On this day in 1986 the inaugural class of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was inducted at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York.
Class of 1986 Inductees:
Performers: Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Little Richard
Early Influences: Robert Johnson, Jimmie Rodgers, Jimmy Yancey
Ahmet Ertegun Award: Alan Freed, John Hammond, Sam Phillips
Place-Based Projects + Research of Rock 'n' Roll Pioneers
Places incubated and defined the legacies of rock 'n' roll pioneers, including those in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's inaugural class. I have worked both independently and with organizations on projects and research initiatives to advocate for places significantly associated with many of these inductees:
2019
Alan Freed - Freed Fest (various locations in Freed's hometown of Salem, OH)
2017 - Present
Everly Brothers - Everly Brothers Childhood Home (Shenandoah, IA)
2015 - Present
Buddy Holly - The Surf Speaks: Voices of a Living History - Surf Ballroom (Clear Lake, IA)
2015
Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Elvis Presley, Everly Brothers – Coliseum Coalition for the Mid-South Coliseum (Memphis, TN)
2012 - 2014
Elvis Presley - The Circle G Foundation for Elvis Presley's former Circle G Ranch (Horn Lake, MS)
2012
All Inductees (except "Early Influences" category and John Hammond) - State of Rock 2012: A Current Look at the Built Heritage of 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll in America / M.A. Final Project, Historic Preservation, Savannah College of Art + Design (various U.S. locations)