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MECHANIC FALLS – Maine country musicians Johnny Hiland and Doug Baker will be inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum at the 46th annual Induction Ceremony and Show at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at the Silver Spur, 272 Lewiston St. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the event is family friend.
The ceremony will showcase the life and music of Hiland and Baker, as well as 13 “special inductees,” all from Maine. Master of ceremonies is 2022 inductee Peter Allen.
A live show of Hall of Famers will follow the ceremony, as well as a presentation to the winner of the 2nd annual Maine Country Music Hall of Fame High School Guitar Competition.
Hiland was born in Baileyville. Legally blind, he started playing at the age of two and was performing by seven. When he was 10, he won the Talent America Contest in New York City. HIland plays many instruments, including guitar, banjo, fiddle and mandolin. He moved to Nashville in 1996, and has played on stage and recorded with such stars as Toy Keith, Trick Pony, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, Lynn Anderson, Les Paul and Hank Williams III.
Baker, who died in 2018, was born in Bangor. He started his career at the age of 10, appearing on WMET-TV. He played in award-winning bands throughout New England as well as in other areas of the country. His band Bootleg opened for Shelly West, Kitty Wells, Freddy Fender, The Platters, Terri Gibbs, Faron Young, Charlie Daniels, Jerry Lee Lewis, Donna Fargo, Big Al Downing, and many others.
He received many awards for musicianship, songwriting, and vocals. He also played with the Mainely Country Band with fellow Hall of Famers Jeff Simon and Sonny Bickford.
The special inductees include both living and dead Maine country musicians, including Hazel “B” Clarke, Betty DeCoteau, Dotty Farrell, Juanita Graves, George Harnish, Jimmie & Dick, Rusty Monroe, Lisa Higgins Overlock, Ray Stafford, Buzzy & Kathy Vanadestine and Tennessee Ted Varney.
The Maine Country Music Hall of Fame was founded in 1978. The museum, established in 2008, is the only country music hall of fame museum east of Nashville. The 3,000-square foot space in the lower level of the Silver Spur is a showcase for memorabilia accumulated over the decades, bringing to life and preserving the legacy of more than 150 inductees from Maine. There will be free tours of the museum after the show.
Seating is general admission and tickets are available at the door. Reservations can be made by calling Nancy at 207-645-2472. The snack bar will be open for light lunch and beverages. For more information, visit the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame on Facebook.
