Dr. Kenji Hamada addresses government officials at Tuscumbia City Hall
COLBERT COUNTY – When State Representative Johnny Mack Morrow was introduced to Dr. Hamada up in Chicago a year-or-so back, neither man suspected that the prospects for Muscle Shoals Music were taking a big uptick. It didn’t seem likely at all.
Johnny Mack was in Chicago with his Optometric Physician wife, Martha for a conference. So, they were in this pizza place on the Loop. The restaurant was filled, and Dr. Kenji Hamada and his wife, also in town for the conference, appeared at the entrance for dinner. But there was nowhere to sit. Martha saw them and hailed them over to the table to have a pie with her and Johnny Mack. The pizza was tasty, but the prospects for the Shoals were even better. That was the night that the Morrows and the Hamadas started working on Camp Courage, a project for children through the Helen Keller Foundation. This alone would have been a major accomplishment. (Camp Courage Story – LINK)
The story, however, doesn’t end with Camp Courage. Dr. Hamada, Kenji… Loves Muscle Shoals Music. One might say that the man is quite obsessed with the music (don’t try to compete with him on trivia). Hamada recently sold his interest in some optometric supply businesses, as well as other interests, and has some time now to focus on the Shoals’ music heritage.
He was in town Friday to present his ideas on helping the troubled Alabama Music Hall of Fame regain its footing. The Hall closed for a time a year and a half ago, and thanks to the renewed interest in our music heritage because of the movie “MUSCLE SHOALS”, the State of Alabama made some funding available to reopen the museum.
Dr. Kenji Hamada discusses prospects with Tuscumbia Mayor Billy Shoemaker
But the money’s not going to last forever, and the Hall Board of Directors is going to need to figure something out pretty quick.
Faye Johnson, Dr. Kenji Hamada, David Johnson
That’s where Hamada comes in. Kenji calls Muscle Shoals a “Gem in the history of Rock and Roll”.
On Friday, Hamada presented some forward-thinking ideas to local government folks and interested parties in the Quad Cities. After his presentation at Tuscumbia City Hall, he addressed the Hall of Fame Board of Directors with his vision for the future. He also pledged to put his money into the project to get the private sector funding process started.
Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow, Dr. Kenji Hamada, Mayor Billy Shoemaker, Mayor Ian Sanford
Note that a number of things Dr. Hamada indicated have been already identified as “needs-and-wants” for the Hall of Fame.
Dr. Kenji Hamada addresses Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board of Directors
But what seemed to impress the folks who heard his presentation, were that a man from the other side of America was interested enough to fly into Alabama and offer to help in a material way.
He put the ball squarely in the court of the Hall of Fame Board.
Alabama Tourism Director Lee Sentell, Board Member Judy Hood, Dr. Kenji Hamada
