An exploratory committee is being formed to create a Toledo Music Hall of Fame. Toledo Free Press editor in chief Michael S. Miller made the announcement Dec. 30 at a news conference in the main Toledo-Lucas County Public Library during the donation of the CD, “Legacy: Songs in the Key of Toledo.”

Miller and Robert Russ, who researched and collected music for the two-CD set, had discussed how they could take the project further with a display or something similar, Miller said after the news conference.

Miller heard musician Sam Tarsha talk about having a museum to recognize Toledo musicians, during a FOX Toledo interview Dec. 28, and that is when Miller and Russ started looking into a museum, Miller said. Russ is now working with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland o get the project started, Miller said.

“There are so many good musicians from Toledo who cannot be replaced,” Tarsha said after the news conference. “Toledo needs something to remember the past.”

During the news conference, Miller presented the two-CD set of “Legacy: Songs in the Key of Toledo,” to the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library with enough copies for each branch.

The CD also will be sent to UT, BGSU, Monroe County Community College and Owens Community College, Miller said.

Miller thanked all who had helped on the CD and recognized those who were in attendance.

Toledo City Councilman George Sarantou, spoke and gave a proclamation from City Council to Miller for his efforts.

Sarantou also thanked Columbia Gas of Ohio for donating the money for the CDs, the local musicians and Toledo Free Press for their efforts.

They have played “an instrumental role in preserving the music legacy of Toledo,” he said.

Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop also presented a proclamation that declared, Dec. 30, 2008 as “Local Music Appreciation Day.”

The commissioners came to a unanimous vote on the proclamation, Konop said.

Konop also is looking for a facility for older Toledo musicians to have a “jam session” at the suggestion of Tarsha, he said. Konop thinks a Toledo Music Hall of Fame would be positive for the community giving Toledoans a “sense of place,” he said.

Sonja Paris, widow of musician Johnny Price from Johnny and Hurricanes, said that she thinks a Toledo Music Hall of Fame would be a good idea. After Johnny died, she donated most of his possessions from his music years to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

“I have nothing but his music,” she said.

She and Duane Thomas, a former bandmate of Johnny’s, are working on a biography of Johnny that he started before he died, she said. They hope to get it out in 2009 for the fiftieth anniversary of Johnny and Hurricanes, she said.

Bill Price, who was formerly in the BG Ramblers, played his guitar before and after the news conference.

Price thinks the idea of a Music Hall of Fame in Toledo is “wonderful,” he said, adding that Tarsha has been talking about it for a long time.

Nine related stories may be found here.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 at 6:14 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Breaking News, Songs in the Key of Toledo, Special Section.
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