinated music programs for many years prior to her retirement.