2010 Inductees

Oleta Adams, Kansas City website “Get Here” video

This popular singer was a regular performer on the Kansas City club scene before being discovered by the British band Tears For Fears . Her platinum debut album Circle of One produced her biggest hit, the Grammy nominated “Get Here,” which was the unofficial anthem of the 1991 Gulf War .

The Commancheros, Lawrence – 2010 Bob Hapgood Award

This year’s Bob Hapgood Award inductees are Lawrence early-rockers The Commancheros. Two members went on to play in The Red Dogs, while another was a member of Wellington ‘s Fantabulous Jags.

Conny and The Bellhops, Pittsburg story

Beginning in 1958, this group spread their brand of rockabilly over the region in live shows and on record. Many of their old recordings continue to find fans on European compilations. Lead guitarist Gene Woods died recently in Arma, leaving only one original member, Russell Pryer.

Gary ‘Igor’ Crawford, Kansas City – 2010 Directors Award

The late Gary “Igor” Crawford was a long-time road manager for Mid-Continent Entertainment, and eventually became the owner of that booking agency. He later founded AME Entertainment, an agency in Kansas City.

Green River Ordinance, Emporia

The Green River Ordinance began in Emporia as a four-piece and played mostly British music. The Green River Ordinance was the opening act for the Outsiders when they toured through the area in 1966. When the band grew to six members, the style was focused on West Coast rock ’n’ roll, including the San Francisco sound. The band toured extensively throughout the Midwest, playing in eight states over the years while advertising gigs on KOMA out of Oklahoma City, including a series of performances in Grand Teton National Park. They were frequent performers at the Red Dog Inn in Lawrence and Wichita, the Store in Emporia, the Fireside Inn in Hutchinson, the Dark Horse Inn in Hays, the Lamplighter in Salina, Me and Ed’s in Manhattan, the Hilltop Club in Atchison and many other cubs, VFW Halls and armories throughout the Midwest. The band had a reunion recently and is looking to another opportunity to perform live for its many fans.

Bill Lee, Lawrence – Special Directors Award

Kansas Music Hall of Fame founder and president, Bill Lee, was surprised at 2010’s induction show when his fellow board members joined him onstage and announced that he was being inducted into the Hall of Fame for all of his efforts on behalf of Kansas music over the years.
Lee spent twenty-five years as a radio disc jockey and program director, wrote a book about Kansas music in 1999 call Kansas Rockers…The First Generation, and moderated a Yahoo group devoted to discussing old Kansas and Kansas City music.

Moanin’ Glories, Wichita website bio

They played a British flavored r&b similar to the Stones and Rascals from 1965 to 1971. Too good to be confined to Wichita , they toured as far away as Boston and Tokyo before breaking up. Recent reunions have drawn large, appreciative crowds.

The Morning Dew, Topeka website

The Dew led the Topeka music scene in the late 60s with cover versions of the latest hits and original songs. Their fuzz and feedback were featured on an album released by Roulette Records , which has been reissued several times over the years. Copies of the original vinyl sell for big bucks on eBay . Cicadelic Records of Tucson has two Morning Dew CDs out currently.

Plain Jane, Manhattan

Beginning in 1971, this party band went through personnel and style changes, but were always one of the hottest bands around. Based in Topeka , Manhattan and Kansas City over about a decade, they were led by Jimmy Bond and appeared on the soundtrack to the movie “Zapped.” Bond was later a part of KC’s Liverpool , a Beatles tribute band , until his health forced him to drop out.

Pott County Pork & Bean Band, St. Mary’s website

Favorites in Manhattan , Topeka and Lawrence back in the mid-70s, they were a hard drivin’ country/bluegrass/rock band. Even with a mandolin and fiddle in the band, they never forgot to rock with a sound that owed a lot to the Dirt Band and the Grateful Dead .

Vernon Sandusky, Edna

This sensational guitarist began his career with Bobby Poe & the Poe Kats in Coffeyville back in the mid-50s. A decade later, Vernon was leading the Chartbusters in Washington , DC , with whom he had a top 40 national hit called “She’s The One.” He later joined Rodney Lay’s band the Wild West and spent many years playing behind Roy Clark , both on TV’s ” Hee Haw ” and in Branson , MO.

“Resonates in any language!” “Hopping back in time!” If you lived in Lawrence in the 1970s and you liked bands like the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Tree Frog was the band to see. Known locally for its epic four hour performances at places like the Lawrence Opera House (now Liberty Hall) and Off-the-Wall Hall (now the Bottleneck), Tree Frog was actually a nationally touring band that was just one big break away from the big time. The band spent a decade on the road playing every college campus and alley bar from Athens, Georgia to Missoula, Montana. Though Tree Frog disbanded shortly after the disco craze hit, the members reunite every couple years to play at Liberty Hall (the former Red Dog Inn) in Lawrence.