The Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame has announced five new inductees who will be honored at a ceremony Sept. 29 in west Little Rock for their contributions to the entertainment arts.
This year’s inductees include an author, composer, and singers and songwriters.
New York Times bestselling author and former Magnolia resident Charlaine Harris is known for The Southern Vampire Mysteries that is the basis of the HBO show True Blood. Harris is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the American Crime Writers League, and she alternates as president of the Arkansas Mystery Writers Alliance.
Singer Buddy Jewell, who attended Arkansas State University and lived in Camden, won the first series of Nashville Star. He signed to Columbia Records and has released the albums Buddy Jewell, Times Like These, Country Enough and My Father’s Country.
W. Francis McBeth, who taught at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, is known for his music compositions. He led former President Bill Clinton in the 1962 Arkansas All-State Band and served as the third conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra from 1970 to 1973. McBeth was appointed state composer laureate in 1975.
Singer-songwriter duo The Cate Brothers consists of twin brothers and Fayetteville natives Earl and Ernie Cate. The brothers performed soul music throughout the South in the mid-1960s and went on to record four albums.
Brinkley native Al Bell was executive and co-owner of Memphis-based Stax Records. He formed his own label in Little Rock, Bellmark, which released several singles including Tag Team’s Whoomp! (There It Is) and Prince’s The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.
The induction ceremony, which will be held at Noah’s Event Center on Sept. 29, begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by a dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $75 by calling (870) 536-7600.