AmericasPopMusicHallofFame.orgCanonsburg, Pennsylvania, a town of about 9,000 people located outside of Pittsburgh, is planning to put itself on the map by opening a new attraction called America's Pop Music Hall of Fame next summer.  On Sunday, hall of fame officials announced the institution's first 40 nominees, of which 20 will be chosen for induction in May.  Only artists who have had a song on the U.S. charts between 1946 and 1975 currently are eligible to be inducted.

Among the famous artists under consideration for the honor are The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley and Stevie Wonder.  Among the many other nominated luminaries The Bee Gees, Chuck Berry, The Carpenters, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond, The Four Seasons, Elton John, The Monkees, Simon & Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, The Supremes and Three Dog Night.  Fans will be able to vote for their favorites starting this Thursday at AmericasPopMusicHallOfFame.org.

According to Observer-Reporter.com, America's Pop Music Hall of Fame initially will be housed in the Going My Way Café in downtown Canonsburg, but the facility's board is trying to raise funds so that a permanent hall can be built.  The inaugural induction ceremony is scheduled to take place on July 2, 2013.

Canonsburg does have history of producing its own pop stars.  Perry Como and Bobby Vinton were born in the borough, which refers to itself as America's Small Town Music Capital.  Incidentally, Como and Vinton also among the inaugural Pop Hall of Fame nominees.

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