Wall of Fame Class of 2021

Jerry Hludzik ’70 was a famed musician, songwriter and producer. He formed his first band, The Odd Powers, in Freeland and later joined Hazleton local bands, Happiness and Moses. He began performing and writing in-earnest while still in his early teens. Following his MMI graduation, Jerry went on to study at Luzerne County Community College where he fatefully met Bill Kelly, co-founder of The Buoys, and brother of current MMI Head of School, Theresa Long. 

Jerry joined The Buoys and the group vaulted to national prominence when their hit song, “Timothy,” peaked at number 17 on Billboard Top 40 chart. The song was penned by Rupert Holmes, “Escape (The Pina Colada Song,)” and reportedly loosely-based on the widely-reported and legendary Shepton Mine Disaster. The event attracted world-wide media coverage and occurred near Jerry’s hometown. Their follow-up single “Give Up Your Guns” also made the Billboard Top-100. The Buoys recorded another project for Polydor Records before disbanding in the mid-70’s.

Following the break-up, Jerry and Bill formed Jerry-Kelly in the late 70’s, and eventually Jerry-Kelly morphed into Dakota in 1980 where they had some international success. Dakota reached Billboard’s Top 100 when “If It Takes All Night” reached the number 78, and it got them a chance to open up for Queen during Queen’s The Game Tour, a 35-city run of America’s top concert venues. The band returned to writing and recording and in 1983 released yet another album on MCA Records, Runaway, with help from members of Toto, Chicago and top L.A. session players and personnel.

After the partners split in the mid-80’s, Jerry Hludzik continued to write songs. He was signed to MCA Music Publishing in Nashville, TN, as a songwriter, and scored album cuts by the Oak Ridge Boys.

He continued to record and perform live as a solo artist and with Dakota along with the late Rick Manwiller and son, Eli Hludzik, on drums until his illness and subsequent passing in 2020. Jerry Hludzik and Bill Kelly remained lifelong friends and partners.