New England Music Hall of Fame 

Artist of the Year 

Renee Leavitt is a 26 year old singer songwriter from the Greater Boston area. She started singing at the age of 3 and writing songs at 13. She have been #1 on the CDX Southern Gospel and Positive Country Charts for her song "Walk with the Big Guy"  and has performed in Times Square NY at the Wonderama Season 7 set. Renee has 34 original songs spanning over four albums, and two singles) and gigs with her band around the New England area. Renee has performed with the North California hit band MAGIC GIANT at the Armory in Cambridge and has performed on the main stage at the Christian music event called SoulFest. She has headlined at the Music Room in Yarmouth MA and the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport MA. Having played on several different country radio stations including Country 102.5, the Bull 101.7, XM Sirius radio, Ireland's Kildaire FM (KFM), and many more, Renee feels that her music career can only go up. Renee has been invited five times to sing the National Anthem and Canadian National Anthem at Fenway Park for the Boston Red Sox during the MLB season. Renee has just embarked upon her fourth college degree at the Berklee School of Music in Songwriting, receiving prior a Bachelor's in Political Science and Theology, a Masters of Theological Studies, and an advanced Theology Masters in Systematics.

Linked also is Renee's Spotify, website (online package with headshots), a live performance, and her professional social media. 

https://youtu.be/D0J4Ucqm6u4

https://Instagram.com/reneeandtherenegades 

NEMHOF

 Best New Artist  

When Johnny Cash's nephew handed him his first guitar at 8 years old, something sparked. Fast forward to 24, 5 consecutive charted singles at country radio, millions of streams of his songs on TikTok, and being featured on Spotify's New Music Nashville Editorial Playlist, the spark ignited.  Frankie is currently working with industry veteran, Jimmy Ritchey, whose production credits include Jake Owen, Clay Walker, on an upcoming EP that is set to release in June. The first single off the upcoming EP, “Jesus, Mama, and Cold Beer,” just came out Oct. 13 and is already gaining traction at country radio. With airplay in markets like Boston, Philadelphia, Tampa, Las Vegas, Augusta, Charlotte, Fayetteville, and more, it's already off to a great start. The track is written by country artist, Sam Hunt, award winning songwriter, Phil O'Donnell, and hit producer/writer, Jimmy Ritchey. WFRY's Stan Soboleski weighs in on the track, “Independent artist with a major artist sound.”

Performing hundreds of fairs, festivals, and shows across the U.S. with artists like Megan Moroney, Conner Smith, Dylan Scott, Parmalee, Lee Brice,  Gary LeVox (Lead singer of Rascal Flatts), LoCash, Easton Corbin, High Valley, Dwight Yoakam, John Anderson, Sammy Kershaw, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Collin Raye, The Gatlin Brothers, and more, he is making connections with fans show by show and track by track. 2023's dates numbered almost 40 after a move to Nashville full time, including a lineup at Country Fest Wisconsin. Looking to fill 2024's schedule with 100 dates.

As an Actor, Frankie is an award nominated SAG-AFTRA Actor who has appeared in multiple Films & TV shows like Hallmark’s Next Stop Christmas, George Clooney’s The Tender Bar, Ride Smart with Craig Cameron on RFD-TV, Mysteries At the Museum and many, many more.  WDHR’s Jeff Meek states, “If you are looking for the stars, look no further than Frankie Justin. He’s the real deal!” 

KFAV's Mike Thomas adds, "One of the brightest young country stars on the horizon of the format. Frankie is the real deal, a talented young singer who has the personality to match. Looking for great things from this young man."  He has an individuality that's hard to come by in today's genre, Frankie Justin is Country Music's Newest Emerging Artist.

SOCIALS 

 Frankie Justin (@frankiejustinmusic) | TikTok 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3bAYGf8tF9sr8vomTv1dWs?si=4oCabZPkTKaYYh6Y4FUgMg

 Facebook  

 Frankie Justin (@frankiejustinmusic) • Instagram photos and videos 

NEMHOF

 Best Young Artist 

Hailing from New London, Connecticut this child prodigy Ada Mae  has been nominated for the 2024 New England Music Hall of Fame Young Artist of the Year Award. Ada is a multi-talented individual. Before the age of 16 years old Ada earned the following awards and scholarships Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Scholarship Student/Performer for the Eugene O'Neill Theater, Carl Kelly Foundation Scholarship awarded to young musicians, and Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Fellowship.

Ada Mae | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree 

 New England Music Hall of Fame Sportsman of the Year

Don started watching wrestling with his grandfather after moving to Puerto Rico for a few years at the age of 4. He watched the World Wrestling Council (WWC) and wrestlers such as like Carlos Colon, TNT Aka Savio Vega, Ric Flair, and Miguel Perez wrestle. By the time he moved back to the states in 1986 he was hooked then, he would watch the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). That included Hulk Hogan, and Macho man Randy Savage. His mind was made up, he wanted to be a wrestler one day. Vega started amateur boxing at the age of 10. He figured that boxing would definitely help discipline him to achieve his dream of becoming a pro wrestler. Vega has been in the wrestling business for about 20 years now from his early beginnings at the age of 15. Vega started training in the Massachusetts area in June 1996 under local New England wrestler Mike Baker and many others.  He eventually made his wrestling debut in late 1997 at the age of 16 years old. Throughout his career Vega has wrestled some of wrestling's biggest stars and WWE Hall of Famers such as, Mr USA Tony Atlas, The Bushwhackers, Tito Santana, Jim Duggan, and Sgt Slaughter. ECW stars Justin credible, Balls Mahoney, Sabu, Perry Saturn and a host of many others He has also strengthened his pro wrestling knowledge and performance skills by attending many training seminars hosted by Dr:Tom Prichard, Al Snow, Simon Dean Aka Mike Bucci.In 2005 Vega got his first opportunity to wrestle in Puerto Rico in one of the island's top promotions The IWA-PR [ International Wrestling Association-PR] having also the opportunity to learn from Bushwhacker Luke Williams and also someone that became influential and a friend later in his career Savio Vega.In 2007, Vega was called up for what would be his first appearance on WWE. 

📷2023 New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee with promoter/ wrestler Chris Blackheart

He was part of a skit with the tag team Cryme Tyme at the world's most famous arena Madison Square Garden NYC. Vega has appeared in many other skits from 2007 till the current date for WWE Raw and Smackdown. In 2010 Vega appeared in telemundo's hit Spanish TV show Caso Cerrado alongside one of his mentors Savio Vega. He was ranked 2 years in a row in the PWI magazine top 500.  PWI 500Pro Wrestling Illustrated 2011 463, PWI 500 Pro Wrestling Illustrated 2010 rank 467. And he was elected to the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2023.   He is one of the head trainers now at Showcase Pro Wrestling   SPW - Showcase Pro Wrestling  Saturday Night’s Main Event will be back October 5th 2024 at Showcase Pro Wrestling Center (SPW) Training Center (126 Main Street Woonsocket) with a 7:07 Belltime & your Main Event will be One Half of the SPW Tag Team Champions Don Vega & Danny Cabral vs Sons of Liberty Champion AZ & Matt Michaelson  

Bruce Rieder Award

Adam's first love was the blues. 12 years old and sitting on the basement stairs watching his older bro play guitar in a blues band, who definitely lived up to their name: "The Cadillac Blues Band. Man the blues goes right to your soul. Also the first band Adam would start honing his rock photography skills on, but wouldn't pick up again in earnest until decades later. please have a look around this website, which highlights his many relevant skills (CD Artwork, Posters, Concert Photography & Video to name a few)

Love of Music. A constant in his family, his parents were either playing musicals or Jazz. Adam's Mom in particular loved Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli & Le Quintette Du Hot Club De France, Billie Holiday and the like. She also had an ear for modern music and one day heard him playing Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" and came in, sat on his bed and listened to the whole album. sort of made Adam nervous, which meant talking too much. She shushed him and said "please! I am trying to listen". she was responsible for his first trip to the Berklee Performance Center when she took him to see Stephane Grappelli perform live!!!! As time went on he would see many more national bands there. George Thourogood, The Pretenders, Dire Straits, Herbie Hancock, another list that goes on and on. Early teens, ahhhh. so much music, but time marches on!

Of course moving into the late 70's rock eras it was music like Led Zeppelin that would be his. of course the blues undercurrent was part of that but he is at heart a Metal Head - Punk - Rock and Roller. Through high school and later Adam was always hunting out the latest and greatest from local music scenes. The New Models, Private Lightning, Human Sexual Response, Mission of Burma, Lou Miami & The kozmetix, the list goes on and on.

Around the early 2000's after a 23 year stint in high tech as an Engineering Tech and Software Engineer, Adam was feeling something of a music drought. He started looking around and just like that his eyes were opened. On the local scene. Bands like Worcester's A Ton Of Blues and rock bands like Clutch Grabwell came into focus quickly. Using his engineering skills in researching local music it quickly turned into a fire hose of music unabated til this day. Adam has something of a documentarian side and the thought of going to a music venue without a camera makes him twitch. Many many years of local rock photography are screaming to be made into a book.

It was at this point he decided to re-invest in his love of photography to help promote music. He has also decided to use his technical, graphical, software & social media skills to also help promote local music. Below are some examples of this.

To assist the local scenes, Adam started "The List" which continues today online HERE . He started an online venue map, Laconia Bike Week Music schedules. More recently (March 2017) Adam started at Mark Skin Radio with two 60 minute programs that showcase the absolute wealth of great indie music being made today. Added to that shortly after was a 2 hour blues program featuring local and national blues artists. currently the two 1 hour shows have been combined into a single 3 hour show, The Original Music Showcase Fridays @ 8pm est. Also catch Adam's Blacksheep's Garage Tuesdays @ 11:00am est ( a local + hybrid show ). In October of 2022 The Original Music Showcase was nominated for a Boston Music Award for Best Radio Show in Boston supporting primarily local artists.

Tune into the Original Music showcase this (any) Friday @ 8pm est and see why people gush over his set lists. I guarantee I'll help you #FindTheNewMusic - Click here for our online player

While this re-awakening was going on, the activities listed above led to some great relationships that have expanded who Adam is and what he works on. Website, Social Media & Sales Management for The New England Blues Summit, Social Media/Web for Rhythm Room Afternoons Concert Series. The radio shows have led to countless freindships with so many bands and labels, Rock Garden Records, Rum Bar Records, Red on Red Records, Aldora Britain Records, Grungepop Records to name a few. Although Adam is not in the Video Biz any more. these days it's strictly concert photography, you will find video, national and local photography, graphics work, CD Artwork and more if you poke around this website.

These days Adam is back to helping the Boston Blues Society as a member of The Board of Directors, View the current board HERE. It is an honor to be supporting the Blues in Boston in such a way..

All this from a 12yo watchiing his brother rip it up in the Caddilac Blues Band...

WEBSITE : http://www.rovingrecordings.com/index.php