Keith Richards, Patti LaBelle induct the late Sarah Dash into New Jersey's Hall of Fame

A final Labelle performance took place during the Saturday, Oct. 16, New Jersey Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Dash, a Trenton native, filmed her induction speech just prior to her passing on Sept. 20 at the age of 76. She joined in with Patti LaBelle and Nona Hendryx for an impromptu short rendition of their 1974 hit “Lady Marmalade” during the virtual ceremony.

“I’m going to get my gitchi ya-ya da-das by telling you that if it wasn’t for Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles and Labelle, I would not be sitting here tonight,” Dash said. “Studying music has been a very important part to me. Being the music and arts ambassador for the city of Trenton means more.”

LaBelle and Hendryx, also a native of Trenton, both inducted Dash. Hendryx said that Dash heard her singing in church and asked her to join her group.

“That is why I sit here today with Patti LaBelle,” Hendryx said. “Sarah is very generous and she’s always helping the youth in New Jersey.” 

LaBelle explained that they called Dash “Little Inch.”

“That’s what we called her back in the day because she was shorter than both of us,” LaBelle said.  “The most beautiful high voice I’ve ever heard — angelic. ... I learned a lot from Sarah Dash. Thank you, Sarah, for teaching me.”

Keith Richards, a collaborator with Dash, and Steve Jordan, the drummer for the Rolling Stones on the band's current tour, appeared together.

“We'd like to offer a big congratulations (to Dash),” Richards said.

Philadelphia-based singers Terry Jones, Carol Riddick and Helen Bruner sang Dash's solo hit “Sinner Man” to conclude the ceremony. Steve Edwards, the president of the New Jersey Hall of Fame, said Dash's family asked the Hall to air the induction as it was “intended to be seen.”

Danny DeVito hosted the hour-long ceremony, which was aired on Channel 9 (WWOR), and the Hall of Fame’s YouTube channel and Facebook page on Saturday night. Re-airings include 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, on PBS New Jersey, or you can see it below.

Former President George W. Bush and Supreme Court justice Amy Coney Barrett inducted Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia.

“Those close to him also got to see his zest for life,” said Barrett, a former clerk for Scalia.  “How he belted out showtunes and opera in his chambers. How he relished anchovy pizza washed down with Chianti at lunchtimes at his favorite Italian dive.”

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Also, Quincy Jones inducted jazzman George Benson; pitcher Al Leiter inducted New York Giants great Monte Irvin; former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean inducted former Chair of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker; Gen. Mark Milley inducted Gen. Gustave F. Perna, whom he chided about his Red Sox fandom; Chelsea Handler and Robin Roberts co-inducted Val Ackerman, the first president of the WNBA; and DeVito inducted singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter. 

Former “Hamilton” cast member Rory O’Malley sang “You’ll Be Back” from the musical as he inducted Alexander Hamilton.

John Pizzarelli sang “You’ve Got a Friend” to honor 9/11 first responders who have suffered medical issues. They are the recipients of the Hall's Unsung Hero Award.

Punk rock icons Patti Smith, Pitman and Lenny Kaye, North Brunswick, were originally announced as Class of '21 inductees, but they will be part of the Class of 2022, a representative for the Hall said.

The ceremony was the 13th for the New Jersey Hall of Fame and the second virtual one. The Hall is scheduled to move to the American Dream retail and amusement center at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford. 

NJ Hall of Fame Class of 2021

Arts and letters 

Dorothea Lange, Hoboken, documentary photographer 

Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Englewood, author and aviator

John Forbes Nash Jr., Princeton, mathematician 

Gay Talese, Ocean City, writer and journalist 

Enterprise

Madeline McWhinney Dale, Middletown, first female officer/vice-president of the Federal Reserve Bank 

Madam Louise Scott, Newark, founder of Scott School of Beauty Culture & chain of beauty salons

Paul Volcker, Teaneck, 12th Chair of the Federal Reserve 

Sara Spencer Washington, Atlantic City, founder of Apex News and Hair Company 

Performing Arts

George Benson, Englewood, jazz guitarist, singer and songwriter

Sarah Dash, Trenton, award-winning vocalist who co-founded the Bluebells and Labelle

Lesley Gore, Tenafly, singer, songwriter, actress and activist

Buddy Hackett, Fort Lee, actor and comedian

Mary Chapin Carpenter, Princeton, country music singer

Public Service 

Margaret Bancroft, Haddonfield, founder of Bancroft, nonprofit serving individuals with disabilities

Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth, Founding Father and first Secretary of the Treasury

David Mixner, Elmer, political activist and author

William Paterson, South Branch, signer of the U.S. Constitution, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and second governor of New Jersey

Gustave F. Perna, Rockaway, U.S. Army four-star general/COO of the federal COVID-19 response 

Antonin Scalia, Trenton, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1986 until his death in 2016

Sports

Val Ackerman, Pennington, first president of the Women’s National Basketball Association

Monte Irvin, Orange, left and right fielder in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball who played with the Newark Eagles, New York Giants and Chicago Cubs

Ron Jaworski, Voorhees, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and National Football League analyst

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com.