More than a century ago, music began pouring into Memphis, Tennessee. Musicians of all races and backgrounds came together and, for the love of music, created a sound that changed the cultural complexion of the world forever. America’s music exploded out of Memphis. Today, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame honors many of the greatest musicians of all time, who created this city’s musical legacy, and who shook our planet to the core!
Annual inductees into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame are selected by a prestigious Nominating Committee composed of nationally recognized authors, producers, historians and leaders in the music industry. The number of annual inductees, both performing and non-performing, may vary.
Each year, the Committee’s deliberations consider musical performers, producers, engineers & studio or recording industry professionals, writers, promoters, and radio professionals. They consider the group or individual’s relationship with Memphis, Tennessee, including extent of recording projects, musical impact within Memphis, city residency, and exceptional involvement within and/or influences drawn from the Memphis music industry.
Each year, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honors that year’s inductees through musical performances, spoken word, and live and video tributes by many of today’s biggest musical names who have been influenced by Memphis’ musical greats. Many inductees also perform.
Each inductee into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame receives the Mike Curb Award, or “The Mike.” Thanks to the generosity of music executive Mike Curb and the Curb Family Foundation, each award is individually handcrafted by Tennessee Pewter of West Tennessee, which has practiced its family-owned pewter artistry for over forty years. Each five pound award is made of West Tennessee hardwood and hand-poured pewter.
A songwriter, producer and record company owner, Mike Curb has written more than 400 songs, and received countless music industry awards, including the prestigious Overall Producer of the Year Award from Billboard magazine in 1972. As the founder and Chairman of Curb Records, Curb’s company has produced more than 300 number one records.
Mike Curb’s support of the Memphis Music Hall of Fame doesn’t stop with the award. His Mike Curb Institute for Music at Rhodes College works with the Hall and the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum to record and archive oral history interviews with Memphis’ musical legends, including many of our Hall of Fame inductees, preserving their stories and legacies for future generations.
