FIREFALL INDUCTED INTO THE COLORADO MUSIC HALL OF FAME 1/9/15

 

FIREFALL was inducted into the "Colorado Music Hall Of Fame" on January 9, 2015 at a gala concert event at the Paramount Theater in Denver, CO.  The induction class that night were four very successful and influential groups that way back, had called Colorado home: FIREFALL, THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND, POCO and STEPHEN STILLS & MANASSAS!!  Leader of the band Firefall, Jock Bartley, said "What an absolute honor to be inducted as a part of this class!  Four amazing groups from Colorado who had made their marks out in the wide world and shook up the national and international musical scenes, each in their own unique fashion."

 

The event began with Chuck Morris (from AEG and C.M.H. O.F. Director) introducing Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, who spoke about this music's affect on him back in the day.  Then came the STEPHEN STILLS and MANASSAS TRIBUTE (Stephen and Chris Hillman could not attend).  The tribute featured RICHIE FURAY (Poco & Buffalo Springfield), JEFF HANNA (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), JOCK BARTLEY (Firefall & Gram Parsons and the Fallen Angels) and rising star NATHANIAL RATELIFF singing three Manassas songs including Stephen's 'Colorado' and 'Johnny's Garden'.

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Then came FIREFALL!!  After a seven minute 'retrospective film' about how the band met and formed in 1974 in Boulder (soon to be on-line here), FIREFALL was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame by comedian and Animal Planet 'TV Vet', Kevin Fitzgerald.  Onto the stage walked MARK ANDES, JOCK BARTLEY, DAVID MUSE - three original and current 2015 members of the band - and original members RICK ROBERTS and LARRY BURNETT, the two lead singer / songwriters who brought such great tunes and vocals to the group.  Also coming on stage was Debbie Dubois, the sister of Firefall's original drummer, the late great MICHAEL CLARKE, who's life-size black & white photograph stood on stage during the induction proceedings and show.  What a moment, not only for the sold-out crowd, but for the band members and creators of that incredible musical synergy that became simply known as 'The Colorado Sound.'  FIREFALL received thunderous applause, getting recognition for the music they'd made and impact they'd had on the regional, national and internation music industry.  And going on forty (40!!) years later, they're still going strong.

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During the band's 45 minute set, Jock, David and Mark were joined on stage by singer/guitarist STEVEN WEINMEISTER (20+ years in the band), drummer SANDY FICCA (nearly 30 years in the band) and conga player/percussionist, TUDIE CALDERON, from Aspen.  Rick Roberts and Larry Burnett had both chosen, because of some health concerns and limited rehearsal time, to watch from the audience.  On stage the group's performance was tight, powerful and emotional.  "We were ON and the crowd was right there with us," Jock said. "I made sure to honor Rick and Larry numerous times between songs, because without the incredible songs the wrote and vocal blend they had, there would've been no big success, no gold and platinum records, no Colorado Hall of Fame induction."