Buffalo Music Hall of Fame announces Class of 2025

BMHOF to honor spirit of Buffalo music at official press conference announcing 11 inductees

Press Release

The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame is ready to make the official announcement of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Class of 2025! The names of the inductees will be officially announced during a 10:30 a.m. press conference on Wednesday, July 16, at The Buffalo History Museum, in the State Court Room at One Museum Court.

Eleven 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 Oct. 8, followed by a live concert performance Oct. 9 at The Cove Seafood & Banquets. Visit www.bmhof.org for more information.

BMHOF Executive Board Member Carolyn Moser will serve as chairperson of the 2025 induction ceremony events. 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 Class of 2025 includes:

•The Balkan Serenaders – Established in 1948, The Balkan Serenaders are the ambassadors of Tamburitza culture, blending traditional folk melodies – rooted in the Serbian, Croatian and broader Balkan repertoires – with rhythms and harmonies that resonate with the American spirit

•Bob Burwell – A worldwide music industry executive, artist manager, concert promoter, label executive and music publisher who managed the careers of country powerhouse Kenny Rogers, Steve Vai, John Jorgenson, Michael Martin Murphey, Lee Roy Parnell, Leon Russell, Dwight Yoakam, Billy Joel, Emmy Lou Harris, The Oak Ridge Boys and Roy Clark.

•The El Tempos – A vocal R&B and doo-wop group from Lackawanna that captured key sounds of the early rock ’n’ roll era, blending smooth harmonies with soulful instrumentation that helped shape the musical sound of the region.

•Jim Beishline – A prolific and celebrated pianist and arranger, known for his versatility and his passion across a long and wide-ranging career, he has shared the stage with iconic artists such as Chuck Berry, Danny and the Juniors, The Diamonds, Muddy Waters and Aretha Franklin.

•Johnny Soul – A blues legend in the Buffalo R&B community, with well over 55 years’ worth of classic blues performances in every important soul and blues music venue across Western New York.

•John Bryans – A WNY-based drummer who has spent over five decades playing behind many of the most prominent local and national recording musicians, including Barbara St. Clair, Red Volkaert, Jim Lauderdale and Cory Wells of Three Dog Night, and many BMHOF inductees.

•Tina Parol – A dynamic singer, songwriter, and record producer who has written chart-topping songs for major artists such as Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Sabrina Carpenter, and a No. 1 song for Lady A, “Champagne Night,” which became a Billboard No. 1 radio hit in both the U.S. and Canada.

•Larry Covelli – A sought-after jazz saxophonist who performed with esteemed composers and arrangers, including David Rose, John Williams, Chuck Mangione, Quincy Jones, Henry Mancini, the Don Menza Quintet, Louie Bellson Big Band, and Woody Herman's various orchestras.

•Michelle Thomas – A nationally honored musician and choir director who has made significant contributions to the WNY music community through her lifetime of work in education, performance and community engagement.

•Buffalo Philharmonic Choir – A symphonic choral ensemble and winner of the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance for their recording of Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Yeshua, with the BPO and Music Director JoAnn Falletta.

•The Original Kazoo Factory – The Original American Kazoo Company, located in Eden, is the oldest – and today the only – metal kazoo factory in the world, with roots going back to 1907. The kazoo stands out as the only known musical instrument invented and mass-produced in the U.S. Suburban Adult Services Inc., a Western New York nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, owns and operates the factory and museum.

The Buffalo Music Hall of Fame Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation entity created for the cultural enhancement and enrichment of Buffalo and Western New York through the region's musicians and music history. The organization was established in 1983.

The BMHOF's mission is to honor and protect the diverse cultural music heritage of WNY through preservation, education, scholarship and performance. In doing so, the BMHOF has inducted over 400 members that include outstanding musicians, performers, innovators, and non-performers who have made special contributions to WNY music.