Honorary Inductee

Dr. T. R. Bryan Wilkes Heritage Music Award: Keith Watts

Published in 2015

Keith Watts

Dr. T. R. Bryan Wilkes Heritage Music Award: Jimmy Church

Published in 2013

Jimmy Church

William Oliver Swofford known professionally as Oliver, was an American pop singer. Born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, he began singing as an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the early 1960s. His clean-cut good looks and soaring baritone voice were the perfect vehicle for the up-tempo single entitled "Good Morning Starshine" from the pop/rock musical "Hair", which reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July 1969, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. a month later. Later that fall, a softer, ballad single entitled "Jean", bested his previous effort by one, reaching #2 on the Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart.

Published in 2012

William "Oliver" Swofford

Nancy Watson, a native of Wilkes County, grew up with a love of music. As her children grew she became more and more involved with local theatrical and musical events. Her experiences with the Walker Center, a 1,200 seat auditorium, MerleFest ad Singing in the Foothills prepared her for the difficult task of overseeing a new musical endeavor, the “Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame”. With an expression of gratitude, the committee recognizes and thanks her for her leadership, as their dream became a reality.

Published in 2009

Nancy Watson

Mike Cross was born in Maryville, Tennessee and grew up in Lenoir, North Carolina. Although he loved stories and liked to write poems, he displayed no interest in music until a dedicated friend taught him a few chords on the guitar. Mike learned fast and began to originate melodies as background scenery to go with his stories and poems. His eclectic blend of folk, blues and country style sounds has given birth to a new style he calls “Appalachian Mountain Boogie Blues”. He has written a multitude of songs like “The Scotsman” in 1973, which became the theme song for the Dr. Demento Radio Show and was voted the funniest song ever written. Today Mike still performs, writes songs and is now on a new venue of hosting programs like the Wilkes Heritage Museum’s “Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame.”

Published in 2009

Mike Cross

Art Menius entered the arts/entertainment field as a writer and production assistant for the Nashville Network Bluegrass and Old Time music series, “Fire on the Mountain” after earning his history degree from UNC Chapel Hill. In 1983 he began publishing reviews and features about ‘roots music’ for the Bluegrass Unlimited to the News and Observer, with a long tenure at the Independent Weekly. Art has held positions as the Marketing and Sponsorship Director of MerleFest and Director of Appalshop. He is one of the founders of the International Bluegrass Music Association, the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance and the first chairman of the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame committee.

Published in 2008

Art Menius