R&B Hall of Fame plans to make Cleveland its permanent home
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Aretha Franklin is one of more than 250 inductees in the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, which could be headed to Cleveland. Photo: Ross Marino/Getty Images
Cleveland could soon be home to a second music hall of fame.
Driving the news: LaMont Robinson, founder of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, tells Axios the organization is working on plans to build a museum inside the former Moreland Theater building in Cleveland's Buckeye neighborhood within the next year.
Why it matters: The hall of fame would serve as a linchpin for the city's multimillion-dollar revitalization plan for Buckeye Road and add a tourist attraction to the area.
Flashback: Robinson, a Warrensville Heights native and basketball legend, founded the hall of fame in 2010.
- Its inaugural induction ceremony was in 2013 at Cleveland State University's Waetjen Auditorium.
- The annual event moved to other cities, including Canton and Detroit, before returning to Cleveland last October — where it will remain.
What they're saying: "This is long overdue," Robinson tells Axios.
- "If it wasn't rhythm and blues, there wouldn't be rock 'n' roll and there wouldn't be a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame."
State of play: Robinson has accumulated nearly $2 million in artifacts to showcase.
- He says building out the museum will cost roughly $10 million, with the money coming from corporate sponsorships, public donations, grants and other sources.
- A spokesperson for the City of Cleveland confirmed the city is working with Robinson to find a location for the National R&B Hall of Fame.
- They said the Moreland building is a "possibility" but "nothing is finalized."
The big picture: Should it come to fruition, the hall of fame would be part of the plan led by nonprofit Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc. to turn Buckeye Road into an arts and commercial corridor.
- Last year, Cleveland awarded the developer a $3.9 million forgivable loan for the project and last month approved an additional $300,000 grant to refurbish Moreland Theater.
- Burten, Bell, Carr did not respond to Axios' request for comment, executive Joy Johnson told Cleveland Scene last month that a "museum concept" with national reach was being considered for the theater space.
What's next: On Friday, the Cleveland History Center will host a free pop-up exhibition for the National R&B Hall of Fame, featuring artifacts from B.B. King, The Temptations and other music legends.
- Robinson says this year's induction ceremony will be in Cleveland on a yet-to-be-determined date in October.