AREA MUSIC AWARDS

HONORARY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Presented to musicians who made a significant impact on the area music scene before the Area Music Awards began in 2012

Tony Bellus had the biggest selling record of any Area Music artist with his hit Robbin’ the Cradle reaching Number 25, and staying on the Billboard Hot 100 national charts for 26 weeks. Tony was born Anthony Bellusci in Chicago but moved to a farm in Momence when he was young.  He graduated from Momence High School. He has recorded with Ray Stevens, Jerry Reed, and Joe South and shared the stage with such legends as Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, Marty Ribbons, Bobby Darrin, and Ricky Nelson.  He has recorded numerous albums including his latest singles I Want Florida for Christmas and Won’t You Hang Up and Drive.

Randy Thaden (left and right) performed in the Kankakee Area for many years. He was the lead singer for Martha Butter where he became known for his electric performances of two of the Doors legendary songs When the Music’s Over and The End.  Very few bands covered those songs because no one could sing like Jim Morrison.  But Randy did. In 1969, Thaden moved to Nashville to become a songwriter and had several songs published.  He now lives in Los Vegas with his wife of many years. It was Randy Thaden who got James Riordan interested in Jim Morrison which ultimately led to Riordan writing Break on Through with Jerry Prochnicky which is now considered the definitive book on Jim Morrison and was the basis for many scenes in the movie The Doors starring Val Kilmer and directed by Oliver Stone.

One of the most popular bands in the history of Kankakee Area Music was Poncho & The Pros. Led by Poncho Posing the band played the highly coveted Saturday afternoon CYO Gig which was always packed.   The most popular band member (especially with the girls) was drummer Roland Soucie who, for years, represented the height of Kankakee Cool. Pictured is Poncho on the left and Roland on the right.

George Lord (left and right) was a major influence on the Area Music scene for many years.  Up until George’s band, The Lord George Organization. most area bands played Top 40 hits and stayed away from anything too bluesy or hard.  The LGO as the band was often called played songs by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Junior Walker & the All Stars, James Brown and Howling Wolf.  The songs that really won the audiences over though were George’s near perfect renditions of the Rolling Stones’ hits Paint it Black and Satisfaction.

Another important  influence on Kankakee Area music was singer/songwriter Dave Moore (right). Dave’s originals like Something About November and Let Me Play For You went over big with area crowds.  With his gutsy voice and passionate delivery, area audiences recognized the sincerity and embraced original music in a way they had never done before. Moore often performed as a solo artist but was also a member of G-Force.  

In the mid to late 60s, the most popular band in the Kankakee Area was simply named Those Guys. In the photo on the left they are (from left to right) Dave West, Mark Eckhardt, Brent Wadley, Mike Menard (standing) and Kevin Laws.  Laws was a master at learning songs and Menard could sing just about any of them.  The band focused on pop material, but they did it so well, that they amassed a large following. Later Mick Kilgos replaced Brent Wadley on drums.  Kilgos went on to joing the band Hope in Nashville and received an Area Music Lifetime Achievement award for that in 2015.

The Area Music Awards is Proud to Honor These Musicians for their Invaluable Contributions to Area Music