Beaver Falls Man Inducted into Beaver Valley Musicians (Pa.) Hall of Fame Class of 2019
Joins Henry Mancini and Steals Brothers in esteemed HOF Group
(Special to the Seventies-Soul Report)
MIDLAND, PA — During a spirited ceremony in Midland, Pa. this past Spring, six Beaver County-based musicians were inducted into the Beaver Valley Musicians Hall of Fame 2019 Class.
Retired Aliquippa High School teacher, Ronnie Cox, was recently inducted into the Beaver Valley Musicians Hall of Fame, Class of 2019. (Photo by Timothy Cox)
________________________________________________________________
The musicians were enshrined at a May 5, 2019 ceremony at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. Ronnie Cox, a Beaver Falls native and retired Aliquippa educator, was inducted into the current class.
Cox retired from Aliquippa School District in 2016, and is widely known as a gospel keyboardist. He was recently lauded by his home-town church, Tabernacle Baptist Church, for his continuous 30-years of music ministry. While attending Clarion University, Cox, a special education major, was a major contributor to the early success of Clarion Gospelaires – a forerunner to Kirk Franklin-styled contemporary gospel units.
In addition to spiritual music, Cox was a member of the premier vocal units at his alma mater, Beaver Falls High School, and accompanied chorales and other musical outfits on the piano. As a teacher, he also accompanied theatrical and instrumental band high school programs. He also played in several secular dance and jazz bands including the Fabulous Delmonics, Jasmine Entertainers featuring Wendy Z and Sounds Unlimited (Jazz) of Beaver County.
Joining Cox in the 2019 Class of inductees are Ray Harvey Carter, bass guitarist, Fabulous Stereos; Robert “Loomis” Prince, saxophonist, the Surfers, the U.S. Army Band, and Johnny Angel and the Halos’ All-Star Jam Band.
Being inducted posthumously are: Robert C. Maybury, trombonist, Teddy Zee Big Band, and founding member of the Beaver Valley Hall; John “Big Jake” Robinson, nicknamed “Prime Minister of the Blues,” a lifelong resident of Beaver County and bassist for many local blues bands, including Big Jake and the Phat Cats and Black Cat Otis. Frankie Young, saxophonist and resident of East Palestine, Ohio, who performed with Joe Denone and the Denones, as well as Gary Glenn and the Jeweltones.
The Beaver Valley Musicians Union coordinates the Hall of Fame, which began in 1990 and has inducted 121 previous musicians. Plaques are on display at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland.
Previous inductees of the BV Musicians HOF, include legendary composer, Henry Mancini; Melvin & Mervin Steals of Philadelphia International Records fame; Reggie “Wizard” Jones, current music director for Justin Bieber and gospel legend, Curtis Lewis Sr. For more information, contact Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Dr. Todd Goodman, Director of Creativity and Innovation, Todd.Goodman@LPPACenter.org, 724.302.0355.
