Long before he was demanding last year’s rent from his bohemian friends, Taye Diggs grew up in Rochester and attended School of the Arts. Since then, the actor, singer and Broadway star has gone on to much success and acclaim, including performances in the stage and film versions of “Rent” an d “Chicago.” Later this year, his contributions will be formally recognized back home. Diggs will be inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame’s 2026 class during a concert and ceremony on April 26 at the Eastman Theatre. Also inducted will be longtime Rochester party band The Skycoasters, which will be honored in the newly created Local Legends category. “I’m incredibly grateful and humbled to be recognized by my hometown,” Diggs said in a statement. “Rochester played a huge role in shaping who I am as an artist, and this honor means more to me than I can express.” Taye Diggs, a School of the Arts graduate, will be inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in April. Credit: James Willis Photography Though he was born in Newark, New Jersey, Diggs was raised in Henrietta and the South Wedge and graduated from SOTA before studying at Syracuse University. He has previously spoken about his highly positive experiences as a student at SOTA and even posted a photo of his bespectacled self from his sophomore year on his Facebook page. “I wouldn’t be where I am today were it not for School of the Arts,” he said in 2021 in conjunction with a donation of more than $75,000 to the school. Diggs appeared on a virtual call with SOTA teachers to present the money — about $750 per classroom for out-of-pocket school supplies — via a grant through Burlington Stores and the nonprofit Adopt A Classroom. In addition to “Rent” and “Chicago,” Diggs also starred in Broadway’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” in the title role, as well as on television’s “Private Practice” and “All American” and on film in “The Best Man” franchise. The Skycoasters, meanwhile, has been a fixture of the Rochester music scene for nearly 60 years since starting up at Brighton High School in 1968. As such, the group feels like a great fit for the hall of fame’s newly created Local Legends category, created by the HOF board in November 2025 to recognize “artistic excellence, deep engagement with the Rochester community, a strong local and regional fan base and longevity, integrity and sustained cultural impact.” There are few certainties in life, especially in Rochester. The notable ones include snow in April, a plate of potatoes topped with meat and The Skycoasters soundtracking summer festival season. The group’s horn-heavy, high-energy takes on eternal crowd pleasers like “Disco Inferno” and “Uptown Funk” are staples of the Lilac Festival and Concerts by the Shore, as well as dozens of stages around the Finger Lakes. The reach of The Skycoasters has occasionally been national, thanks to major sporting events offering a platform, and even international, like when the group performed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. (The band was at the ‘96 games in Atlanta, too.) The Skycoasters have shared the stage with legends like The Beach Boys, Chicago, The Four Tops, Hall Oates and more. The members have also raised more than $1 million for local organizations like Golisano Children’s Hospital and Camp Good Days and Special Times. “The Skycoasters define what it means to be a Local Legend,” Rochester Music Hall of Fame organizers said in a statement. “Their music, generosity and unwavering commitment to Rochester make them the perfect first recipients of this honor.” More inductees will be announced soon. The hall of fame’s 2025 class included Black Sheep, Chet Catallo, John Fossitt, Record Archive, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and Travie McCoy and Gym Class Heroes. The 13th Rochester Music Hall of Fame Induction Concert Ceremony will take place on Sunday, April 26 at 7 p.m. in the Eastman Theatre. Ticket info here, and more information available at rochestermusic.org. The post Taye Diggs and The Skycoasters to be inducted into Rochester Music Hall of Fame appeared first on CITY Magazine. Arts. Music. Culture.. ...read more read less