Some Surprise Members of the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame

It's a milestone year for the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame.

The facility, which celebrates the best music in the history of the North Star State, has been open in New Ulm since 1989 - 35 years and running!

But just how much do you know about who has been inducted into this music shrine over the past three-plus decades?

First, there are the obvious picks.

Prince (inducted in 2007)

Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis in 1958 and was named after his dad’s jazz band, The Prince Rogers Trio.

Before passing away in 2016, he won six Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

He's one of five people who are enshrined in both the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Bob Dylan (inducted in 1991)

Robert Allen Zimmerman was born on May 24, 1941, in Duluth.

He went on to become one of the most influential musicians in the 20th Century and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (inducted in 2016)

The legendary songwriters, musicians, and record producers met while attending high school in Minneapolis.

They have worked with the likes of Prince and Janet and Michael Jackson. Both Jimmy and Terry were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.

Eddie Cochran (inducted in 1993)

He was born October 3, 1938, in Albert Lea.

One of his biggest hits was 'Summertime Blues', which was a Top Ten song in 1958.

Cochran died in 1960.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

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Besides Cochran, the Minnesota Hall has inductees who have influenced rock music over the years.

Bobby Vee (inducted in 1992)

The Fargo, North Dakota native got his big break in Moorhead, Minnesota in 1959 when the then 15-year old was introduced to the world when local talent filled in at a show after Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper had been killed in a plane crash en route to their Moorhead engagement.

Bobby amassed  38 songs on the charts and had six gold records.

He passed away in 2016.

The Replacements (inducted in 2018)

The band formed in Minneapolis in 1979 and is considered one of the pioneers of alternative rock.

Soul Asylum (inducted in 2019)

The band formed in 1981 in Minneapolis and won a Grammy for their 1993 song 'Runaway Train'.

As for some of the inductees that might surprise you a bit:

Judy Garland (inducted in 1991)

If you know your Minnesota history this might not shock you.

Born Frances Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1922, she is best remembered for her role as Dorthy in the 1939 classic film, 'The Wizard of Oz'.

She passed away in 1969.

John Denver (inducted in 2016)

Although he is synonymous with the 'Rocky Mountain High' of Colorado, Denver's early success came in Minnesota after he married St. Peter native Annie Martell.

He played annual concerts at Gustavus Adolphus before becoming one of the biggest musicians of the 1970s.

He passed away in 1997.

Tonic Sol-fa (inducted in 2016)

This legendary acapella group was founded at St. John’s University in Collegeville.

They've gone on to become one of the most successful independent acts in America.

And while most of those acts are household names in this part of the world, there is one inductee that most of us don't know, but might be my new favorite of all of those enshrined in New Ulm.

'Whoopie' John Wilfahrt (inducted in 1989)

You read that right.

The 'Daddy of the Concertina' is a New Ulm native and was in the first group of inductees 35 years ago.

'Whoopie' John was a radio and TV performer for 34 years, hosting his Sunday afternoon broadcasts and recording nearly 1,000 songs before he died in 1961.

15 years after his passing, 'Whoopie' John was inducted into the International Polka Association's Hall of Fame in 1976.

Happy milestone birthday, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame!

Here's to another 35 years...