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 The city of Cleveland has kindly asked its downtown
trolley-bus drivers to get in the spirit of this week's 2015
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dress up like
a rock star, or simply a music great.
Drivers can choose from the more than 700 inductees in the Hall
of Fame, which holds its 30th ceremony on Saturday.
The 7,000 riders who travel daily on the free downtown line
could find Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan or Lionel
Richie behind the wheel. Bruce Springsteen, Alice Cooper, Janet
Jackson and Lenny Kravitz are on board, while Willie Nelson is
on the road again.
Cloyd Thomas, a driver for 30 years, impersonated Elvis for the
last Cleveland ceremony in 2012 but has switched from "The King"
to Prince, donning a purple velvet jacket with fringed cuffs and
a wig of curly hair. Riders are quick to identify him.
"People get on the bus and start singing. They want me to sing
'When Doves Cry,' but that's a tough one. I will stick to
driving the bus," Thomas said.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum opened in Cleveland in
1995, but induction ceremonies only opened up to the public in
2009. This will be the city's fourth time hosting the public
concert, and getting the locals involved is a big part of the
festivities.
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Joseph A. Calabrese, chief executive of the Greater Cleveland
Regional Transit Authority, said bigger cities can't always muster
the same enthusiasm as this metropolis of 400,000 people.
"Cleveland is a fun city and when we do things, we do those things
well," he said.
Throughout the city, bars and music venues hold Rock Hall-themed
shows, and nearly 14,000 people visited the museum Sunday for free
admission to the opening of the exhibit featuring this year's
inductees - including Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, late rocker Lou
Reed and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts.
Regular trolley rider Brandon James, a 26-year-old photographer and
videographer, said he appreciates the extra effort the city puts
into promoting the Rock Hall.
"I think it's fun," Jones said. "I like watching people get on at
the different stops and pick up on who the driver is, pointing it
out to their friends."
(Editing by Mary Milliken and Ted Botha)
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