Boyz II Men brings hit songs to Fayetteville as hometown stars are celebrated

Celebrating the illustrious careers of two music men and a beloved actress — all three of them natives of Fayetteville — the Fayetteville Performing Arts Hall of Fame inducted its 16^th annual class of honorees on Saturday night.

Music producer Robert Deaton, television and film actress Elizabeth MacRae, and musician Bill Curtis were recognized for lifetime achievement.

The induction was held before Grammy Award-winning R&B trio Boyz II Men took the stage for a Community Concerts season finale at the Crown Theatre.

Community Concerts, Fayetteville’s oldest arts organization, was established in 1935. It added the Fayetteville Music Hall of Fame in 2008 to honor those who bring distinction to the community. Past honorees have included Bo Thorp, Charlotte Blume, the 82^nd Airborne All American Chorus and Joy Cogswell.

The hall was renamed the Fayetteville Performing Arts Hall of Fame this year.

Fayetteville natives return home for honors.

End of the road? Not for Boyz II Men.

The crowd cheered as Bill Kirby Jr., president of Community Concerts and emcee for the awards ceremony, introduced Curtis, MacRae and Deaton.

Toni Stewart, chair of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, read a proclamation celebrating the inductees.

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The first award was presented to Bill Curtis, founder of Bill Curtis and the Fatback Band. He was celebrated as a musical visionary who performed funk and disco music as well as rap in the 1970s and 1980s with hits including “(Are You Ready?) Do the Bus Stop” and “King Tim III (Personality Jock).”

Curtis, who is 90, said he tried to keep funk and Black music alive.

“He’s been a great secret to Fayetteville,” said Richard Bradford, who knew Curtis in high school. “Most people don’t realize that this is his hometown. He is not only one of the first rap artists, he really could be considered the godfather of line dances with the Bus Stop.”

Elizabeth MacRae was the second inductee honored.

MacRae, 87, said before the ceremony that it had been the most amazing welcome home that she has ever had.

“Fayetteville is my home. This is where my friends and family live, and I’m never leaving again. My whole history is here, and this means the world to me,” MacRae said before going onstage to accept what she considers to be her lifetime achievement award.

Her nephew James MacRae III said the induction is a resounding honor for the family.

“Our family is known in this area for being lawyers and judges, but here is Aunt Betsy being recognized for being a movie star. It’s a highlight for our family,” said James MacRae.

MacRae’s list of accomplishments includes featured and recurring roles on more than 31 popular TV shows such as “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.,” “Gunsmoke” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” She also was featured in the 1974 film “The Conversation” with Gene Hackman.

In her “second career,” she has a certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor. Locally, she starred in Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s 2002 production of “Picnic.”

Robert Deaton, the third inductee Saturday night, grew up in the Briar Hills neighborhood playing in garage bands and left for Nashville shortly after graduating from Terry Sanford High School in 1980.

Deaton, 61, is a music producer who has received two Emmy Awards and recently produced a tribute to the Rolling Stones. He credits Fayetteville with providing a focus on the arts.

“Growing up, I had all of these ideas, creativity just bursting out of the seams,” Deaton said. “And coming back full circle to my hometown to get this award, it’s validation of a job well done. They say 10,000 hours makes you an expert. Well, it should be more like 100,000 hours, but my 10,000 hours started here. I live in Nashville, but I’m from Fayetteville.”

Presenting the award to Deaton, Kirby said the past four decades of his music career have touched the likes of country megastars Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Reba McIntyre, Amy Grant, and Vince Gill.

“Nashville has never been the same since he got there. They know Robert Deaton by his first name, and he knows them. They are the glitter, but he is the glue,” said Kirby.

Boyz II Men draws the fans

Audience members applauded all the award winners as the set changed for the main event, a sold-out concert featuring Boyz II Men. The harmonizing boy band is known for its heartfelt ballads and smooth R&B hits from the early 1990s.

Fans came from all over eastern North Carolina to see the band, which is celebrating more than 30 years of performing together.  

Stephanie Drake, 62, drove to Fayetteville from Clinton with her partner, Anthony, for a date night.

“It was a little over an hour drive, but we listened to everything they have recorded coming in for the show tonight. I grew up with Boyz II Men and love them. This is my era,” said Drake.

Another couple out for a night of fun were husband and wife Joseph and Regina Sherrod.

“We drove in from Warsaw, which is about an hour away. We love Boyz II Men,” said Joseph Sherrod.

His wife of 16 years agreed.

“They are one of our all-time favorite bands,” said Regina Sherrod.

Childhood friends Tracy Borja and Wendy Clukey came to the concert ready to reminisce about the music from their younger years.

Clukey, who drove 90 minutes from Beulaville, said she has always wanted to see Boyz II Men live.

“This is such a fun night, and I’m ready to dance and sing to all of their songs like we did in high school,” said Clukey.

Borja, who lives in Fayetteville, brought her 16-year-old son, Gabe, a sophomore at Pine Forest High School. She wanted him to experience the music from her generation.

“This was when music was really good and when lyrics had more meaning. This was a good way to further bond with my son over music,” said Borja.

Elaine Turner, owner of the downtown shop Turner Lane, said before the concert that she was looking forward to seeing Boyz II Men. She added that she just loves seeing every show that Community Concerts puts on.

“I come to see as many concerts as I can. The Community Concerts organization brings wonderful shows here, and I love to support them,” said Kelley.

The lineup for the 2023-24 season of Community Concerts will be announced soon. For more information, visit its website at www.community-concerts.com.