2018 – Inductee, American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame

Each year since 1998 has afforded the American Banjo Museum the opportunity to honor the best of the best in our banjo world with their induction into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.

Originally established as The National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame, early honorees were jazz age four-string banjo pioneers as well as the contemporary artists, educators, manufacturers and promoters who carried on the traditions of their predecessors. The Museum itself was, in its infancy, an extension of the Hall of Fame. In the years preceding 2014, more than 70 individuals and entities in the four-string banjo world whose career accomplishments might have otherwise been forgotten were recognized by the Hall of Fame. As time passed and the Museum grew to embrace all types of banjos and playing styles, it became clear that the Hall of Fame should evolve as well.

As such, in 2013, the ABM Board of Directors voted to establish an annual performance category to honor all styles of five-string banjo playing as well as opening the other previously four-string banjo exclusive non-performance categories to all types of banjos. With this move the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame was established.

Béla was inducted in 2018 under the category of Five-String Performance.