Jimmy Valiant inducted into the New England Music Hall of Fame Class of 2025
It was founded in 2019 by international award-winning filmmaker Christopher Annino and ECW original Angel Orsini of New Jersey. The New England Music Hall of Fame (NEMHOF) is a Connecticut-based business.
Its mission is to “unite, educate, heal, influence, promote and preserve the integrity of New England’s music and the people who embody it. We want to embrace, build, and heal people through music.”
On February 15, 2025, at 5 p.m., the official NEMHOF induction ceremony will be at The Vault in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The event will include a food drive for PACE and a 50/50 raffle for the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network. Please bring a non-perishable item or canned goods.
Special guest presenters that evening will include the voice of Charlie Brown Duncan Watson, Detroit Debbie, former Mrs. Rhode Island Marie Catherine Parente, Renee Leavitt, Frankie Justin, Michael Parente, NEMHOF inductees The Fools, Liz Borden, Mach Bell, and Nancy Burns-Fusaro among others.
The other inductees include Hirsh Gardner, Cliff Goodwin (Joe Cocker), New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee Don Vega, Army National Guard veteran/pro wrestler Ralph Squillante Jr., John Ippolito, DJ Gadget, author Vikki Vine, NEMHOF owner Vanessa Marchewka, and Senator Heather Somers.
Tickets are available.
The 2025 NEMHOF inductees include such big names as Grammy-nominated Jon Butcher, Doug Wimbish (Living Color), Chris Brubeck, The B-52’s, Kennedy Center Honoree Dave Brubeck, Joey Melotti, Roomful of Blues, Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth, Nammy award winner Felepe Rose (Village People), Canadian singer/songwriter Stompin Tom Connors, Charlie Farren (Joe Perry Project), David Hull ( Aerosmith, Joe Perry Project), Grammy Nominated, Broadway producers Tom and Michael D Angora, Broadway singer’s Maya Days (Law and Order), Mary Callanan (Mama Mia), Sal Baglio, Joe Pet (Joe Perry Project), BJ Snowden, Michael Tunes Antunes (John Cafferty &the Beaver Brown Band), D-Tension, Freddie Mercury (Queen), Emmy Award Winning Charles Ives, Toads Place, & WWE hall of Fame Inductee Boogie Woogie Man Handsome Jimmy Valiant.
The inductions can be seen on ECUSA TV or the app.
Jimmy Valiant inducted into the New England Music Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Throughout his 50-plus-year career, Jimmy Valiant has been known as a trainer, mentor, singles wrestler, manager, tag team specialist, author, actor, and singer.
Jimmy Valiant released a music album titled “Boogie Jam.” The album showcased his love for rock ‘n’ roll and added another dimension to his multifaceted career. “Son Of a Gypsy” written by fellow WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Jimmy Hart.
The New England Music Hall of Fame was recently featured in Yahoo News for inducting the band, the Monkees. Beyond the ring, Valiant has been actively involved in various charitable endeavors.
He has dedicated his time and resources to supporting causes such as children’s hospitals and organizations promoting the well-being of underprivileged children. He and his wife Angel opened Boogies Wrestling Camp.
September of 1992 in Shawsville, Virginia. Jimmy is being inducted into the New England Music Hall of Fame for his influential contributions in pro wrestling and music.
During the late 1970s – early 1980s, Valiant was a central player in the Memphis, Tennessee wrestling scene. He feuded regularly with Jerry Lawler and teamed with Bill Dundee to dominate the tag team matches of that time.
He even recorded a song, “The Ballad of Handsome Jimmy,” that began, “I’ve been rolling into Mempho … TWA … ell all the women Handsome Jimmy’s on the way…” The song was used in wrestling arenas as his entry music, and it became a mainstay on some Memphis radio stations for a few years.
In the early 1980s, Valiant returned as a babyface to NWA’s Jim Crockett Promotions as “Boogie Woogie Man” Jimmy Valiant and called his fans “The Street People”. His theme music around this time was “Boy From New York City”, by The Manhattan Transfer.
While in Jim Crockett Promotions, he would sometimes appear in a black bandit-style mask and call himself “Charlie Brown from Outta Town.” This usually occurred when Valiant was (in kayfabe) “banned” from wrestling.
“Charlie Brown” was billed as someone other than Valiant, despite “Brown” having Valiant’s legendarily prodigious beard. Throughout Jimmy’s career, he has wrestled for every major pro wrestling promotion.
