The Rochester Music Hall of Fame has named the inductees into its “Class of 2020,” with this year’s honorees including Whirlwind Audio president/founder Michael Laiacona, along with acoustic duet The Dady Brothers, jazz vocalist Nancy Kelly, multi-platinum recording engineer Mick Guzauski, and drummer Roy McCurdy. The event will be held on April 26, 2020 in the Kodak Hall at Rochester’s Eastman Theatre.
The Rochester Music Hall of Fame recognizes those with ties to Rochester whose talents, efforts, perseverance and creativity have contributed to the creation of musical excellence. Each year, new members are honored through ceremony and celebration and their achievements memorialized to promote an appreciation for the greater Rochester area’s rich and diverse musical history and culture.
“Rochester has a rich and diverse musical heritage and we are proud to foster and celebrate that through the Rochester Music Hall of Fame,” said Jack Whittier, president of the Rochester Music Hall of Fame. Past inductees to the Hall of Fame (to name a few) have included Cab Calloway, Gene Cornish, Chuck Mangione, Lou Gramm, Don Potter, Jeff Tyzik, Tony Levin, Steve Gadd, and Al Jardine.
Based in Rochester, and founded in 1975, Whirlwind has been leading the audio interface industry for over 40 years, having built their well-earned reputation on offering some of the most rugged cables, interface boxes, cases, AC power distribution gear and all things that connect audio products.
Laiacona still plays bass as a member of local band Black Rabbit and Whirlwind has grown to include more than 130 employees.
At the ceremony, a musical tribute to Laiacona’s legacy will be performed by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Robin Zander, lead singer of Cheap Trick; and Grammy-winning guitarist, Steve Stevens, who is the lead guitarist for Billy Idol.
For more info about Whirlwind, visit www.whirlwindusa.com.
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