Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes
- Huey Lewis was inducted into Utah's People's Music Hall of Fame on Friday.
- The new hall, based in Utah, seeks to honor musicians who haven't received significant recognition elsewhere.
- Proceeds from the event support music scholarships through the Sound Support Foundation.
SALT LAKE CITY — Some may argue Huey Lewis and the News really came into their own, commercially and artistically, in the mid-to-late '80s.
Yet, despite creating over a dozen Top 10 singles, millions of album sales and forging a place in music and pop culture history, the band Lewis fronted only received one Grammy — for best music video — and he's not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. If he's too square to be recognized in Cleveland, he's at least hip enough to be recognized in Utah.
The 74-year-old singer-songwriter and actor behind hits like "The Power of Love," "Hip to Be Square" and "Stuck With You" is the inaugural musician enshrined at the People's Music Hall of Fame, a new Salt Lake City-based institution that seeks to acknowledge memorable but less-honored musicians.
"I was flattered," he told reporters, describing his reaction to being asked to be the first inductee of the brand-new venture.
Lewis spoke about the honor before a formal ceremony at the Eccles Theater Friday night, where he was presented with a plaque honoring him at the end of a long celebration of the songs he brought to life. Shortly after, a group of about 200 music students — who had rotated through the night to play many of Lewis' hits — jammed out while Neon Trees frontman Tyler Glenn belted out "The Power of Love."
Tom "Bones" Malone of the Blues Brothers fame and Marc Russo, a past member of the Doobie Brothers, joined them on stage, as did Gov. Spencer Cox, who participated in a doo-wop cover earlier in the evening.
The plaque will have a temporary home at Caleb Chapman's Soundhouse in Pleasant Grove, said Chapman, the music school's owner and co-founder of the People's Music Hall of Fame. He hopes to have a formal hall of fame building within the next decade.
All proceeds of the event were to go to the Sound Support Foundation, providing music performance scholarships, according to event organizers. All donations were also to be matched up to $250,000.
A hall of fame for the people
The People's Music Hall of Fame was created by Chapman and Adam Reader, the man behind the popular "Professor of Rock" account on YouTube, after the two were introduced by entrepreneur Brandon Fugal. They wanted to create some sort of honor for beloved musicians who — for whatever reason — had never really received the recognition they deserved.
Lewis stood out when they started thinking of artists who fit the criteria.
The duo found it puzzling that he isn't in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame despite his career accolades, nor was his music critically lauded the same as other peers in the mid-'80s. They believe he left a meaningful impact though, providing the soundtrack to road trips, school dances, movies and many other fond memories that people will remember him for.
"To me, Huey represented the people as an 'every man.' ... It was a no-brainer," Reader said.
The list of his fans is far and wide, including Utah's governor. Cox said it's fitting that he would be honored in the state because he thinks that — per capita — Utah might love Lewis more than anywhere else in the country. His music was positive and fun, which resonated with audiences.
"At a time it was popular to be countercultural, he was counter-countercultural," he said. "He made it cool to not be the coolest kid around and I appreciated that because I was square."
Reader had met Lewis a few times before, even having him on his YouTube show. He reached out to pitch him the idea.
The first inductee
Lewis jumped at the opportunity, especially after learning about a tie it had with music students.
"Encouraging kids to play music is a wonderful thing," he said, before taking shots at the recent Grammy Awards performances and other pieces of the modern music scene. "We live in a pretaped world. ... There were hundreds of dancers who have rehearsed for weeks to put on those performances but no musicians, no drummers — and it's the Grammys. I think live music is in trouble, and these guys do a wonderful job to support it."
The rocker spent most of the evening intently watching their performances, appearing to take photos with his phone at times and applauding after every song. He also bounced around stage to encourage the young musicians around him during the final number.
Lewis spent over 45 minutes earlier in the day fielding questions from the students, whose ages range from 10 to 18. They eagerly asked him about his music origin and inspirations, favorite projects, and what it was like to work with Quincy Jones and be a part of "We Are the World."
The latter, he said, was a moment in the studio he'll never forget.
"I remember thinking to myself, 'This is the career event of my life. Nothing is ever going to top this,' It's 40 years later and nothing ever has," he said, recalling it with a chuckle.
The music legend doesn't perform much today, as a hearing condition has made it impossible for him to perform live. It's why he didn't sing at all on Friday. He's preparing to get a cochlear implant to help him hear better after he says Meniere's disease has robbed him of his ability to enjoy music the way he once did.
He's instead focused on other creative ventures to keep him busy. These include expanding "The Heart of Rock Roll," a jukebox musical he co-wrote that debuted on Broadway last year, and a television show he's been writing.
Lewis' cultural impact hasn't faded, though. He knows his music will be brought back up as "Back to the Future" celebrates its 40th anniversary this summer. His music will also be featured in an upcoming Bud Light ad with Utah resident Post Malone to be played during the Super Bowl on Sunday.
While he believes "The Power of Love" will likely be the song that will define his legacy, he'll always have a place in the People's Music Hall of Fame, too. As Reader puts it, Lewis' music is timeless.
Building for the future
By the time a permanent venue is found, Lewis will be joined by other artists who left a similar impression but never got their due, Chapman says. The organization is still exploring spaces, but it's already looking for additional lesser-awarded icons to honor, each of them being inducted individually like during Friday's event so they receive an audience's full attention.
In short, they will receive the recognition they long deserved.
Meanwhile, Reader said the venue will also seek to inspire the next generation of musicians even if they may never get recognition for it.
"You can't really have a hall of fame without looking into the future," he said. "There's a reason we celebrate the past and continue in the future with music."
