The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (MMHF) held its induction ceremony on Friday at Turner Hall. The new inductees included Virgil E. C. “Swede” Wagner, the Chatfield Brass Band & Library, Cathy Erickson, “Cornbread” Harris, Rick Keane, Chan Poling, and the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale.

The induction celebration continued on Saturday at the MMHF museum with a special open house, allowing visitors to view the new displays for the newly inducted members. Several of the new inductees and their families attended the open house.

Chandler “Chan” Poling is a Twin Cities-based pianist and composer known as the leader of the Minneapolis punk/new wave band “The Suburbs,” which was co-founded in 1977. “The Suburbs” released several albums on major labels. In 2005, Poling formed ‘The New Standards,’ a jazz trio that interprets a variety of songs.

Poling continues to compose for musical theater, including award-winning pieces for Theatre de la Jeune Lune. His notable works include the musical Glensheen and the score for the documentary Iron Range: A People’s History, which won an Emmy Award.

New MMHF inductee Cornbread Harris plays Whoopie John’s piano at the hall of fame museum Saturday.

Poling’s son, Chandler Poling Jr., accepted the award on behalf of his father at the induction ceremony. He said his father was currently working on a new musical in New York and was unable to make it.

Poling Jr. said he appreciated accepting the award for his father as he grew up around music. His father was “deeply honored and is grateful for the board for this opportunity to be included the pantheon of musical talent in this wonderful state.”

Rick Keane, a Pine Island native known for playing the trumpet. His first paying musical gig was at 14 years old. He worked with many local bands throughout high school. Keane was able to earn his way through college playing trumpet in different bands. After college, he continued to play regularly–sometimes playing three gigs a week. Keane even played with fellow 2026 inductees The Chatfield Brass Band and was on the first board of directors for the Brass Band. Keane has played the Minnesota Governor’s mansion, Viking games and dozens of performances at the Minnesota State Fair, polka festivals and countless wedding ceremonies.

In accepting his induction, Keane said he was humbled to receive the award and was very thankful for all the people who made it possible. He thanked all the people and groups that allowed him to play trumpet and supported him as a young man. He also thanked the people who attended the dances, concerts and celebrations in which he played.

Keane would attend the MMHF museum open house on Saturday. In touring the museum, Keane said it was very humbling to be included with so many Minnesota greats. Keane was happy to say he performed with many of the previous inductees.

Cornbread Harris was joined by Cadillac Kolstad during the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame open house showcase Saturday. The two entertained guests with a dual performance on Whoopie John’s piano.

The Twin Cities Catholic Chorale was founded by Monsignor Richard J. Schuler in 1956. The Chorale has performed regularly at The Church of Saint Agnes in the heart of St. Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood since it was founded. Their repertoire includes Masses written by Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Dvorak, Gounod, Cherubini, Rheinberger, and are performed by a choir of more than 60 singers with orchestral and organ accompaniment.

Chorale board of directors Mark Pilon and Chorale music director Marc Jaros accepted the award during the ceremony.

Pilon credited Msg. Schuler for having the vision to start the Chorale, which they intend to keep going forward.

Jaros thanked the MMHF for recognizing the Chorale and making them a part of the Hall’s great conditions. He said this induction was a great tribute to the composers of the music they perform in addition to the hundreds of singers who have sung with the Chorale since 1956.

James “Cornbread” Harris is a blues singer, pianist and composer in the Twin Cities. He is recognized as a pioneer of Minnesota rock ‘n’ roll and is the father of 2016 MMHF inductee Jimmy Jam. Harris is now recognized as a key figure in the development of the “Minneapolis Sound.” His repertoire includes blues, jazz, and rock, and he continues to perform in Minneapolis nightclubs even as he nears his 99th birthday on April 23.

Mark Pilon (left) and Marc Jaros (right), representing The Twin Cities Catholic Chorale explore the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame museum Saturday during the new inductee showcase. The Twin Cities Catholic Chorale was one of seven new inductees to the hall this year. Pilon and Jaros were excited to see their organization join the hall. “We’re in great company,” Pilon said pointing to the other previous inductees. Jaros said he had performed with some of the previous inductees during his college days and it was wonderful to be included in the same hall of fame. Pilon and Jaros praised New Ulm for what it had done to honor music.

Harris attended the induction ceremony in person. In accepting his award, Harris remained humble, saying he didn’t want big on bragging about himself; he just played the piano.

“I’ll brag with my fingers,” Harris said.

Harris would give a piano performance Saturday at the MMHF museum along with one his former apprentices, Cadillac Kolstad. The two played a duet on Whoopie John’s piano.

Cathy Erickson, is a veteran old-time accordionist and bandleader from Middle River, Minnesota. The Cathy Erickson Band has become a renowned national recording band with over 50 years of experience with accordion music. The Cathy Erickson Band has played for dances, county fairs, polka services at different churches throughout the area, and with residents at nursing homes and group homes. The band has performed across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, Arizona, Wisconsin, Canada, and on a Caribbean cruise. Erickson also hosts three different radio programs on KSRQ Pioneer 90.1FM radio in Thief River Falls, and has earned a statewide AMPERS award for her volunteer efforts on the air.

In accepting the award, Erickson said she has enjoyed playing old-time music and thanked her family for supporting her career. She also thanked the New Ulm community because her first date with her husband was at a Whoopie John concert, who is a New Ulm native and another MMHF inductee.

The McClellan family, relatives of 2026 Minnesota Music Hall of Fame inductee Swede Wagner gather around his display case during the hall of fame’s showcase Saturday. The McClellans were excited to see their relative honored. In photo left to right: Deb McClellan, Greta McClellan, David McClellan, Amy McClellan, Liam McClellan and Connor McClellan.

The Chatfield Brass Band is a community band with brass, woodwind and percussion musicians from southeast Minnesota. The band’s first rehearsal was held in 1969. As the band’s reputation grew, they began holding 30 concerts a year, including appearances at the Minnesota State Fair.

In 1973, the Brass Band requested high schools to send extra sheet music to expand their library of music selections. This led to the creation of the Chatfield Music Lending Library. Today, the library has over 50,000 pieces of instrumental music, many of which are no longer printed. The collection continues to grow and is available for lending to bands and musicians around the world.

Chatfield Brass Band director Carmen Narveson accepted the award for the band by bringing a life size cutout of Jim Perkins, who originally organized the band and library. Narveson said what Perkins did was no small feat.

Narveson thanked all the members of the band who volunteer their time to make it a success.

“This organization is successful and thrives because they place a high value on community and relationships,” she said.

Ninety-nine year old legendary Minneapolis blues singer and pianist James “Cornbread” Harris receives his Minnesota Music Hall of Fame induction plaque during Friday’s induction ceremony at Turner Hall. Harris made a short speech while receiving the award. He said that he not big on bragging, he just plays the piano and lets his “fingers do the bragging.”

Jerel Nielsen, the lending library manager, said in receiving the award he felt like he was walking among giants in the Minnesota music scene.

Nielsen said in the past few years, the library has lended music to 24 different countries to help them play concerts. Most recently, they were contacted by a band in Iceland.

“We’re making an impact worldwide,” Nielsen said, “We continue to add more to this collection of music and it isn’t going to end anytime soon.”

Virgil E. C. “Swede” Wagner was a trumpeter, violinist, bandleader, arranger and a New Ulm native. His brother Babe Wagner, was inducted into the MMHF in 1992. After Babe Wagner died in 1949. Prior to that, the group was called the Babe Wagner Band. Among their best-known music was making a recording of “Hot Jazz” with his brother Babe in the mid-40s.

Swede Wagner took up the violin late in life after he was diagnosed with mouth cancer and could no longer play the trumpet.

Swede Wagner’s great nephew, David McClellan of Elk River, accepted the award during the ceremony. McClellan said it was a tremendous honor to represent his family and accept this recognition for his uncle, Swede. He said it was wonderful to see Swede join his brother in the MMHF.

McClellan said he has memories of Swede showing him and his siblings the different array of instruments and playing each masterfully.

He thanked the MMHF for including and recognizing his uncle’s contribution to the Minnesota music world, saying his family was profoundly grateful.

The MMHF is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday through Saturday from April through October 31 and is located at 27 N Broadway St, New Ulm, Minnesota.

The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame museum held a special open house Saturday following Friday’s induction of new members. Saturday was the first chance for the public to see new displays on the 2026 inductees, Cathy Erickson, Swede Wagner, Rick Keane, The Twin Cities Catholic Chorale, The Chatfield Brass Band, Chan Poling and Cornbread Harris.