Thank you to Kit Lancaster / Seize the Day Photography for the photos & video!
Iowa Blues Hall of Fame
Join the Central Iowa Blues Society for the 2020 Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Induction Celebration. Kevin Burt & the Corridor featuring multiple Iowa Blues Hall of Famer’s are the host band. Dinner by Flying Mango and dessert by Steve “the pie man” Vasquez. All tickets include FREE parking!
MASKS REQUIRED: The health and safety of everyone is of utmost importance to us. Everyone will be required to wear masks at the event. Masks will be provided for those that do not come with one. You may remove your mask while eating or drinking, but otherwise your mask must be worn, especially if moving around the building, ordering at the bar, or visiting the restroom.
We feel these protocols are necessary to provide the best possible – and safest – live music experience for everyone. Like you, we cannot wait to shed our masks and be shoulder to shoulder with our blues loving friends. But until it’s safe to do so, let’s continue our diligence to ensure that day will come!
Central Iowa Blues Society Announces
Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Class of 2020
Four individuals have been selected for induction into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame in the Class of 2020: Hal Reed, Scott Eggleston, Radoslav Lorkovic, and Butch Edmonds.
Hal Reed
Born in Sardis, Mississippi, Hal Reed has held residency in the Quad Cities/Iowa for over 30 years. Hal is known for his outstanding leadership in raising awareness about the artform of the Blues. He has participated in Blues Education programs through the Mississippi Valley Blues Society and the River Music Experience, making a substantial impact on preserving the history of the music.
As a professional musician, Hal performs with a band and in a solo/duo act an average of 3-4 times a month throughout Iowa. Hal is a two-time winner of the Iowa Blues Challenge. In 2004 he was a winner in the band category and in 2019 in the solo/duo category. In 2018, he was inducted into the Quad City Blues Hall of Fame.
Scott Eggleston
Scott Eggleston, either as a solo act or with his band, the Soul Searchers, plays over 100 shows per year. During his career, Scott has performed with the following artists: Anson Funderburgh, Pinetop Perkins, James Harman, R.J. Mischo, Doug Deming & Jewel Tones, Little Charlie & the Nightcats, Rod Piazza, Rick Holmstrom, Johnny Dyer, Duke Robillard, Patrick Recob, Jimmie Vaughan, and the Bel Airs.
In 1994, The Soul Searchers won the Iowa Blues Challenge. They have appeared on the mainstage at Davenport’s Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, have performed several Jazz in July concerts, and have been featured on Iowa Public Radio and Iowa Public Television. In 2017, The Memphis-based Blues Foundation named The Soul Searchers’ self-titled CD one of top ten self-produced blues albums. To date, the CD has been sold in 13 countries. The band has also released two other albums including: Boogie Woogie Nighthawkand Lounging at the ‘Wood. Scott has also been featured in two books written by students at Drake University in Des Moines as a part of a blues class. The books are titled: Life in the Key of E Minor: Conversations with the Bluesand Life After Blues-On-Grand: Finding the Blues in Des Moines. Scott lives is Des Moines.
Radoslav Lorkovic
Radoslav Lorkovic wasborn in Zagreb, Croatia in 1958 and moved to the United States at age six. His tenure on the R&B and folk circuits has culminated in nine critically acclaimed solo recordings and numerous appearances on the recordings of and performances with artists including Odetta, Jimmy LaFave, Ribbon of Highway Woody Guthrie Tribute, Greg Brown, Richard Shindell, Ellis Paul, Ronny Cox, Dave Moore, Andy White and Bo Ramsey. He tours the world regularly appearing at prestigious events such as the Woody Guthrie Festival, Womad, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Ottawa folk festivals, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Mountain Stage, and eTown as well as a litany of Italian castles and villas. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Carson Daily Show and two solo appearances on A Prairie Home Companion.
An international ambassador of the ‘Iowa Sound’ and 45 plus year career has given Radoslav many great performance opportunities that range from backing up Bo Didley to working with numerous Yup’ ik Eskimo villages throughout SW Alaska.
Butch Edmonds
Butch Edmonds played all over Des Moines’ famed Center Street in the 50s, 60s, and 70s and other clubs across the state of Iowa. In the 1960s Butch Edmonds formed a group called the Extensions and performed in various places and even with the Ohio Players and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles in Cleveland, Ohio. In the late 1960s, Butch moved to California and Las Vegas to perform. Buck Ram hired Butch to be the front man for the opening act for the Platters called Soul Patrol. They performed with the Platters at the legendary Flamingo in Las Vegas.
In the 1970s, his band, The New Establishment opened for James Brown at the RKO Theatre in Des Moines. After recording “Foolish Fools” with Grant Records, the band went to Georgia and joined the Bobby Marchan Show performing in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Florida. In 1977, he went to California to perform on the Gong Show singing a song he wrote “Get Up, Get Down”.Edmunds now lives in West Des Moines, Iowa.
About the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame
The IBHOF was established in 1999 by Des Moines blues singer, keyboardist and historian Tom Gary. Tom’s Masters dissertation was focused on Des Moines’ Center Street blues scene in the 1960s and he was inspired to gain recognition for the musicians of that time. After inducting the first two classes, Tom handed the administration of the IBHOF over to the Central Iowa Blues Society. Tom continued to serve as IBHOF co-chair for several years, along with Don “T-Bone” Erickson. In 2016 Don was succeeded by current IBHOF chair Bryan Church. With the induction of this year’s 21thanniversary class, 78 individuals have been honored with induction. Photos and biographies of all IBHOF members can be viewed by clicking the IBHOF logo at www.cibs.org.
At the Class of 2000 induction ceremony, the permanent Iowa Blues Hall of Fame exhibit (colloquially referred to as “The Wall”) was unveiled at Blues on Grand, where it continued to reside until Blues On Grand closed in 2010. After a few years in storage while CIBS worked to secure a new location, in 2014 the Wall was unveiled at its new home at the Hawkeye Elks Lodge 160 & Rose Temple 33 at 1401 Walker St in Des Moines. (The Lodge is open to the public and they welcome your visit!) In 2016, CIBS commissioned a portable companion exhibit which has since been displayed at several blues festivals and other events across the state, greatly expanding the exposure of the IBHOF to the public.
Nominations of potential inductees to the IBHOF are accepted at any time from the general public. New inductees are selected by the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame standing committee of the Central Iowa Blues Society. Detailed information on submitting a nomination can be found online at www.cibs.org.
For more information, please contact:
Tom Buckmiller – 605.661.4327
Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Co-Chair
ibhof@cibs.org
Scott Allen – (515) 480-4437
President, Central Iowa Blues Society
prez@cibs.org
