National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame

The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame was founded in 2010. Its name was originally the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame. It was founded and developed by American professional basketball player LaMont "ShowBoat" Robinson, who is also an R&B activist and an entrepreneur.^[4][5]

Robinson's love for R&B and soul music began at an early age. He would often attend music practice sessions with his musician uncle, a house band member at Leo's Casino, a night club in Cleveland, Ohio.^[1] It was one of the premier clubs in the Midwest during the 1960s for R&B, jazz, and African American comedians such as The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Redd Foxx, Flip Wilson, Richard Pryor and Otis Redding.^[6] Robinson's love for R&B inspired him to start collecting memorabilia and artifacts that reflected the history of the rhythm and blues era. Robinson collected many of these while traveling worldwide to play basketball with the Globetrotters and other teams.^[7]

Robinson's collection of memorabilia grew large enough to warrant display in a museum. He donated some of his collection to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, but he wanted to find a museum that exclusively displayed, celebrated, and collected information about the great accomplishments of R&B artists. Unable to find such a museum, he decided to create one himself. His efforts were supported by friends, some of whom were Rhythm & Blues and Jazz musicians.^[8]

A mobile museum debuted in February 2012.^[9] An annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony followed, honoring artists, non-musical individuals, venues, events, and other influences on the world of R&B music.

In 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony took place in Marks, Mississippi to start construction of a permanent location for the museum.^[10]

The Inaugural Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held on August 17, 2013, at the Waetjen Auditorium at Cleveland State University in Cleveland.^[11] The first class of inductees included recording acts The Supremes, The Temptations, The Marvelettes, The O'Jays,^[9] Martha & The Vandellas (Martha Reeves, Rosalind Holmes, and Annette Helton), The Dramatics, Ruby & The Romantics, and The Dazz Band Featuring Jerry Bell and Little Jimmy Scott; historic venue Leo's Casino; international journalist Larry Cotton; and radio hosts Tom Joyner^[9] and Tim Marshall.^[12] On December 20, 2017, 17 names were added to the list of inductees as 20th Century Early Music Influences such as Sammy Davis Jr, Ruth Brown, Bill Haley, Louis Armstrong and others. On February 17, 2018, the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame founder LaMont "ShowBoat" Robinson, a lifelong Temptations fan and collector, gave a tribute concert for the late great Dennis Edwards called The Dennis Edwards Tribute. The performance was to honor him for all his musical work and for his family and fans in Detroit, MI at Bert's Entertainment Complex. Edwards was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2013 with The Temptations and in 2015 with his own group The Temptations Review feat Dennis Edwards.

The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame has announced it will forgo its live induction ceremony honoring its 2020 class due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Founder and CEO LaMont Robinson stated the live induction ceremony would be replaced by an online salute honoring the class of 2020 inductees. The induction committee combined the 2020 and the 2021 class to create a special class of 16 inductees called the 2020 Posthumously Class of Pioneers.

In 2022 and 2023, the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame held its induction ceremonies in Detroit, honoring artists such as New Edition and Aaliyah. In 2024, the event returned to Cleveland, Ohio—the birthplace of the Hall of Fame—on October 6. The sold-out ceremony celebrated the induction of R&B legends Jeffrey Osborne, Kenny Lattimore, Ginuwine, William Bell, Candi Staton, Regina Belle, and Frankie Beverly. These icons were enshrined in the Hall of Fame in a memorable event that underscored the enduring impact of R&B music and its artists.

The 2018 and 2019 (the 10th annual induction event) were held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, Michigan.^[13][14]

Over the years, the National Rhythm & Blues of Fame inductions have taken place at the following locations:

* 2015 Induction ceremony in Clarksdale MI
** 2015 Induction ceremony in Detroit
*** Inducted as a 20th Century Early Music Influence

* 2015 Induction ceremony in Clarksdale, MS
** 2015 Induction ceremony in Detroit