Looking over the list of new inductees into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and Museum, Fred Johnson couldn't pick a favorite.

Sure, the Clovers inspired him, and he always considered the Chantels' big hit, "Maybe," "the ultimate" song.

But he wouldn't want to leave out the Five Keys, Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners or the Harptones.

"They're all in the same class with me," said the bass singer for the Marcels. "It can't get no better than what they just mentioned."

And for Johnson, who intoned the timeless bomp de de bomp on "Blue Moon," it can't get any better than being a member of the same class -- the Marcels also will be inducted.

"I'm overwhelmed," said Johnson, 60, who came to Sharon from Pittsburgh for Tuesday's induction announcement at the hall. "I'm spellbound. It hasn't really hit me yet."

The 2002 class is heavy on doo wop, with the Chantels, the Clovers, the Five Keys, the Harptones and the Marcels, and pop with the Skyliners, the Fifth Dimension, Jay and the Americans, the Shirelles and ABBA.

The 12-name list also reaches back to the gospel group the Swan Silvertones, and the Four Knights.

"It's nice to have a museum like this, because the younger generation can learn how it started," said Donny Osmond, who announced the inductees.

Osmond said the museum reminds people how vocal groups used to earn their stripes: by singing. These days, music is mostly created in a studio, which glosses over singing deficiencies and boosts the careers of those with limited talent.

"The danger in stardom is you don't have to have a lot of talent," said Osmond, who performs at 8 tonight at Powers Auditorium, Youngstown. "I'm really glad that Tony Butala came up with the idea" for the museum.

The hall was founded by Butala, a Sharon native and leader of The Lettermen, and Sharon-based international businessman James E. Winner Jr.

Hall director Bob Crosby said a date for the induction ceremony has not been picked, as he is trying to accommodate the schedules of the inductees.

"It's going to happen this summer," he said. "Where, when and how is going to come back to the artists."

Past years' ceremonies have included an induction dinner, a golf outing and a public concert, and Crosby said they could return.

He also is looking at organizing a brief tour featuring present and past inductees.

Crosby is hoping to infuse new ideas into the museum to drum up public support. The hours of operation have greatly changed, admission prices were cut, and Crosby envisions the hall as a place for hosting community activities and sponsoring area concerts.

Crosby didn't disagree with Osmond's contention that the museum, which opened in 1997, "had a slow start."

"The intent is to 'kick it up a notch,' get this thing going," Crosby said. "The intent is to show it off, not hold it as a private treasure."

And with visitors, funds for operations will come.

"Money's a problem," Crosby said. "There is no money. We're all volunteers."