NC Music Hall of Fame - Artists

Baird, Julianne	Opera and Oratorio singer. Born in Statesville. Grew up in Appalachian Mountains. October issue of Opera News featured her in a three-page story. Teaches at Rutgers University.
Badgett Sisters	Sister singers from Caldwell County. May not have ever recorded.
Baker, Etta	Born in 1913 in Caldwell County. Plays guitar, banjo, fiddle and piano. First recorded in 1956. Toured widely during the 1980's and released an album in 1991. Received National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Brown-Hudson Folklore Award from the North Carolina Folklore Society, the John Henry Award from the John Henry Foundation and the Outstanding Achievement Award from the City of Morganton.
Band of Oz	Beach music band based in Raleigh
Bartonfield, Doug	Lives in High Point. Played lead guitar for Johnny Rivers and others. Lead guitar on "Memphis"
Belle, Lula	Native of Boone. Country music performer. Maiden name was Myrtle Cooper. In 1936, she defeated superstars like Gracie Allen, Helen Hayes and Kate Smith to be named "Radio Queen" by Radio Guide Magazine. Got her name as Lula "Belle of the Barndance". Married Scotty Wiseman from Avery County. They performed together on WSL radio show Barn Dance in Chicago, and often performed together a the Hayloft Sweethearts. She played guitar and did comedy, and Scotty played guitar, banjo and was also a songwriter. They retired in 1958 and moved to Spruce Pine. She served in the North Carolina General Assembly from 1975-1978. Scotty died in 1981.
Ben Folds Five	Very popular alternative band from Chapel Hill. Chuck Folds of Bus Stop is Ben's brother. 3 CD's to date.
Bergman, Alan	Songwriter who attended UNC-Chapel Hill. Credits include the theme songs from the '70s television shows "Maude", "Alice" and "Good Times".
Bernhardt, Clyde Eric Barron	Noted blues trombonist. Was born in 1905 in Gold Hill, NC.
Best, John McClanian "Johnny"	Born in Shelby October 20, 1913. Plays trumpet. Attended Davidson College and UNC-Chapel Hill. Played with Les Brown, Charlie Barnet, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Bob Crosby and Billy May. Was in the movie, "The Benny Goodman Story"
Bland, Billy	Born on April 5, 1932 in Wilmington. Began singing as a youngster throughout the South, and eventually headed for New York in the late '50s. In late 1959, he met Hy Weiss of Old Town Records and was signed to a contract, and in January, 1960, he recorded his biggest hit, "Let the Little Girl Dance". Four hits in 1960 and '61.
Bonner, Joseph Leonard (Joe)	Pianist and composer, born in Rocky Mount, NC.
Bowers, Tim	Tour manager for Ricky Van Shelton. Played with Billy "Crash" Craddock.
Bowes, Margie	Roxboro born singer and guitarist. Won Pet Milk Company's 1958 nationwide talent contest.
Boone, Steve	Born September 23, 1943 at Camp Lejune. Original member of the Lovin' Spoonful which formed in 1965.
Boosinger, Laura	Folk musician
Bow Street Runners	Formed in 1969 in Fayetteville. Released one psychedelic album in 1970. It became a collectible and therefore was reissued in 1996.
Bowman, George	Currently lives in Thomasville. Played banjo with the Grand Old Opry.
Boyer, Charles	Sang with Spiritual Group Ambassadors before joining Garnett Mimms and the Enchangers. The group had seven hits from 1963-1966.
Brice, Carol	1918-1985. African-American contralto known for opera and concert performances. She was the first black American to win the Naumberg Award. She was awarded a Grammy for a recording of Porgy and Bess. Other recordings include Bach arias, De Falla's El amor brujo, Mahler's Leider eines fahrenden Gesellen, and the operas Regina and Saratoga.
Bridges, Horace	Born December 23, 1921 in Tarboro. Was often known as the "Carolina Kid".
Bristol, Johnny	70's soul singer From Hendersonville, NC. His biggest hit was "Hang On In There Baby"
Brock, Jim	Drummer and resident of Monroe. Has played on more than 300 albums and traveled with Joe Walsh, Joe Cocker and Janis Ian.
Brown, Cordell	Original member of the Dubs. Born in Charlotte in 1935.
Brown, Les	Started his dance band at Duke University.
Brown, Nappy	Real name is Napoleon Brown. Hometown and resides in Charlotte. Left Charlotte with a gospel group to go to Newark, NJ. Was heard by James Evans who took him to Herman Lubinsky's Savoy Records. In the spring of 1955, he recorded his first major hit, "Don't Be Angry" written by Rose Marie McCoy. He remained with the label until the end of the '50s during which time Rose Marie wrote most of his hits. Five hits from 1955 to 1959. Continues to record and play in the mid 1990's. Had a B side hit with "It's Really You"
Buck Creek Jazz Band	Sandhills area band called by the Washington Post " one of the best traditional jazz bands in the country".
Buckner, Willa Mae	Sings, dances and plays guitar. Once known as the "Snake Lady" for her exotic dances with live snakes. Spent 35 years working in traveling tent shows. Resides back in Winston-Salem after having left there at the age of fourteen.
Bunn, Alden (Allen)	Born and raised near Wilson. Blues musician noted for his guitar playing.
Burris, C.	Nephew of Sonny Terry. Learned how to play harmonica from his uncle. Native of Kings Mountain.
Bus Stop	Greensboro-based band. Plays rock, pop and soul. Music has been featured on major television shows such as "Melrose Place", "Baywatch", "Homicide", "Brooklyn South" and "Nick Freno". Frequently plays at Greensboro's Blind Tiger under the name "The Blind Tiger Band"

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