Greater Biddeford-Saco Music Hall of Fame ceremony draws full house

The Biddeford Middle School Performing Arts Center was packed Sunday afternoon, with barely an empty chair in the 900-seat auditorium, as community members gathered for the inaugural Greater Biddeford-Saco Music Hall of Fame Induction.

“Music is the universal language of mankind,” said Diane Cyr, quoting Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Cyr is president of the Biddeford Cultural and Heritage Center, the organization which hosted the event. Music, she said, brings people together, helps people communicate, teaches, brings joy and also touches the soul.

“Can you imagine a world without music,” she asked the audience. “Neither can we.”

Jim Paquette, Greater Biddeford- Saco Music Hall of Fame chairman and former member of the band The Blend, said he got the idea of a Maine music hall of fame many years ago after seeing a poster for the long-standing Maine Country Music Hall of Fame. He met with other musicians, but the idea never came to fruition.

He said after retiring, he had more time on his hands, and he decided to pursue again the idea of a music hall of fame, this time concentrating on the Biddeford – Saco area. The interest from the community was greater than he could have imagined, with more than 700 Facebook followers, many people sharing photos on social media, and a large, enthusiastic audience at Sunday’s event.

“This was done with great intentions, and it was done from the heart,” he said. “I hope you guys have a great time tonight, and thank you so much for coming. I can’t tell you how excited we all are to be here tonight. Thank you and enjoy the show.”

Former Mayor and life-long Biddeford resident Alan Casavant served as the Master of Ceremonies.

“When I saw all the people, I was shocked,” said Casavant. “Then it dawned on me - people here just enjoy music, and I think your presence here is proof of that.”

There is a lot of divisiveness in today’s society, especially on social media, said Casavant. However, if you put people in a room together with good music, suddenly, “everything is okay,” he said.

“This is incredible,” said Charlie Coulthard, former member of Sweet Grease, looking out at audience prior to the ceremony. “It’s an honor to be inducted in the first-ever local music hall of fame.”

Sunday afternoon was all about the music and the people who created it. Bob Charest and The All Star Band, as well as some of the day’s inductees played crowd pleasers. It was a joyful day, but there were some bittersweet moments. Band members and their families reminisced about the good times and remembered those who were no longer living.

Inductees:

Dickie and the Ebb Tides, formed in 1965. The band started playing national venues, and as their popularity increased, played bigger venues and signed on to Golden World Records. They broke up in 1967 due to the Vietnam War draft.

John Lehoux, a guitarist and singer, continued to play music while serving in the Vietnam War. After returning to Maine, he played with local bands, toured internationally, and met his wife while touring in Thailand, where he lived for many years.

Black Hart Band began back in 1966 with four 12-year-old boys practicing in a garage, then later City Theater. The band regrouped, became a local favorite and played many prenuptial dances, weddings and private functions in the 1970s.

The Blend began as The White Mountain National Blend in New Hampshire in the early 1970s. Later, in Maine, the band now known as The Blend became the first band to perform at the Cumberland County Civic Center, opening for ZZ Top. In 1978 The Blend signed a deal with MCA Records.

Ron Perreault was a musician whose music career spanned decades. In the 1970’s, he was a member of Jimsonweed, which was the house band for Forefathers Inn in Kennebunk and the Bastille in Old Orchard Beach.  After he was diagnosed with cancer, he made it a goal to play music with as many people as possible before his death, which occurred in 2017.

Sweet Grease was a full-time band, playing five to seven nights a week in the 1970s. The rhythm and blues band played originals as well as covers. The band was popular at clubs in Old Orchard Beach, but also performed all over New England and beyond, and opened  for nationally-known musician Dr. John.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.