Whether they achieved their fame on the Ed Sullivan Show, the Grand Ole Opry, or the corner of 113th Street and 8th Avenue, their voices, when blended together, bring passion and emotion to the greatest songs of all time.

And since 1998, the best of these doo-wop, gospel and harmony groups have been honored with enshrinement in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Museum, a building nestled in the Shenango Valley in Sharon, Pa., just a quick stop along the Interstate 80 corridor that connects Pennsylvania to Ohio.

Every September, harmony groups from across the country visit this museum during "Induction Week" to celebrate the power of the voice, as well as to honor a new class who will receive their "Harmony" statuettes and acknowledgement of their successful careers.

This year, the Vocal Hall honors such legendary doo-wop groups as the Five Satins and the Four Lads; the sweet soulful sounds of the Commodores, Martha and the Vandellas and Earth Wind & Fire; the big band swing of the Charioteers and the Merry Macs; and pop harmonies from the Association, the Impressions and the Whispers.

For the attendees, Induction Week has become an opportunity to finally meet the legends who inspired their own musical excursions.

"When I was a young kid, I used to go to the Apollo Theatre," said Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, whose group was inducted into the Vocal Hall in 2000. "I used to go to Alan Freed's rock and roll shows, and I saw all these guys. To come in here and see this building, showcasing the beginning of rock and roll coming from gospel and the inner city is just wonderful, it's just touched me greatly."

The induction ceremonies have also turned into family reunions, as groups who haven't performed together in decades mark the opportunity by bringing their children and grandchildren to the Vocal Hall to celebrate the moment.

"I've always been really proud of my father," said Kimberly Morrow, whose father Don Miller sang with the 1960's harmony group and 2001 inductee The Vogues, who performed together at a post-induction concert for the first time in 30 years. "As modest as he has been of it, I've been twice as proud. We flew up here from Florida, and it's really neat to see everybody come together and appreciate the music."

"The Vocal Group Hall of Fame helps bring the groups' true identity forward into the limelight," said Jimmy Merchant, a member of Frankie Lymon's Teenagers, who were inducted into the Vocal Hall in 2002. "Frankie Lymon's got the biggest smile on his face as he sees us right now, from his spiritual place in heaven."

Get it Together

What: Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Where: 98 East State St.
Sharon, Pa. (724) 983-2025
When: Private tours are available
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday
Class of 2003 Induction Ceremony September 16, 2003. Vocal Hall induction concerts at Cafaro Field, Niles, Ohio, September 17 and 18.
Cost: Free; concerts are extra
Find out more: www.vghf.com
Nearest TravelCenters of America:
Youngstown, OH
I-80, Route 46, Exit 223A 9 miles

Kingsville, OH
I-90, Exit 235 44 miles

Barkeyville, PA
I-80 & S.R. 8, Exit 29 52 miles

This Year's Inductees

The Association
The Charioteers
The Commodores
Earth Wind & Fire
The Five Satins
The Four Lads
The Impressions
The Isley Brothers
Danny & The Juniors
The Merry Macs
The Peerless Quartet
Martha & The Vandellas
The Whispers