Inductees in the RI Music Hall of Fame

Musicians with EP Ties were April inductees to the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame. Duke Belaire, George Masso, and Bob Petteruti were inducted, with several others in a ceremony at Bovi's Tavern on Taunton Avenue, East Providence. The ceremony was held before the long standing weekly performance by the Bovi’s big band led by John Allmark. "The choice of Bovi's was a natural choice as one of the jazz inductees, Duke Belaire, was founder of the Bovi's band 40 years ago. Drummer Anthony “Duke” DeCubellis was certainly born to his calling. His father, Ray Belaire, led one of the top New England big bands of the Swing era and also ran The Arcadia Ballroom in downtown Providence where Duke got his start. Following in his dad’s footsteps, he adopted the Belaire stage name and organized the house band at The Celebrity Club, Rhode Island’s first integrated nightspot, backing every major star who came through the area. In 1967, he founded his own big band and secured a Monday night residency at Bovi’s Tavern in East Providence in 1969. Duke is credited with keeping the big band sound alive for the next 25 years. The orchestra, still based at Bovi’s and now under the direction of trumpeter John Allmark, is considered the longest continually running big band in the United States. Born in Providence, Belaire now resides in Cranston," said the group's press release. The Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame's 2015 inductees are: The Schemers/Raindogs/Mark Cutler (EP ties), Brenda Bennett, Nelson Eddy, George Masso, George Wein, Duke Belaire, Paco Zimmer, Georgie Porgie & The Cry Babies, The Others, The Ascots, Bob Petteruti, Marty Ballou, and Marty Richards.