Axios presents a Rock Hall Induction Ceremony Preview

With Troy Smith, Deanna Adams, John Gorman, Katherine Boyd, & Billy Bass

 
 
 
 

Doors open at 5:00pm, with the storytelling beginning promptly at 7:00pm

• Weekly series combining great food with great stories about Cleveland’s past
• FREE ADMISSION – NO COVER CHARGE
• In addition to our regular menu, a Prix Fixe 3-course dinner special is available for just $25
• Tonight’s special
  • Pierogie Soup
  • Dr. Pepper Pork Roast
  • Boston Cream Pie

Axios presents a Rock Hall Induction Ceremony Preview

Join Axios Cleveland reporter Troy Smith as he hosts a panel of rock music historians to discuss this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, which takes place in Cleveland on Oct. 19. Troy will be joined by author Deanna Adams, Broadcasters Hall of Famer John Gorman (of WMMS fame) and other guests to discuss this year’s induction class, past ceremony highlights and the museum’s biggest snubs. Come, and share your thoughts during the Q&A session that follows.

Troy Smith Bio

Troy Smith is a local writer who spent 10 years as the music critic at Cleveland.com before taking his talents to Axios, which launched its Cleveland newsletter and website two years ago.

Troy has written more stories on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame over the past decade than anyone. He’s also hosted more than a dozen storytelling events at the Music Box covering various topics such as the history of the World Series of Rock, Cleveland International Records and the Michael Stanley Band.
 

Deanna Adams Bio

Deanna R. Adams is a writer, speaker, instructor, award-winning essayist, and author of both fiction and nonfiction works. Deanna’s first book, Rock ‘n’ Roll and the Cleveland Connection (Kent State University Press, 2002), was a finalist for the Ohioana Award, and the ARSC Award (Association for Recorded Sound Collections) for excellence in research. Other books include Confessions of a Not-So-Good Catholic Girl, Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Roots, Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Venues, and novels including Peggy Sue Got Pregnant and Scoundrels & Dreamers. Adams recently released her first historical fiction novel, A Place We Belong, set in the 1940s and features Cleveland’s famed city safety director Eliot Ness as he interacts with a series of fictional characters, including an upstart burlesque dancer.
 

John Gorman Bio

John Gorman began his broadcasting career operating a pirate radio station from the attic of his family’s South Boston home in 1962. In 1973 he moved to Cleveland to join WMMS, a small, free-form FM station which he would help turn into one of the most popular and influential rock stations in the country. Following his 13 years at WMMS and WHK, Gorman started WNCX/Cleveland. He formed a national consultancy for radio stations and program syndicators before joining WMJI/Cleveland and taking them to the top in ratings and revenue. He became Vice President of Programming for their parent company, OmniAmerica’s radio chain. In 2007, Gorman’s book, The Buzzard, a memoir of his years with WMMS was released, which became a regional number one bestselling book. In 2014, Gorman formed WOW Media, with the intent of broadcasting radio on the Internet. The following year, Gorman debuted his first station, oWOW, an adult contemporary rock station (billed as “Timeless Rock” for the 45-plus demographic), which had a six-year run but ceased broadcasting due to advertising losses during the pandemic. Gorman is currently working on Gray Panther Media, a non-profit online broadcast service for seniors.

Gorman’s just-released second book, Buzzard Archives, Vol. 1- The Advertising is a collaboration with artist David Helton, featuring vintage WMMS print ads that appeared in local newspapers, tabloids, and magazines from 1974 to 1988.
 

Katherine Boyd Bio

Katherine Boyd is an Emmy award-winning TV and radio host who grew-up on rock. She’s been a reporter, anchor and show host in Cleveland since 1993. One of her favorite assignments was covering the grand opening of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on September 2, 1995.

In 2017, SiriusXM hired Katherine to host a classic rock radio show from the studio inside the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Her show airs nationwide on Sundays from noon to 6PM ET on SiriusXM Classic Vinyl, ch. 26. In April 2024, Katherine also joined WKYC-TV as co-host of Good Company which airs weekdays at noon.

Follow Katherine on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @KatBoydRocks
 

Billy Bass Bio

Billy Bass made his debut as an untrained DJ on WHK-Fm in 1968 and Cleveland Radio was changed forever. The station didn’t last but Billy did. After a stint at famed WIXY 1260, Billy moved to WNCR as program Director where he and his staff reinvigorated the album rock format.

In early 1970, The former WHK-FM was renamed WMMS, rehired Billy Bass as PD and the WMMS that we remember today got up and running again. It was WMMS that introduced David Bowie to the world.

In 1972, RCA Records recruited Billy to head up the Rock Album Promotion department to work on albums produced by Jefferson Starship, The Kinks, Dolly Pardon, Brain Auger, Pure Prairie League and, of course, David Bowie and Lou Reed.

After success in New York, Hollywood called and Bass moved to LA. There he worked for United Artist, Elton John’s Rocket Records, Motown Records, a brief stint with Bowie’s management Company and Chrysalis Records where he was Senior Vice President of Marketing and Creative Services designing album covers and promoting Blondie, Pat Benatar, Billy Idol, The Babys and Huey Lewis and the News.

After 20 years in LA, where Bass managed Luther Vandross for Alive Enterprises, opened a Billy’s Bar B Q in Beverly Hills and did the voice over in the movie Car Wash, Billy returned to Cleveland radio at Magic 105.7 and 92.3 The Beat. During that time, The Billy Bass Run To Help at Edgewater Park raised thousands of dollars benefiting the Cleveland Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Ladies and gentleman please welcome….Cleveland native and legendary DJ …the man who coined the phrase: Cleveland, The Rock & Roll Capital of the world”…..BILLY BASS.

The goal of the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland’s past – from sports, to rock ‘n roll, to Millionaire’s Row, — the series will focus on tidbits from Cleveland’s past that will really thrill the audience. The Music Box is presenting this series in partnership with the Western Reserve Historical Society’s new Cleveland History Center. We think the Cleveland History Center is one of the most important museums in Cleveland. An unknown gem that Clevelanders should know more about, and support. It is the only museum in Cleveland dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of Cleveland. The Cleveland History Center includes two mansions, the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum, Chisholm Halle Costume Wing, Research Library, Kidzibits Hands-On Gallery, rotating exhibitions, and the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel.

See all Cleveland Stories dates here.