P-Funk founder George Clinton, Tiki Barber, Jill Biden among nominees for NJ Hall of Fame
The New Jersey Hall of Fame might be getting considerably more funky this year.
George Clinton, the former Newark resident who founded the group Parliament Funkadelic in a Plainfield barber shop, is on the New Jersey Hall Of Fame Class of 2023 nominee list that can be voted on by the public until May 19.
Fifty Jersey natives, or those with connections to the Garden State, are in five categories. Other nominees include actor Paul Rudd, football player Tiki Barber, first lady Jill Biden, Joe Walsh of the Eagles, and the late TV personality and chef Anthony Bourdain.
Last year, Clinton was honored in Plainfield and Newark as part of an 80th birthday celebration. Five blocks of Plainfield Avenue in Plainfield, where his Silk Palace barbershop used to stand, was renamed “Parliament Funkadelic Way” by the city. The music room at Avon Avenue School in Newark, where Clinton attended, was renamed the George Clinton Music Room.
Clinton and P-Funk were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, and they play the Wellmont Theater in Montclair on Aug. 19. Tickets, starting at $34, are on sale via Ticketmaster.
As for New Jersey Hall of Fame voting, the individuals receiving the most votes in each category will be inducted following approval of Hall of Fame's board of directors, who will then determine who else should be inducted, according to the Hall of Fame.
Honorees will be inducted in October. The hall is scheduled to move to the American Dream retail and amusement center at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford.
Below are the 50 nominees with short bios provided by the Hall. Visit njhalloffame.org for more info.
More: George Clinton honored in Plainfield, Newark: P-Funk founder retraces his roots in big day
New Jersey. Hall of Fame 2023 nominees
Arts & Letters
Amiri Baraka: A writer of poetry, drama, fiction, essays and music criticism.
Janet Evanovich: A writer with 17 books appearing on The New York Times Bestseller List.
Thomas Fleming: A best-selling historian, and novelist of such books as "The Officers’ Wives" and "Now We Are Enemies."
Susan Hendricks: A former anchor for HLN and substitute anchor for CNN.
John McPhee: A writer credited as one of the pioneers of creative nonfiction.
George Segal: Pop Art painter and sculptor whose studio was in South Brunswick.
Col. John Stevens, III: A lawyer, engineer and inventor who constructed the first U.S. steam locomotive.
George A. Tice: A photographer whose work depicted a broad range of life, landscape and urban environment, mainly in New Jersey.
Dr. George Theophilus Walker: A composer, pianist and organist, and the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
Edmund Wilson: A writer, literary critic and journalist.
Enterprise
Paul Cancro: Founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems Inc.
George Cooney: Creative innovator, who has directed Clio award-winning campaigns.
Dennis Foy: An influential and renowned chef.
Lillian Gilbreth: A psychologist, industrial engineer, consultant and educator.
Janice Huff: A chief meteorologist on WNBC.
Denise Morrison: A business executive who served as president and CEO of Campbell Soup Company.
Mario Perillo: A businessman and chairman of Perillo Tours, Inc.
Dr. Leon G. Smith: A well-known and respected infectious disease specialist.
Finn Wentworth: An entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor in major commercial real estate and sports ventures.
Josh Weston: The former CEO of ADP and notable philanthropist.
Performing Arts
Anthony Bourdain: Celebrity chef, author and travel documentarian.
George Clinton: Musician, singer, bandleader and record producer; most known for his work with the Parliament-Funkadelic collective.
Brian De Palma: A director and screenwriter on films such as "Scarface," "The Untouchables," "Carlito’s Way" and "Carrie."
Celeste Holm: A stage, film and television actress who was recognized with an Academy Award for her performance in Elia Kazan’s “Gentleman’s Agreement.”
Marilyn McCoo: A singer, actress and television presenter, best known for being the lead female vocalist in the group the 5th Dimension.
Tony Orlando: A singer whose career spans over 60 years, best known for his work as part of Tony Orlando and Dawn.
Paul Rudd: An actor best known for roles in “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” “I Love You Man,” “This is 40,” “Ant Man” and more.
Eva Marie Saint: An actress of film, theater, radio and television who was recognized with an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Phoebe Snow: A roots music singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for her hit 1974 and 1975 songs “San Francisco Bay Blues,” “Poetry Man” and “Harpo’s Blues.”
Joe Walsh: A guitarist, singer and songwriter of three successful rock bands: James Gang, Eagles, and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.
Public Service
Steve Adubato, Sr.: A politician and founder of the Robert Treat Academy Charter School in Newark.
Dr. Jill Biden: First lady of the United States.
William Cahill: A politician, lawyer and academic who served as the 46th governor of New Jersey from 1970 to 1974.
Michael Chertoff: An attorney and the second U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security to serve under President George W. Bush.
Charles Edison: Son of Thomas Edison, Charles was a politician, businessman, inventor and animal behaviorist who served as the 42nd governor of New Jersey from 1941 to 1944.
William Livingston: A politician and lawyer who served as the first governor of New Jersey.
Peter W. Rodino: A politician who represented parts of Newark and surrounding counties for 20 terms, from 1949 to 1989.
George Shultz: An economist, businessman, diplomat, statesman, and one of only two persons to have held four different Cabinet-level posts.
Richard Stockton: A Founding Father, lawyer, jurist, legislator, and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Christine Todd Whitman: A politician and author who served as the 50th governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001.
Sports
Tiki Barber: A former professional football player who was a running back for the New York Giants for 10 seasons.
Dick Button: Former figure skater, two-time Olympic champion, and five-time consecutive world champion.
Orel Hershiser: A former pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1983 to 2000.
Lou Lamoriello: A professional ice hockey executive who is the president of hockey operations and general manager for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League.
Jim Nantz: A sportscaster who has worked on telecasts of the NFL, NCAA Division I men’s basketball, the NBA, and the PGA Tour for CBS Sports since the 1980s.
Sal Paolantonio: A veteran NFL reporter for ESPN for shows such as "SportsCenter," "NFL Live" and "Sunday NFL Countdown."
Drew Pearson: A professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys.
Kathy Schachel: An inductee of the BMX Hall of Fame, with world, national and European championships.
Paul Tagliabue: A lawyer who was the commissioner of the NFL from 1989 to 2006.
Sue Wicks: A basketball player in the WNBA who played with the New York Liberty from 1997 to 2002.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ Hall of Fame nominee list includes George Clinton, Tiki Barber
