Surprise Utah guest helps induct Huey Lewis into the People’s Music Hall of Fame
Feb 13, 2025, 11:49 AM | Updated: 11:54 am
Huey Lewis receiving the People's Music Hall of Fame plaque on 02-07-2025. (Heather Kelly/KSL NewsRadio)
(Heather Kelly/KSL NewsRadio)
SALT LAKE CITY — Huey Lewis was the first performer inducted into the newly-created People’s Music Hall of Fame in Salt Lake City. The event was held at the Eccles Theatre on Friday, Feb. 7.
The evening also included a surprise performance and praise from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and other local musicians.
“He made being a square Utahn cool because we were already ‘Hip To Be Square,'” Cox said.
The governor then joined other singers on the stage to perform an a cappella doo-wop number.
Gov. Spencer Cox joins local musicians to sing at People’s Music Hall of Fame on Feb. 7, 2025. (Heather Kelly, KSL NewsRadio)
However, it was a performance Lewis was not able to hear.
Can’t hear his own music
Lewis lost his hearing to Miniere’s disease. It started about 30 years ago, when he completely lost hearing in his right ear. After adapting, he lost hearing in his left ear too. That was about seven years ago.
“(It was) right before a gig in New Orleans, and it was a horrible thing,” Lewis said. “I just went on a stage and I couldn’t hear anything. It was devastating.”
Lewis lamented that he wouldn’t hear his own music played at the induction ceremony.
“It’s just a cacophony now,” he said.
Things could change for Lewis, however. He announced he is getting a cochlear implant in his left ear in April.
The People’s Music Hall of Fame
The People’s Music Hall of Fame is the brain child of Caleb and Tommie Chapman, the founders of the Sound Support Foundation, and the “Professor of Rock,” Adam Reader.
The Caleb Chapman SoundHouse‘s mission is to transform the mental health and well-being of youth through music.
Related: People’s Music Hall of Fame to be permanently based in Utah
Two hundred students from SoundHouse were joined on stage by the lead singer from Neon Trees, Tyler Glenn, an original member of the Saturday Night Live Band, Tom “Bones” Malone and world-class saxophonist, Marc Russo.
Standing up in front row (left to right): Gov Cox, Caleb Chapman, Huey Lewis, Adam Reader, and Tom “Bones” Malone. (Heather Kelly, KSL NewsRadio)
Together they performed twenty songs from Huey Lewis and The News.
Lewis was also presented with a plaque inducting him into the People’s Music Hall of Fame.
Hear the entire news conference below, on the Money Making Sense podcast.
