Former teen idol Johnny Tillotson visited Washington County to announce the names of 14 inductees to the Pop Music Hall of Fame in Canonsburg.
Promoters are hoping the Hall of Fame, which is scheduled to soon open in Downtown Canonsburg, will become a top tourist attraction in the area.
It’s comparable to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.
The inductees named by Tillotson on Friday include Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Canonsburg natives – Perry Como and Bobby Vinton.
Borough Manager Terry Hazlett said the artists named had to have a major influence on popular music in general. He said Canonsburg was an ideal spot for the Hall of Fame because recording artists from the area were responsible for putting hundreds of songs on the Billboard music charts, especially during the ‘50s and ‘60’s.
Johnny Tillotson composed the song 'It Keeps Right On A Hurtin'' which Elvis recorded at his 1969 Memphis Sessions.