Something In The Water

The Return of The Hall of Fame With A Difference

Story by Karen Tinsley
Photography by Curt Penney and Victoria Topping

It could be the one degree of separation that seems to connect everyone in Essex County. It could be our wonderful waterfronts or the quiet charm of our county towns. Or all of the above. But whether you were born and raised here, moved away and came back, or relocated from somewhere else, you can’t help but notice that Essex County folks are nice.

They are also generous. From fundraisers to food drives to Hospice to helping children, families and the less fortunate, Essex County people possess a proven, consistent capacity to happily share their time, talent and treasure with neighbours in need. 

In fact, it’s not the first time that Essex County’s universal generosity and compassion have been attributed to ‘something in the water’.

‘Something in the water’ has also been a theory to explain the massive musical talent our region has always produced, nurtured and supported. If you know Windsor Essex, you know that our music scene has a strong, well-developed social conscience. In these parts, communities have always been able to count on local performers to support worthy causes. 

Just ask any of the 2025 Windsor Essex Music Hall of Fame inductees, like Fred Thomas of Border City Brass. When this magazine profiled the band in 2024, Fred said, “Live music brings people together to support our community and provide platforms for emerging musicians; Border City Brass is committed to doing our part.” As the band’s Facebook can attest, they most certainly have been. 

Or ask Hall of Fame founder Ken Koekstat, another Essex County  born-and-bred musician with a big heart. 

A talented and popular music maker since his teenage years, Ken played the local clubs at night and patrolled the streets by day as a Windsor police constable. He also stepped up to oversee the Essex County chapter of Crime Stoppers. 

Ken’s local music connections converged to create successful, memorable fundraising events for Crime Stoppers; the most well-attended and in-demand were ‘Music Reunions’ (which involved more than 200 local entertainers performing free of charge for good causes). 

In 2007, Ken retired from the police force and Crime Stoppers, but he never forgot about fundraising…or making music. Ken was always in a band and still is. 

Whenever he chatted with fellow musicians or noticed posters about town promoting free performances by top notch Windsor Essex talent for charity or community events, Ken would often wonder about formally  recognizing all that compassion, generosity and musical treasure. 

Many times, people would stop Ken and ask, “Why don’t we have a Musicians Hall of Fame like the Sports Hall of Fame at Devonshire Mall? I loved that idea and waited for someone to pick up the ball and run with it, but no one did.” 

In 2009, Ken took matters into his own hands and the Windsor Essex County Music Hall of Fame was born. 

Because Essex County has such a robust legacy of born-and-bred musicians giving back (from donating their time and talent to charities, to performing free at fundraisers, in hospitals, nursing homes and other community events and spaces), Ken envisioned ‘a hall of fame with a difference’.

“For me, it’s not only about recognizing the ones who get the most gigs, land the recording deals or sell out Caesar’s Colosseum. Of course, those things matter, but what really matters is the people; the ones who consistently share their God-given musical gifts to make Essex County a better place. That matters just as much if not more.” 

First-year inductees included Tea Party rock drummer Jeff Burrows and local jazz icon Hugh Leal; in subsequent years, Alexander Zonjic, Jack Genaro, Jody Raffoul, the late ‘Commander’ Kim Kelly and many more (well-known and not-so-well-known) were honoured. 

The Windsor Essex Music Hall of Fame was a hit, with many nominations coming in each year.

Ken and his Hall of Fame team can nominate new inductees; previous inductees can also submit nominations. Each nominee is assessed by stringent criteria centered around ‘giving back’. 

Curt Penney, guitar virtuoso of the Soul Minors (longtime hosts of the lively Thursday Night Jams at the Old Victoria Tavern) will join bandmates Kevin Peterson (one of Windsor’s most accomplished bass players), guitar wizard Jim McInnis and drummer extraordinaire Glenn Brandt as a Hall of Fame inductee. 

Other 2025 inductees include Fred Thomas and Tom Brough of Border City Brass, ‘The Twisted Sisters’ Stephanie Baker and Liz Robinson, Claude Pinard (founder and frontman of Windsor’s long-beloved The Power and The Glory) and many more: some young, some old, some widely popular, others barely known. Many are still active on the local music scene, while others lend their energy to other creative and community pursuits. 

The Hall of Fame also honours those who have gone the extra mile to promote, support and celebrate live music, like Michael and Renee McCann, founders of the Canada South Blues Society and the award-winning Canada South Blues Museum. Community involvement is one of their core values. The McCanns and their organization help aspiring musicians get a leg up and strive to keep ‘the blues’ alive in Essex Country; they also fundraise for the less fortunate.

Other 2025 Hall of Fame inductees include Bob and Carol Robinson (publishers of this magazine) who have spent their lives championing, supporting, playing and promoting local music. 

When Joe Perry, co-founder of The Hospice Wellness Band (with fellow Music Hall of Fame inductee Bill Pillon) was inducted in 2014, he said, “it’s nice to be honoured…not so much for our musical prowess, but for the work we’ve done over the years to support folks who are going through a tough time. I’ve seen first-hand just how effective music can be making people happy. Their happiness might not have lasted forever, but when we played for them, they were different; they were happy.”

Back from a multi-year hiatus, the 2025 Windsor Essex County Music Hall of Fame Recognition Awards return home to Windsor Moose Lodge #1499. Because there are well over 100 inductees since the break, Awards presentations will extend over two events: Sunday September 14 and Sunday, September 21 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at The Moose (777 Tecumseh Road West) or Long & McQuade (1801 Walker Road) for $20 each, which includes a pasta dinner, 50/50 Draw and giveaways.

It appears that there’s a lot more than just fluoride in our local water supply. Whatever it is, someone might just want to bottle it!

Published in the Autumn 2025 Edition.