[VIDEO] UNVEILED: SIGNATURE PLAQUE FOR 2024 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

All eyes of the entertainment world are thrust upon Northeast Ohio this weekend. The Guardians and Yankees are squaring off in the American League Championship Series, fighting over a World Series birth. More importantly, the 39th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is taking place in Cleveland!

Events have been taking place at the museum all week, including the unveiling of a new exhibit honoring the 2024 inductees last Friday and a live interview with Robert “Kool” Bell from Kool & the Gang took place last night, but today’s star-studded event at the unveiling of the 2024 signature plaques gave fans a tiny taste of what is to come at tomorrow’s big night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse!

Several inductees were on hand at today’s event, including Suzanne de Passe, both surviving members of Kool & the Gang, Peter Frampton, Lou Gramm, Rick Wills, and Al Greenwood of Foreigner, Mary J. Blige, and most notably, the entire cast of the weekend’s most anticipated artist, Dave Matthews Band!

This journalist is no stranger to significant events, big stages, and the presence of music royalty. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit starstruck sitting behind the children of Dave Matthews and Jimmy Buffett and in FRONT of Matthews’ vocal coach and the current touring members of Foreigner. After 20+ years in the biz, it is still possible to feel like I don’t belong. (Mostly because I don’t!)

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum President Greg Harris made welcoming remarks before announcing the honorees in attendance. Harris does a fine job running Cleveland’s prized institution. He’s a champion of Northeast Ohio for ensuring Cleveland remains in rotation as host of this ceremony. One thing Harris isn’t good at? Pronouncing Dave Matthews Band member names. (Ouch!) His comical butchering of introductions of drummer Carter Beauford and bassist Stefan Lessard drew a mixture of groans and giggles from the DMB fans in attendance.

Lou Gramm read a short prepared statement, thanking the Rock Hall for the honor. 

Frampton, battling an autoimmune disorder, made his remarks seated, noting that he has loved coming to Cleveland for as long as I can remember (joking that he doesn’t remember much of anything these days). 

Motown pioneer Suzanne de Passe, inductee for the Ahmet Ertegun Award, is widely credited for discovering The Jackson 5. She noted that she can’t sing or play an instrument and paid tribute to the women who have preceded her in being honored with the award.

Family members of A Tribe Called Quest’s Phife Dawg, the widow of Kool & the Gang’s George “Funky” Brown, and children of 2024 Musical Excellence honoree Jimmy Buffet stood in the VIP section of the crowd for acknowledgment.  

Mr. Matthews was the final inductee to step up to the podium, speaking on behalf of his group. He quipped that there was a communication breakdown and that he was told by his bandmate that today was an off day, and he was unaware he had to speak at this event! Always quick on his feet, Matthews had an anecdote about fellow inductees, Foreigner. (To summarize: “WHAT THE FUUUUUCK!?”)

Harris, who noted that he didn’t want to follow Matthews’ remarks with final thoughts of his own, brought out help to pull the cover off of the plaque, announcing that it would be permanently available for viewing in the museum.

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