14 Years Ago: The Inaugural CAMA Hall of Fame Inductees

As we noted on Tuesday, it was 14 years ago this week that the now-defunct Capital Area Music Association held its first Hall of Fame inductions with an awards show and musical performances at The Egg in Albany.

There were a dozen nominees, but only six were elected to the CAMA Hall of Fame that first year.

And who were those inital inductees?

Blotto, pop-rock parodyists (“I Wanna Be a Lifeguard,” “Metal Head”) and early MTV stars of the early ’80s

Nick Brignola, Grammy nominated baritone sax giant of the jazz world

John Carabella, composer and founder of the Albany Symphony Orchestra

Charlene Shortsleeve, manager of such pivotal alt-rock nightclubs as 288 Lark, Duck Soup and QE2

Lena Spencer, founder, owner and manager of venerable Saratoga Springs coffeehouse Caffe Lena

Ernie Williams, veteran blues musician and the catalyst for the Capital Region’s blues scene revival

Here’s Michelle Solomon’s preview of the induction from the Times Union.