MECHANIC FALLS — Maine country musicians, Dan Brayall, Joan Kennedy, Mike Preston, and Bill Thibodeau, will be inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame at the 47th Annual Induction Ceremony and Show on Sunday, May 19 at 1 p.m. at the Silver Spur, 272 Lewiston Street in Mechanic Falls. The live music event will showcase performances by the four new inductees and other legendary Maine Country Music Hall of Famers.

Dan Brayall, born in Dexter, Maine, started his musical career in high school. His first band was the ‘Sundowners’ where he backed up Dave Dudley at Nashville North in Bangor. Later he joined the band ‘Rodeo’ opening for George Jones and playing backup for Johnny Carver. ‘Rodeo’ reformed as ‘Nashville Run’ becoming the house band for Nashville North for many years. The band opened for Dottie West and Louise Mandrell at several state fairs. Brayall later performed with ‘She and I’ and ‘Ruckus.’ In the 90s, Brayall hosted Dick Stacey’s Jamboree in Brewer, Maine, and performed locally on television. Brayall moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue songwriting, where he recorded an album of originals. He also played for many years at the Opryland Hotel.

Joan Kennedy is a Portland-based singer/songwriter with a career that spans 36 years. She won her first national talent contest in 1983 and after issuing her first album, ‘I’m a Big Girl Now’ she started her professional career in 1984. Joan has been nominated for many awards and was the recipient of the Canadian Country Music Association Humanitarian Award for her work with the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She is the recipient of the East Coast Music Association Entertainer of the Year Award and is a member of the New Brunswick Music Hall of Fame. Joan performs with the ‘Joan Kennedy Trio’ and in her all-female duo playing original and cover songs, blending country, pop, and folk music.

Mike Preston, the youngest to ever be inducted into the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame, began performing at the age of four. At age 10 he purchased his first guitar, taught himself how to play, and picked up pointers from experienced musicians. His professional career began at age 13 with a performance at the Roost in Buxton, Maine. He performed with Dick Curless, Kenny Roberts, Betty Cody, Slim Clark, Al McHale, Al Hawkes, and Rusty Rogers on both TV and radio. He also learned to yodel. Preston shared the stage with The Charlie Daniels Band, Ricky van Shelton, Mark Collie, and George Jones. His first band was ‘Young Country’ and he was later lead guitarist for ‘Buckstop.’ Preston has received several awards and also did the Nashville, Tennessee nightclub circuit. Preston’s career encompasses 280 performances
annually. He has recorded seven traditional country albums and is a BMI-registered writer and publisher.

Bill Thibodeau is one of Maine’s most prolific and successful bluegrass performers. He was active in top-notch bands for 30 years and has resided in Maine for 42 years. The son of Hall of Famer Sam Tidwell, Thibodeau performed with ‘North Country Bluegrass,’ ‘Sam Tidwell and the Kennebec Valley Fold,’ ‘Bluegrass Supply Company,’ ‘Breakneck Mountain Band,’ ‘Stan Tyminski and Blue Diamond,’ ‘The Union River Band’ and ‘Anna Mae Mitchell and Rising Tide.’ Thibodeau also managed, trained, and promoted the ‘Mueller Family Band’ and operated two Bangor-based recording studios. Thibodeau founded the ‘Descendants of Bluegrass’ and the ‘Bill Thibodeau Band’ before joining ‘Rock Hearts’ in 2018 which rose to the top of New England bluegrass bands. Thibodeau has appeared on 14 albums and over a dozen singles with significant radio airplay.

In addition to inducting its new members at this show, the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame will also introduce the winner of its 3rd Annual Maine Country Music Hall of Fame Student Guitar Competition. The Maine Country Music Hall of Fame was founded in 1978. The Museum, established in 2008, is the only Country Music Hall of Fame museum east of Nashville. The 3000-square foot space in the lower level of the Silver Spur is an amazing showcase for thousands of historic memorabilia accumulated over the decades, bringing to life and preserving the legacy of over 160 inductees from the State of Maine. The Museum, downstair at the Silver Spur will be open free to the public from 10 a.m. to noon and after the show. The 47th Annual Induction Ceremony will take place at the Silver Spur on Sunday, May 19, at 1 p.m. at 272 Lewiston St, Mechanic Falls. Tickets are general seating (unreserved) and available at the door day of the show for $15. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. The snack bar will be open. This is a family-friendly event. For more information call 207-613-5411, email mariaholloway207@gmail.com, or follow the Maine Country Music Hall of Fame on Facebook. The Maine Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural organization.

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