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KINGSTON \u2014 Tickets are on sale now for the Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which will take place on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Kirby Center for the Creative Arts on the campus of Wyoming Seminary.<\/p>\n
The 4th annual event will include a pre-show mixer with food and refreshments from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and an awards-style event ceremony from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
The induction ceremony will include live performances from the Back Doors, Mere Mortals, and the Cino Paci Band, and live tributes to Thomas Hrynkiw and George Korson.<\/p>\n
Tickets are $65 and can be purchased at \u2014 www.luzernefoundation.org\/lcaehof<\/a><\/p>\n The 2026 inductees are:<\/p>\n \u201cArts\u201d category<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Edie<\/strong> Adams<\/strong> \u2014 The actress and comedian whose talent and business acumen made her a show business mainstay for decades. She was a Tony winner and Emmy nominee, and appeared in multiple classic films, such as \u201cThe Apartment\u201d and \u201cIt\u2019s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 Nick<\/strong> Adams<\/strong> \u2014 The Oscar-nominated actor who made a name for himself in mid-century Hollywood by playing rebellious characters on film and television. His artistic accomplishments and intriguing personal life have made him one of the most enigmatic performers of his generation.<\/p>\n \u2022 Mark<\/strong> Cohen<\/strong> \u2014 The photographer whose intense, invasive style captures the aesthetic of Luzerne County and its residents. In addition to the books of his original photography that have been published, his work is held by art museums across the United States and Europe.<\/p>\n \u2022 James<\/strong> Karen<\/strong> \u2014 The longtime character actor who was best known for his roles in films like \u201cThe Return of the Living Dead,\u201d \u201cMulholland Drive,\u201d and \u201cPoltergeist.\u201d Aside from his storied acting career, he was well-known as a pitchman for the Pathmark chain of supermarkets.<\/p>\n \u2022 George<\/strong> Korson<\/strong> \u2014 The folklorist who kept decades of coal mining history alive through his recordings and writings. His studies of local labor movements were influential in shaping the way Luzerne County\u2019s storied past has lived on through lyrics and ghost stories.<\/p>\n \u2022 Jozef<\/strong> Murgas<\/strong> \u2014 The renaissance man who expressed his artistic visions through groundbreaking technology and countless other creative pursuits. Wilkes-Barre\u2019s \u201cRadio Priest\u201d was a champion of Slovak culture, painter, botanist, butterfly collector, and community leader.<\/p>\n \u2022 Bruce<\/strong> Price<\/strong> \u2014 The architect whose local legacy goes beyond the buildings he designed. Though the time he spent in Luzerne County was short, he made a serious and timeless impact on the landscape of the area, bringing a true artistry to streets that are still well-traveled.<\/p>\n \u201cEntertainment\u201d category<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 The<\/strong> Back <\/strong>Doors<\/strong> \u2014 The tribute band to the Doors that formed in an era when the very concept of a tribute band was novel. Their global fame was due to their excellent balance of adherence to the Doors\u2019 performance style and their own unique spin on the music.<\/p>\n \u2022 Cabinet<\/strong> \u2014 The bluegrass band that bends genre conventions to create something all music fans can enjoy, as evidenced by the massive crowds they have drawn. Their status as a jam band is proof of their commitment to creating one-of-a-kind musical experiences.<\/p>\n \u2022 Dakota<\/strong> \u2014 The band led by quintessential Luzerne County rockers Jerry Hludzik and Bill Kelly following their departure from the Buoys. Their career was defined by a major tour opening for Queen and multiple albums filled with slick, ultra-listenable rock tracks.<\/p>\n \u2022 Thomas<\/strong> Hrynkiw<\/strong> \u2014 The classical pianist who was celebrated for his accomplishments in the musical arts. He played for audiences at a number of the world\u2019s most prestigious concert halls, including the Kennedy and Lincoln centers, and at various music festivals.<\/p>\n \u2022 Mere<\/strong> Mortals<\/strong> \u2014 The rock group known for their dogged commitment to playing to high-quality original material. They coupled tight musicianship with clever lyrics to become one of the most acclaimed and respected local bands of the past 40 years.<\/p>\n \u2022 The<\/strong> Cino Paci <\/strong>Band<\/strong> \u2014 The Pittston-based musical ensemble that has entertained the community for over a century \u2013 literally. With each successive generation, the group continues to evolve while staying true to the Italian heritage from which it sprouted.<\/p>\n \u2022 Eddie<\/strong> Rambeau<\/strong> \u2014 The hit making machine who co-wrote multiple charting tunes in an era dominated by British artists. His seminal recording, \u201cConcrete and Clay,\u201d was a charting success in its own right, and the album of the same name is a landmark in the history of Luzerne County music.<\/p>\n \u201cImpact\u201d category<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 The<\/strong> Briggs <\/strong>Family<\/strong> \u2014 The founders of the iconic, nationally-known blues festival that bears their family farm\u2019s name. Thanks to their insightful management, the festival has grown steadily since 1998, in both the array of sounds on display and its overall scope. Inductees include Richard Briggs and Alison Briggs, founders of the Briggs Farm Blues Festival; and Dylan Briggs and Dena Briggs, producers of the Briggs Farm Blues Festival.<\/p>\n \u2022 Jim<\/strong> Della <\/strong>Croce<\/strong> \u2014 The manager, publicist, and concert promoter whose list of clients reads like a who\u2019s who of the music industry\u2019s biggest acts, labels, and venues. As owner of Pathfinder Artists Management and The Press Office, he has a reputation as one of music\u2019s busiest professionals.<\/p>\n \u2022 Thom<\/strong> Greco<\/strong> \u2014 The concert promoter and nightclub owner whose many ventures in the hospitality industry have made Luzerne County an arts and entertainment destination. Musicians he has helped bring to the area include Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash<\/p>\n \u2022 John<\/strong> Walson<\/strong> \u2014 The founder of Service Electric and one of the original innovators in establishing cable television. He is best known in Luzerne County for being the person most responsible for bringing Home Box Office (HBO) to Wilkes-Barre households.<\/p>\n \u201cDistinguished Achievement Award\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Brian<\/strong> Benedetti<\/strong> \u2014 The leader of the Fine Arts Fiesta who has helped transform the event from niche to mainstream over nearly five decades. Artists, entertainers, and students across Luzerne County have his initiatives to thank for bringing their work to general audiences.<\/p>\n \u2022 The<\/strong> Fine Arts <\/strong>Fiesta<\/strong> \u2014 The annual event that has spotlighted various art forms on Wilkes-Barre\u2019s Public Square for 70 years. Throughout its storied history, the fiesta has grown to become an all-inclusive, seminal cornerstone of the local arts calendar.<\/p>\n For more <\/strong>information<\/strong><\/p>\n Visit the organization\u2019s official website at \u2014 www.luzernecountyaehof.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also follow the organization of Facebook at \u2014 www.facebook.com\/LCAEHOF<\/a>.<\/p>\n Local journalism matters, and your support makes it possible. You can help sustain this work by making a donation or choosing one of our subscription options. Subscribers enjoy valuable benefits, including full access to our e-edition, a reduced ad experience on timesleader.com, and more.<\/p>\n Your support helps ensure independent, high-quality local news remains available today and for future generations. Thank you for standing with local journalism.
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