The San Diego Music Hall of Fame®

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2023 Photo Gallery

Thank You for Making Our 5th Annual 2023 Induction Ceremony Such a Success!

Event photos from the San Diego Music Hall of Fame®’s 5th Annual Show:

View of the stage from the crowd at Vision venue
Monette Marino plays drums enthusiastically.
Monette Marino accepts her induction certificate on stage with a grin.
Smiling, Jamie Shadowlight holds her violin and induction certificate aloft.
Hollywood legend Mike Wofford plays the piano on stage.
Jefferson Jay on acoustic guitar and Sparklegrass on violin play on stage.
Lisa Sanders plays tribute to Mary Dolan on her guitar.
3 members of Gato Papacitos play stringed instruments under purple and blue stage lights.
Guitars on auction at the San Diego Music Hall of Fame show.
Host Jefferson Jay presents Mark Goffeney Opportunity Scholarship to adorable young winner Francesca.

   Event photos by Steve Covault (1st and last images by James Crossman)

Our Story

Welcome to the San Diego Music Hall of Fame®

“Our intention is to be inclusive & pay respect to those who have given a large part of themselves to enhancing music in San Diego, regardless of how many records they may or may not have sold.  There is a long, rich history of wonderful music in our region.  We are focused on sharing this history & giving San Diegans a meaningful connection to this evolving tale.” ~Jefferson Jay, founder
San Diego Music Hall of Fame 4th Annual Induction Ceremony: Friday, November 11th at Newbreak Church Ocean Beach. 2022 Inductees: Marine Band San Diego, Gustavo Romero, Chris Hillman, The Cheathams, Alex DePue, Larry Zeiger

Legends, Music, & Unity!

World-Class San Diego Talent

Click on individual artists below to learn more about each of these extraordinary musicians & community members.

The San Diego Music Hall of Fame®

2023

Fred Benedetti

Classical guitarist Fred Benedetti has performed with the San Diego Symphony, opera and ballet companies, and touring artists; he also is shaping the next generation of musicians as one of San Diego’s most influential music professors.

2023

Jeff Berkley

San Diego legend Jeff Berkley is an accomplished guitarist and percussionist with multiple acts: a producer, singer-songwriter, and performer with bands Berkley Hart and Jeff Berkley & The Banned.

2023

Mary Dolan

Singer-songwriter and fixture in the San Diego music scene in the ’90s Mary Dolan draws inspiration for her solo work and collaborations from classic rock and personal experience.

2023

Monette Marino

Percussion sensation Monette Marino studied traditional drumming with Master Drummers around the world and plays everything from Jazz to Salsa, Samba, Reggae, Funk, Disco, Soul, R&B, Rock and even Country music.

2023

Jamie Shadowlight

Bohemian Jamie Shadowlight is an electric and acoustic violinist, singer-songwriter, and trailblazer of blending multidimensional art and music.

 

 

 

2023

Mike Wofford

Jazz pianist Mike Wofford is woven into music history, performing for decades with jazz legends, for tv soundtracks, motion pictures, and national jazz clubs.

2022

The Cheathams

Jimmy Cheatham (1924 – 2007) was an American jazz trombonist & a teacher who led the UCSD jazz programs from 1978 until his retirement in 2005.

Pianist & vocalist Jeannie Cheatham & he formed & co-led internationally celebrated The Sweet Baby Blues Band & played Kansas City style blues.

2022

Alex DePue

Concertmaster & Fiddling Champion Alex DePue (1973 – 2022) was a pioneering musician known for his cross-genre fiddle playing, from violin rock with guitarist Steve Vai to bluegrass fiddle with the DePue Brothers Band to classical & everything in between.
2022

Chris Hillman

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer & Country Rock pioneer Chris Hillman has spent nearly six decades transforming West Coast country music traditions & shaping modern rock ‘n’ roll, as part of The Byrds, The Desert Rose Band, & as a solo act.
2022

Marine Band San Diego 

Marine Band San Diego has been entertaining America for nearly a century & performs more than three hundred fifty commitments each year, to include military ceremonies, patriotic performances, & numerous high school & university clinics across the nation.
2022

Gustavo Romero

Concert pianist & San Diego native Gustavo Romero is internationally renowned for his exceptional technical brilliance & has gained an acclaimed reputation for his commitment to in-depth exploration of a wide variety of composers.
2022

Larry Zeiger

Local hero Larry Zeiger spent 33 years teaching cinema arts, musical theater, & language arts at Point Loma High School, where he cowrote & produced 33 musicals, & helped launch the musical careers of generations of San Diego youth.
2021

The Beat Farmers

From 1983 to 1995, known as the very finest in: Wreckless Western, Bug-eyed Ballads, Heat-butting Rockabilly, Suicidal Blues, & Hayseed Boogie-Woogieity.
2021

The Deering Family

For over 40 years their family run business has made more than 100,000 banjos, each crafted with special attention & focus.
2021

DJ Carlos Culture

A man always upbeat, always encouraging, always supporting the reggae scene… & taken from us too soon.
2021

Bob Taylor & Kurt Listug

These cofounders launched their wildly successful craftsman guitar-building business Taylor Guitars more than 40 years ago.
2021

Lisa Sanders

This soulful American country blues artist was born in Philadelphia, PA & raised in Poway, CA.
2021

Yale Strom

Master of the violin, he also is a distinguished composer, filmmaker, writer, ethnographer, photographer, & playwright.
2019

Bill Caballero

Trumpeter & Latin jazz community organizer, leader & teacher.
2019

Robin Henkel

Local Blues Legend delighting San Diego Audiences since 1960’s.
2019

Candye Kane

The Blues singer who represented San Diego around the world, advocating inclusivity.
2019

Charles McPherson

World-renowned legendary jazz saxophonist.
2019

Walt Richards

Banjo virtuoso & San Diego Bluegrass legend, pioneer educator.
2019

Eve Selis

Beloved singer-songwriter, survivor & humanitarian.
2018

John Ciccolella

A man of art (1957-2018) who fronted Gato Papacitos & whose legacy lives on in the scores of musicians he mentored.
2018

Lou Curtiss

Former Folk Arts Rare Records owner promoted concerts & ran a retail record store in San Diego for nearly a half a century.
2018

Mark Goffeney

A native San Diegan whose talent & ambition helped him to achieve ongoing success as a performer, speaker & television personality before his untimely death in 2021.
2018

Jason Mraz

Since getting his start in coffeehouses in San Diego, Mraz has brought his positive message & soulful, folk-pop sound to rapt audiences around the world through his vibrant recordings, humorous live performances, & philanthropic efforts.
2018

Sue Palmer

Internationally known as The Queen of Boogie Woogie, Palmer has been a staple of San Diego’s blues, swing, & jazz scenes for over 30 years.
2018

Jack Tempchin

The legendary hit songwriter best known ​for his compositions, “Peaceful Easy Feeling” & “Already Gone,” both on Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975.

Don’t Miss

News & Events

The San Diego Hall of Music Hall of Fame® inducts 6 new members each year at its fall concert & awards ceremony. The 5th Annual Induction Ceremony was on Friday, November 3, 2023, photos coming soon.

San Diego Music Hall of Fame on 11/05/21

San Diego Music Hall of Fame on 11/05/21

2021 Inductees The Beat Farmers Bob Taylor & Kurt Listug The Deering Family Lisa Sanders Yale Strom DJ Carlos Culture Scheduled to Perform The Lisa Sanders Band Jerry Raney Yale Strom Walt Richards Nathan Raney Rob Deez Gato Papacitos The San Diego Music Hall of...

San Diego Music Hall of Fame in San Diego on 10/18/19

San Diego Music Hall of Fame in San Diego on 10/18/19

2019’s Hall of Fame class recognizes six gifted talents, who generously represented San Diego, both locally and around the world. Renowned bues singer Candye Kane played more that 250 days a year across the globe before her death in 2016. Saxophonist Charles McPherson...

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