Museum on a mission: Hall of Fame near Charlotte works to preserve NC music heritage

In a modest brick building off Dale Earnhardt Drive in Kannapolis sits a museum with the mission to document and preserve the rich musical history of artists who have significant ties to the Tar Heel State.

The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame offers visitors a chance to experience a treasure trove of memorabilia and memories for many music eras and genres. The collection also includes exhibits and ephemera for the Hall of Fame’s nearly 90 inductees, names that have been heard on red carpets and main stages far beyond the building’s modest exterior.

And on Thursday night at the Mooresville Performing Arts Center, the museum will honor its 2023 class.

The inductees are: Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, of Chapel Hill; funk-disco band leader Bill Curtis, of Fayetteville, most famous for The Fatback Band; American Idol winner Scotty McCreery; ‘80s-era, live-music sensation Fetchin Bones, of Charlotte; the late gospel singer George Beverly Shea, of Montreat; and “Queen of Funk” Betty Davis, of Durham, who died last year.

A music lover’s passion project

Though the birth of the museum was nearly 30 years ago, it would take a couple more decades before it had a permanent home.

In 1994, then-executive director of the Thomasville Chamber of Commerce Doug Croft began working to establish an institution to honor North Carolina’s rich musical history, a history that included a diverse range of contributors, from Thelonius Monk and George Clinton to Nina Simone and Charlie Daniels.

Though Croft’s vision was well-formed, realizing a permanent home would take some time. Once N.C. music and motorsports entrepreneur Mike Curb got involved, things started to move in the right direction.

Curb, the founder of independent label Curb Records, knew that there were many success stories from North Carolina but wondered why they weren’t being recognized. Once he learned that there was a Hall of Fame that had been started, he decided to help.

He set out to work building the organization a space because it didn’t have one, and wanted to put it next to his race shop in Kannapolis. In 2009, museum officials opened the hall next to the race shop, with Curb providing the place and space for it to grow into what it is today.

A living archive of aural achievement

Each year, the hall inducts another class of honorees, and with that comes new exhibitions too that are tied to the inductees. That includes the jacket McCreery wore after he won season 10 of “American Idol,” vintage Fetchin Bones concert posters, one of Davis’ dresses and album covers for Shea, who sang the gospel to millions at Billy Graham crusades.

Nearly 6,000 people a year visit the museum, said Executive Director Veronica Cordle, visitors who take in its permanent collection that often sparks fond music memories.

“We have several really cool pieces” in the collection, Cordle said, “including Arthur Smith’s four-string banjo on which he sat and composed the song ‘Feuding Banjos,’ Jim Lauderdale’s Grammy statue and even Charlie Daniels’ fiddle.”

And don’t assume that the hall mainly documents country and bluegrass. It doesn’t overlook vocal legends like Simone or transformative musical genres like hip-hop — it contains the beat machines of Jermaine Dupri and 9th Wonder.

An annual celebration

For artists to qualify for induction, there are two prerequisites, Cordle said.

Candidates need to have a significant connection to North Carolina or have been born in the state. Second, they have to have at least 10 years of national popularity before they qualify.

The museum board continually receives nominations by phone, email and even by visitors to the museum.

This year, given the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the group thought it was important to recognize Curtis’ achievements. In 1979, he recorded the first rap record of the hip-hop era, “King Tim III (Personality Jock),” which predated the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight.”

Every year, the advisory board considers a list that currently stands at 400 people, then narrows it down from about 50 to the final 10. Those go to the board of directors to make the final decision.

One of this year’s inductees for whom North Carolina looms large in songs like “Carolina Moon” and “Carolina to Me” is McCreery. The American Idol alum and country star has landed five consecutive No. 1 hits as well as multiple gold and platinum albums and singles.

“It’s no secret. I love North Carolina,” McCreery said. “That’s why I still live there and not Nashville or anywhere else. And if you look at any of my records, North Carolina’s got its fingerprints all over it, whether it be an actual song about the state or even just a mindset.”

McCreery said he was delighted to be in such good company at the hall, both with this year’s class of inductees and those who came before.

“I was on the back porch up in the mountains in Carolina when I got a call from my manager just letting me know (about the induction). I love music and I love writing songs and performing songs, but it’s always nice when people let you know that they appreciate your work.

“And then for me, I’m a fan of so many artists that are already in the hall, Ronnie Millsap and Charlie Daniels and Randy Travis, just to name a few are heroes of mine. So just to be mentioned in the same breath with them and the other honorees this year is massive for me,” McCreery said.

Planning a visit to the museum

Though tickets are still available to this Thursday’s Hall of Fame induction event, a visit to the museum itself is always in season.

“It’s just a fun trip for anyone,” Cordle said. Admission is free because Curb wanted to keep the museum accessible so as many people as possible could come.

“It really is a trip down memory lane for a lot of people,” she added. “I see a lot of Alzheimer’s patients come in and it just brings back so many memories for them. It also keeps the music alive, which is so important too.”

NC Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony

What: 2023 Induction Ceremony, presented by Visit Mooresville

When: Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023

Where: Mooresville Performing Arts Center, 161 Magnolia St., Mooresville, NC 28115

Induction Ceremony: 7-10:30 pm

Performances scheduled:

• Funk House — Funk House will perform on behalf of Betty Davis. Funk House is Davis’ original band with members including: Garry Percell, Cedrina B. Harris and Rachelle Neal, along with original members, Larry Johnson and Semmie (Nickey) Neal.

• Loudon Wainwright III — For 52 years, Loudon has carved out a career as one of North Carolina’s most original singer-songwriters. Wainwright’s material is by turns funny, heart wrenching and deeply personal.

• Mark Christian — Mark Christian, worship arts pastor at First Baptist Charlotte in uptown Charlotte is performing on behalf of George Beverly Shea. Christian leads worship and hosts events with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Will Graham Celebrations domestically and internationally.

• Fetchin Bones — The will be the first time all seven members from all four albums will be performing together: Hope Nicholls, Aaron Pitkin, Gary White, Danna Pentes, Marc Mueller, Errol Stewart and Clay Richardson.

• Scotty McCreery — The country music singer and American Idol alum also will perform.

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