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THE BUFFALO MUSIC HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES AN EXCITING CLASS OF 2024!

The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame is proud to honor the spirit of Buffalo Music at an official press conference announcing 10 World Class Inductees at The Buffalo History Museum!

BUFFALO, N.Y. (July 17, 2024) 10 AM: The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame will make the official announcement of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Class of 2024!

The names of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame inductees will be officially announced during a press conference to be held at The Buffalo History Museum, in the State Court Room - which is located at One museum court, buffalo, ny 14216 on Wednesday July 17, 2024 at 10:00 AM.

10 inductees will officially enter the “Hall of Fame” during the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony that will take place at Samuel’s Grande Manor on October 9, 2024, followed by a Live Concert performance on October 10, 2024 at The Cove Seafood & Banquets. Please visit our website at: www.bmhof.org for more information on these upcoming events.

BMHOF Executive Board Member Carolyn Moser will serve as Chairperson of the 2024 Induction Ceremony and the Press Conference Event. BMHOF President Anthony Casuccio and Vice President Tom Lorentz along with the members of the Board of Trustees will also be in attendance.

The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame is proud to introduce you to the Class of 2024:

Phil Aguglia - A Grammy nominated, award winning and passionate music educator who has made a significant impact on the lives of his students in the WNY school system with his unique teaching methodology. He is a sought-after conductor, clinician, and speaker and has proudly served on the board of trustees for the Music is Art organization since 2008. He has received numerous awards and nominations including: The Grammy Foundation (2015 semifinalist/2023 Finalist), People Magazine, Walt Disney Corporation, Erie County Music Educator Association, The Conn/Selmer Corporation, SUNY Buffalo State, and the Buffalo Bills. He is owner of PaGu Batons, featured in the 2020 Oscars and Leonard Bernstein's batons in the movie "Maestro.

Anthony Casuccio – Grammy nominated musician, author, composer and educator. He has produced, mixed, and remastered projects for Tony Bennett, Roy Orbison, Linda Ronstadt, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Les Paul, Johnny Cash, Glenn Campbell, Jim Croce, The Stylistics, and Betty Buckley. His original music has been featured in publications such as Billboard, Gramophone, New York Times. Business First, Buffalo News, Rock Era Magazine, The Industry Times and MIX Magazine. He has had nine top 20 songs on various U.K. Indie music charts. With a #1 position on the UK Independent charts in the Fall of 2023. Anthony is the Chair of the Villa Maria Music Department.

Hank D’Amico –The “first call” Jazz Clarinetist was a notable figure in the Buffalo Jazz scene. His extensive discography and concert performances found him playing along side many legends in the jazz music world including - Bob Crosby, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Dorsey, Steve Allen, Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman and so many more. His recording, Holiday With Hank, released on Bethlehem Records, was highly acclaimed.

The Krew Brothers Band –They are tight-knit family band whose big break came with a 1961 national appearance on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour show. After the release of their debut album, "A Lively Polka Session" along with 3 additional albums “Krew Brothers Mix It Up,” “Polka Recipe,” and “Yes, We Are All Brothers” they gained national recognition within the national polka community, across the US and Canada. They continue to this day to keep the spirit of polka music alive.

Rishon Odel – Award winning, Grammy Nominated and multi-talented Bassist who has established his proficiency as a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is the Musical Director for Julius Wilson, and has collaborated with notable artists such as Cissy Houston, Marvin Winans, Phil Perry, Donnie McClurkin, and “Love & Hip-Hop” star “Stevie J” Jordan. He authored "Bass Volume 1," conducted his first orchestra in 2009, and was nominated for "Best Classical Musician” by Artvoice. He scored the film Less Than Perfect, produced by Reuben Santiago. In 2010, he released a DVD documentary on Jazz History featuring band members of Charles Mingus' tour band.

Donna Rose – A powerhouse vocalist whose wide-ranging singing career has taken her from the 60s ‘til today” - playing locally and regionally in the Northeast. She has fronted bands through the 70s -Voyage, Brothers Plus, Rose Fever, and Pinnacle. She has shared the stage with numerous Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Inducted Members including Jim Wozniak, Wally Jederman, Bobby Jones, Nick Veltri, Sam Guarino. Currently fronting her own band “The Donna Rose band,” She has made guest appearances with 12 Pack Jack, James Anthony, Dolly Dee, Jack Civiletto and others, and has been a featured artist at the Tacoma Performing Arts Center, after six decades of service to the Buffalo music community.

Tom Russo -One of the most in-demand drummers in the Buffalo music scene during the 1970s and ‘80s. Tom Russo was known for playing with popular Buffalo bands such as Issac, Penny Farthing, the Farrell Brothers, Big Wheelie and the Hubcaps, Junction West, and The Buffalo Blues Brothers Band featuring musicians such as Billy McEwen, Jon Rose, Nick Salamone, Nick Veltri, Fred Rapillo, and Clay Shahlka.

Christopher Swist – An internationally known master percussionist, composer, educator and pro-audio writer. His music has been performed by The Louisville Orchestra, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, American Modern Ensemble, Grupo PIAP, YoungArts, and the United States Military Academy. His credits include - Director of Recording Arts at Trinity College in Hartford and Resident Artist at Keene State College in New Hampshire. He has also taught at The Hartt School, Bennington College, Holyoke Community College, and Franklin Pierce University. He released two solo albums: Whitewater in 2001, and Duality in 2013. Swist operates his own recording studio, EvenFall, in New Hampshire, and is a pro- audio writer and reviewer for SonicScoop.

Jim Yeomans – He is an award-winning Nashville singer, songwriter, guitarist and recording artist. He was the first-place winner of Music City’s “You can be a Star” National TV contest in Nashville, TN. He released the songs "Dance with Me in Three-Quarter Time" and "There Goes My Heart" on Amherst Records where he gained recognition regionally and in Nashville. His appeal is evident by his two successful albums, songs from which continue to receive airplay within the United States and across Europe. He continues today to keep his passion for music alive.

Joe Zappo – He is a soulful guitarist, singer, songwriter, bandleader, and recording artist known affectionately as "Dr. Z" Zappo. This dedicated Buffalo Blues Legend is a cornerstone of the Buffalo blues scene. He is active in the Western New York Blues Society, mentored newcomers in the Am-Jam Program and played benefits for Mercy Flight and Children’s Hospital, breast cancer awareness, and many others. As a working musician since 1969, Zappo and his band Dr. Z and the Blues Remedy have been playing steadily since the 1980s.

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