North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame

North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame The NORTH CAROLINA MUSIC HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM is located in Kannapolis, NC. The nonprofit organization was founded in Thomasville, NC on May 26, 1994.
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The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame recognizes, honors, preserves, and promotes those from the “Old North State” who have made great contributions to American music. Exhibits showcase musicians, singers, songwriters, and producers from all genres of music with roots in North Carolina. The museum quickly out-grew It's first location in the beautifully renovated Old Kannapolis Jailhouse in downtow

n Kannapolis and has relocated to a larger facility alongside Curb Records/Motorsports Museum. The NC Music Hall of Fame is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization. Admission is free but donations for support of the Museum are welcomed and greatly appreciated. Hours are Monday thru Friday 10AM – 4PM. The museum is available during normal business hours AND after hours and weekends for private tours, groups, and schools by appointment.

The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame is proud to partner with the Go-Go Museum for the 2026 Induction Ceremony. The Go-...
08/24/2026

The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame is proud to partner with the Go-Go Museum for the 2026 Induction Ceremony. The Go-Go Museum & Café, located in Washington, D.C.'s historic Anacostia neighborhood, is dedicated to preserving and celebrating go-go music, history and culture.

Created in D.C. in the 1970s by Chuck Brown and his fans, go-go blends funk, R&B, hip-hop and Afro-Latin rhythms and was designated the official music of Washington, D.C. in 2020. The museum brings that history to life through interactive exhibits, performances, educational programs and collaborations connecting go-go to its cultural roots.

Its physical site opened in February 2025, building on years of programming and partnerships with organizations including the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the Kennedy Center, DC Public Library, Howard University and American University.

2026 Inductees Through the Years: Sugar Bear Edition 🎶Frontman of Experience Unlimited and a national ambassador for go-...
08/23/2026

2026 Inductees Through the Years: Sugar Bear Edition 🎶

Frontman of Experience Unlimited and a national ambassador for go-go music, Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliott has helped define the genre for nearly four decades, from the 1988 hit "Da Butt" to tours with Salt-N-Pepa and Run-D.M.C. EU Sugar Bear joins the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

Tickets for the 2026 Induction Ceremony are on sale now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/north-carolina-music-hall-of-fame-2026-induction-ceremony-tickets-1987853269641

Today we remember Chuck Brown on what would have been his 90th birthday.Born August 22, 1936, in Gaston, North Carolina,...
08/22/2026

Today we remember Chuck Brown on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Born August 22, 1936, in Gaston, North Carolina, Brown moved to Washington, D.C., as a child and went on to become a central figure in the creation of go-go.

His music was built for the live stages, with percussion carrying on between songs and the audience becoming part of the performance itself. From Bustin' Loose to decades of live go‑go classics, Brown influenced funk, R&B, and hip‑hop.

Happy birthday to the Godfather of Go-Go.

Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliott was born in Red Springs, NC, and moved to Washington, D.C., with his family as a young chil...
08/21/2026

Gregory "Sugar Bear" Elliott was born in Red Springs, NC, and moved to Washington, D.C., with his family as a young child. He went on to become a founding member and longtime frontman of Experience Unlimited, better known as E.U., one of the original bands of the go-go movement.

E.U. brought the music to audiences well beyond D.C., including with the 1988 single "Da Butt," which reached No. 1 on Billboard's Black Singles chart.

This October, EU Sugar Bear will be inducted into the NC Music Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class.

Tickets for the 2026 Induction Ceremony are on sale now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/north-carolina-music-hall-of-fame-2026-induction-ceremony-tickets-1987853269641

The Godfather of Go-Go was born in Gaston, NC.Chuck Brown moved to Washington, D.C., as a child, taught himself guitar, ...
08/20/2026

The Godfather of Go-Go was born in Gaston, NC.

Chuck Brown moved to Washington, D.C., as a child, taught himself guitar, and developed a new approach to live performance in the early '70s: keep the percussion going between songs so the music never stops and neither does the crowd. The sound became known as go-go, a name that reflected its relentless musical momentum.

Brown's 1978 single "Bustin' Loose" brought the genre to a broader audience. He was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2016, recognized as a central figure in the creation and rise of go-go.

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of go-go, known as Washington D.C.’s official music.⁣⁣The sound emerged from D.C.’s Afri...
08/19/2026

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of go-go, known as Washington D.C.’s official music.⁣
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The sound emerged from D.C.’s African-American communities in the 1970s, built around driving percussion, call-and-response, and live performances that moved continuously from one song to the next. Chuck Brown, born in Gaston, NC, was at the center of its beginnings and became known as the “Godfather of GoGo.”

Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott, born in Red Springs, NC, became another defining figure in GoGo, helping carry the sound, energy, and tradition for across generations.

Both Chuck Brown and Sugar Bear have roots in North Carolina, connecting the story of go-go to the musical legacy of the Tar Heel state.

EU Sugar Bear Chuck Brown Red Springs, North Carolina

08/18/2026

This week’s gem is almost a two-for-one! We’re highlighting two incredible museums under one roof at the North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame and Curb Motorsports-Records Museum in Kannapolis, NC! 💎

🎶Explore the NC Music Hall of Fame and discover legendary musical icons who have called North Carolina home! From artists like James Taylor to Fantasia to Cabarrus County’s own The Avett Brothers, there are so many exhibits to see and celebrate!

🏁Then, shift gears and step into Mike Curb’s incredible collection of music memorabilia from artists he represented at Curb Records to iconic race cars he owned! See a Dale Earnhardt #2 Winston Cup Championship car and a Richard Petty #43 from his 199th win, and that’s just the beginning of the legends celebrated in this space!

📣Heads up, museum fans! Come enjoy the NC Music Hall of Fame and the 2025 inductee exhibits soon! Curb and Music Hall of Fame will close from September 7-11 and the Hall of Fame side will stay roped off until October 2 while they make room for the 2026 inductees!

🤩And remember, these museums are free! So add this gem to your next Kannapolis visit and prepare to be amazed by the cars, the memories and the incredible musical talent North Carolina has given the world!

⬇️Got an idea of where we should go next? Let us know in the comments!

2026 Inductees Through the Years: Arrogance Edition 🎶A look back at Arrogance, the Chapel Hill band whose work across th...
08/17/2026

2026 Inductees Through the Years: Arrogance Edition 🎶

A look back at Arrogance, the Chapel Hill band whose work across the 1960s and 1970s placed them among the architects of alternative rock in the Southeast. They will be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

Five decades after he assembled Parliament-Funkadelic, George Clinton's influence on funk, hip-hop, and modern pop remai...
08/16/2026

Five decades after he assembled Parliament-Funkadelic, George Clinton's influence on funk, hip-hop, and modern pop remains foundational. The Kannapolis native and 2009 NCMHOF inductee is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and a multi-platinum artist whose catalog continues to be sampled across genres. On Thursday, October 15, 2026, he returns to receive the Eddie Ray Lifetime Achievement Award.

Information about the 2026 Induction Ceremony, presented by Visit Mooresville can be found at the link in our bio.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic Mooresville Arts Town of Mooresville NC NC Culture Cabarrus Arts Council MusicRow magazine Come Hear North Carolina Arts North Carolina North Carolina Public Radio - WUNC

08/14/2026

Throw back to last year when Visit Mount Holly, NC celebrated David Childers’ induction into the NC Music Hall of Fame. An amazing drone show lit up the night with David’s name. Happy birthday David ♥️

Address

600 Dale Earnhardt Boulevard
Kannapolis, NC
28081

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm
Friday 10am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm

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