Merald "Bubba" Knight got to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Museum, Sharon, early Thursday, and dutifully examined the cases on all three floors, quietly reveling in the memorabilia of friends and groups that influenced him.

He kept the same low-key approach when he took the podium to accept the induction of his group, Gladys Knight and the Pips.

Knight explained that the other members of the group, his sister, Gladys, and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten told him to accept the induction "in a dignified way" and to "be intelligent."

He did so by talking in hushed tones.

"I just want to tell you all that I'm so thrilled and this is such an honor to be here in the hall of fame," he said.

But the dignity was short-lived.

"I done it like the way they asked me to do," he said. "Now, I'll do it my way."

With that, he raised his arms in the air, pranced around the stage and yelled "Thank you so much."

The hall's third induction ceremony honored 18 groups, including one that was inducted last year but couldn't make the 2000 ceremony, and two barbershop ensembles, the first to be inducted into the newly opened Barbershop Hall of Fame.

Members of the Vogues, the Lennon Sisters, the Lettermen, the Four Aces, the Four Freshmen, the Chordettes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and the Pied Pipers attended.

Sam Strain from Little Anthony and the Imperials accepted last year's induction.

The Oak Ridge Boys, the Bee Gees and the McGuire Sisters sent video acceptances, while the Weavers and the Eagles were not represented.

The barbershop groups were the male quartet Michigan Jake and the female quartet A Cappella Gold.

The Chordettes struck a heartfelt chord in their acceptance speech.

"We've had so many memories over the years and this just sort of tops them off," said Jinny Janis.

Don Miller appreciated the award more than just for the recognition of the accomplishments of the Vogues, of Turtle Creek in suburban Pittsburgh.

"Two weeks ago, I was operated on for prostate cancer and yesterday, believe it or not, I was in the hospital getting a catheter out and 25 staples," he said. "Today, believe me, I'm very happy and excited to be here."

The Vogues took the opportunity of the post-ceremony concert to sing together for the first time in something like 30 years. Chuck Blasko has performed as the Vogues with two new members.

Hall co-founder Tony Butala, a Sharon native, shared the stage for the Lettermen's induction with seven of the men who have been members of the group over the years: original members Jim Pike and Bob Engemann; Pike's brothers, Gary and Don; Mark Preston; and Butala's current cohorts, Donovan Scott Tea and Darren Dowler.

"It's the frosting on the cake," Butala said of sharing the glory.

"What really gets me touched is that Darren Dowler, the newest member of the Lettermen, he's never met Bob or Jim or Gary or Donnie. He took to them like they were long lost brothers. They are brothers. They're brothers in the Lettermen fraternity."

That sense of family carried over to many of the other groups in a more literal way.

Ms. Janis said the members of her family who attended the ceremony were more excited than she was. Janet Lennon of the Lennon Sisters said her children would never have forgiven her if she didn't go to Sharon to accept her induction.

But getting here was no small feat for Ms. Lennon and sisters Kathy and Mimi.

"We got in the car last night after our second show in Branson, and we've driven 15 hours," she said. "We stopped at a Motel 6 in Akron, took off our sweats and put our makeup on."

Betty Kratzsch, wife of the late Hal Kratzsch of the Four Freshmen, said she accepted the award on behalf of Kratzsch and his descendants.

Claudette Robinson of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles fought through near-sobs. "I am actually quite overwhelmed," she said.

The ceremony was delayed three weeks because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The tragedy was an undercurrent throughout the ceremony.

"As a friend of ours says -- Miss Freda Payne -- let's keep hope alive," said Robert Rodgers of the Miracles, Ms. Robinson's cousin. "Let's love one another as I love these people here on stage. They'll always be my sisters and brothers. I love them with all my heart. I love you, America. Let's try to keep the peace."

Mary Wilson, the Supreme who hosted the ceremony with Goldmine magazine editor Greg Loescher, asked for a moment of "consciousness."

"We are not making records today, but maybe our consciousness can help put peace into the world," she said.

Businessman James E. Winner Jr., who founded the hall with Butala, said the attacks raised "a spirit like I've never seen in my life ... People have suddenly turned back to God."