Bruce Guthro, Rankin Family, Donnie Campbell inducted into Cape Breton Music Hall of Fame

The Rankin Family and Bruce Guthro among this year’s Cape Breton Music Hall of Fame Inductees.

The Cape Breton Music Industry Hall of Fame just got bigger with the announcement of three new members on Monday.

One inductee is a man many have missed since he died following a battle with cancer about a year-and-a-half ago: singer-songwriter Bruce Guthro.

“He was always going to be a very early inductee and member to the Hall of Fame, so it’s sad that he’s not here to enjoy it but it’s also happy that we get to honour his contribution,” said Marc Botte, president of the Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative, which oversees the Hall of Fame.

The famed sibling band the Rankin Family is also entering the Hall of Fame.

“This one is pretty special, and I know my siblings feel the same,” said former band member and longtime solo recording artist Jimmy Rankin. “This is home turf.”

This year’s final inductee is Donnie Campbell, who has been hosting the musical radio show Celtic Serenade for the past 51 years.

Campbell’s basement recording studio features a wall-to-wall library with thousands of records of more than 50 years of Cape Breton music.

“Other than feeling old, it’s great,” Campbell said with a laugh when asked about the Hall of Fame induction. “No, it’s quite an honour. (The show has) evolved over the years, and it still amazes me how popular it is - I’m being vain now - and it’s from all ages - they say, from nine to 90.”

The Hall of Fame is turning three years old this year. It has previously inducted Rita MacNeil, Matt Minglewood, the Men of the Deeps, John Allan Cameron, Winston Scotty Fitzgerald and Joella Foulds.

One of the goals with the money raised is to put musical instruments into the hands of youth who might not otherwise have access to them.

“We need to develop the next generation of Cape Breton talent, so proceeds from the Hall of Fame go towards various community projects,” Botte said.

The three latest hall of famers will be formally inducted during a gala and live concert on June 19 at Sydney’s Centre 200.

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