New England Music Hall of Fame inducts June Millington and Cherie Currie 

New England Music Hall of Fame inducts June Millington and Cherie Currie

“Always support women, when you do that you are healing a big psychic pain of generations of women who could not be heard” Grammy Award-winning Paula Cole’s statement during her induction to the New England Music Hall of Fame in 2021 has inspired the organization to emphasize supporting women’s music by preserving their history.  Paula’s last album “American Quilt” was recently considered for a Grammy nomination. You can watch her induction here.

The New England Music Hall of Fame (NEMHOF) stands on a mission to “Promote, preserve, educate, and unite the integrity of New England’s music and the people who represent it”. NEMHOF was founded in 2019 by filmmaker Christopher Annino, Drummer Kathy Steahle, Pro Wrestler Angel Orsini, and actress Kadrolsha Ona Carole.

History was made on April 8, 2022, in Boxborough, MA when trailblazers June Millington, along with her band Fanny, Cherie Currie, along with The Runaways, were officially recognized by a Hall of Fame. The New England Music Hall of Fame inducted them both in a ceremony that evening, right before a showing of the documentary “Fanny: The Right to Rock”.  Christopher Annino and Kathy Steahle, along with Liz Borden of Lizzie Borden and the Axes, gave speeches to both icons as their awards were given. The physical awards were handcrafted out of pieces of New England history.

Watch as these pioneers accept their honors, and hear the testimonials of attendees.

The main show of the weekend was a collaboration of talented women.  The Red Riding Hoods were a band of musicians who came together to accompany the likes of Cherie Currie, June Millington, and Liz Borden.  Composed of Tia Mayhem, Tamora Gooding, Magen Tracy, Michelle Morgan, and Justine Covault, these women crossed genre and generation lines to come together.  They played the biggest hits, like “Cherry Bomb”, and some newer tracks like “Play Like A Girl”.  After the planned set, June wasn’t done. She gave the band a quick 2 minute tutorial on stage and they all played one last song together.

Fanny broke down all gender barriers by being the first all-female band signed with a major record label. The band helped inspire the next generation of female music artists. Along with Ann Hackler, Filipino born June is also the co-founder of the Institute for the Music Arts in Goshen, Mass www.ima.org. They run a music camp for girls ranging in ages from 9-24 at their property, where they work on expanding their musical knowledge and abilities. June was inducted to NEMHOF in the categories of pioneer, musician, and songwriter.

The Runways were the next generation of women in music after Fanny. The band consisted of Sandy West, Jackie Fox, Cherie Currie, Lita Ford, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Joan Jett. Cherie was inducted into the new category of influencer. Although she is not from New England, she has strong ties to the area and New England bands such as Stormstress and Lizzie Borden and the Axes.

A special thank you to Nebula Music Nexus for helping us capture this momentous occasion.