Function Magazine

The Country Music Hall of Fame (CMF) intends to preserve and protect country music and educate its audiences. Located in Nashville, Tennessee it serves wider clientele connected to the country music industry. Started in 1961 honoring Jimmie Rogers, Fred Rose and Hank Williams, The CMF continued to honor many country artists over decades. Some of its more recent well- known inductees includes Kenny Rogers, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Jimmy Dean, Roy Clerk and many others. The Country Music Association (CMA) created CMF to recognize individuals for their contribution to the cause. A CMA’s Panels of Electors who are anonymous members appointed by the CMA Board selects all inductees. They hold Medallion Ceremony at the facility to pay tribute to inductees through words and songs. A bronze plaque is unveiled for each inductee and displays at the museum rotunda.

The 2014 inductees were disclosed on April 22, 2014 based three categories; modern area category, veteran era category and songwriter category. To be nominated and selected as a modern era category, the inductee must have received national prominence more than 20 years ago. Veteran category inductees require receiving national prominence more than 45 years ago. CMA and CMF provides avenues and recognize talent in the field of country music.

A famous American disc jockey, Casey Kasem died on June 27, 2014. He was a TV and radio personality, voice actor as well as an actor. But he is well known for his American Top 40 that aired from 1970 to until his retirement in 2009. He is also the voice of “Shaggy” Rogers in Scooby-Doo. He wore many hats famous and not so famous. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Kemal Amen “Casey” Kasem’s parents were Lebanese Druze immigrants. He began his broadcasting career in Flint, Michigan after the war and it took him all over the US. After settling down in Los Angeles, California his career began to bloom. Along with several others he started the American Top 40 in July 1970.

In 2013, his family revealed that he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease since 2007. Later he was also diagnosed with Lewy body dementia a close cousin of Parkinson’s. They together made him unable to speak and after a lengthy fight among family members for care and custody, he died on June 6, 2014 at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington. He received his star on Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1981.

The 1939 American musical production of the Wizard of Oz will celebrate its 75th anniversary in August 2014. The whimsical classic production by the Metro Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) was based on a well-known novel of 1900 by L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The movie adaptation based on the novel was first played at the Grumman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. People lined up the street to get a glimpse of Judy Garland, Toro the dog, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley and many others. The whimsical classic made history with its Technicolor, storytelling, unusual characters, musical score, and became a part of popular American culture. It is the most watched movie ever.

At the time of the release movie production cost totaled more the $2.7 million and the revenue totaled just over $3 million. It was the most expensive movie production by MGM at the time. However, the November 3, 1956 television introduction of the movie on CBS led to an annual tradition of watching the movie. It won several Academy Awards including the Best Song and the Best Original Music Score but lost the Best Movie Award to another MGM film, Gone with the Wind. The movie has many other notable recognition to its credit.