Three southeast Iowa musical icons elected to Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Two musicians and one venerable venue in southeast Iowa will be inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame over Labor Day weekend at Arnold's Park on the shore of West Lake Okoboji.

The Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association annually inducts musicians, bands, deejays, ballrooms and others who have significantly contributed to rock and roll music in the state of Iowa.

Since its incorporation in 1997, more than 450 venues and organizations and more than 1,900 individuals have been given the honor of induction. Inductees must have a minimum of 25 years of experience in the music industry.

"It is very exciting to announce the 2022 Inductees into The Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association Hall of Fame," southeast Iowa IRRMA representative Diane Sanders said. "They are the Capitol Theater as an Event Venue and two fine musicians, Paul Miller and Tom Nelson, from Burlington."

IRRMA announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2022 that will be honored during the Hall of Fame Induction Spectacular on Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1-4.

That class includes local musicians Tom Nelson and Paul Miller plus the Capitol Theater.

Nelson and Miller are current members of the rock band Leaving Abbey and the acoustic trio Fretworks.

The Capitol Theater opened in Burlington in 1937 with a showing of Mark Twain's classic, "The Prince and the Pauper." The theater, which originally seated 700, closed in March 1977 with a final showing of Stephen King's horror classic, "Carrie."

After renovation began in 2005, the Capitol re-opened on June 1, 2012, and is now a centerpiece of downtown Burlington.

The 355-seat auditorium, along with a reception area and gallery annex, hosts independent and classic films as well as local, regional, and national touring musicians, magicians, comedians and other artists who perform on the 1,500-square foot stage.

The Capitol is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in Des Moines County.

Tom Nelson, aka Tommy Rocks, is likely best known as the guitarist for 70s-era power-rock trio Rocks. Nelson started playing small clubs, bars and high school dances in 1974 when he was 15 and continued until 1987, performing throughout the United States from California to Florida to the Mexican/Canadian borders.

“To me, this is a great thing to be inducted," Nelson said this week. "I've played with so many great musicians. I was on the road for about eight years, and I’ll tell you what — to play with the musicians we have here in our backyard, that’s the whole experience. That’s been a real honor.”

Nelson studied guitar with the legendary O.W. Appleton, inventor of the solid-body electric guitar and founder-owner of App's School of Music.

In addition to Rocks, Nelson was a member of many other bands including Blue Destiny — his first — Stonegate, Bandit and the Bobby Claire Show, which included members of Elvis Presley's band. Nelson joined the Sean Costanza Band in 2007 and has been with Leaving Abbey since 2011.

Paul Miller began his music career at age 8 with piano lessons; he played trumpet in the Danville school band, and began playing bass in 1974 when the Danville High School band director bought a bass with the intention of Miller playing it in the pep band.

"Being nominated into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is humbling. It's very humbling even to be considered," Miller said. "When I started playing bass some 40 years ago, I never considered anything like this. It's an honor to have someone like Eddie Hart think enough of you, and your playing, to nominate you. To be nominated is an honor in itself; to be inducted? I don't know what to say."

Early in his career, Miller accompanied Bel Canto Chorale and played bass for the Southeast Iowa Symphony POPS concert and the Miss Burlington Pageant.

Miller's first band was Talisman, which became Mind's Eye; over time, Miller drifted into groups with Nelson including Bandit, the Sean Costanza Band, Leaving Abbey and Fretworks.

In 2019, Miller recorded at legendary Sun Studio in Memphis on the 11-song CD, “Tony Alexander & The B flat Trio" along with Nelson and drummer Chad Carr and guitarist Eric Schweizer.

The IRRMA induction festival kicks off in Arnold's Park Sept. 1 with a Rock the Roof Concert at the Roof Garden ballroom.

The weekend festivities include the Opening Ceremony and Guitar Marching Band, Autograph Party, Iowa Rocks Talent Contest and Inductee Meet & Greet. The weekend culminates with the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Induction Ceremony and Concert on Sept. 4.

Details on the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association's Hall of Fame Induction Spectacular Weekend schedule and ticket information will be forthcoming at iowarocknroll.com.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: 2022 southeast Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees