Congratulations to the whole Follies crew. You can be sure that the Ocean State will provide plenty of fodder for the 40th edition, next year.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Last Sunday, the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame inducted its first with a sold-out ceremony/concert at the Met in Pawtucket. It was a celebration of Rhode Island music and, poignantly, the life of legendary musician Thom Enright, who had died earlier in the week.
Inductees and presenters would, at times, discuss matters other than music (inductee Ken Lyon's tangential discussion of cavemen was of particular interest). There was some lovely singing by Jean McKenna, sister of the great Woonsocket-born jazz pianist Dave McKenna and, at the end, rousing sets from inductees Roomful of Blues and John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band.
But the high point was a special presentation honoring Enright which his wife, Olga Jansen, was there to receive. A brief statement, penned by MTV vice president Bill Flanagan and read by Cafferty, Roomful leader Chris Vachon, and Jorge (Rudy Cheeks), touched on Thom as the indispensable musician, the guy who made every band he played in sound better — and he played with everyone, from Lyon's Tombstone Blues Band to Jorge's Young Adults.
It was a stellar night for Rhode Island music.
Send a jukebox and Pulitzer-grade tips to p&j@phx.com.
