Columbia High School will be inducting Grammy-award winning music producer Eric Hudson (CHS ’04) and online video producer and YouTube powerhouse Marques Brownlee (CHS ’11) into the CHS Hall of Fame on Friday, June 4, 2021.
Eric Lee Hudson is a Grammy-award winning musician and record producer. Eric grew up in South Orange and graduated from Columbia High School in 2004. He is a multi-instrumentalist, playing piano, drums, bass, guitar, and organ. Eric has played at Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater in Harlem, and the 2002 Democratic National Convention. Eric has been a part of over 60 million records, worldwide. He has worked with Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, John Legend, Kanye West, and countless others, including, most recently, the Isley Brothers. Eric has won four Grammy Awards – the most recent for “2021 Best R&B Album” for John Legend’s “Bigger Love.”
Marques Brownlee, known professionally as MKBHD, is an American YouTuber and professional ultimate frisbee player, best known for his technology-focused videos as well as his podcast, Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast. He grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey and graduated from Columbia High School in 2011. Brownlee studied at the Howe School at Stevens Institute of Technology, where he majored in business and information technology. He graduated from college in May 2015 and became a full-time YouTuber.
While CHS seniors will be able to participate in the event live at Underhill Field, other students and the community can watch a livestream here at 9:30 a.m.:
Read about past Hall of Fame events here:
VIDEO: SZA Returns, as Bisa Butler & Ibtihaj Muhammad Are Inducted into CHS Hall of Fame
PHOTOS, VIDEO: SZA Electrifies Columbia High School at Hall of Fame Induction
PHOTOS: ‘Power’ Actor, Musical Artist Rotimi Inducted Into CHS and SOMS Halls of Fame
VIDEO: Zach Braff Speaks at CHS Hall of Fame Induction
Here’s more information from CHS Social Worker Philip McCormick:
The 2020-2021 Columbia High School “Hall of Fame” Induction Ceremony will take place on Fri., 6/4 at Underhill Sports Complex* from 9:30-11:00am.
CHS seniors will be able to participate in the event live (in the bleachers) and all other grades will be able to view it virtually.
*In the event that is forecast to rain on this day (think dry thoughts!), you will be notified by 9:00 pm on Thu., 6/3. If such is the case, the event will take place in the CHS Auditorium and only the inductees, their guests, the committee members, and recipients of this invitation will be able to participate in person. All others will have to watch it virtually.
As many residents of the South Orange-Maplewood community are aware, Columbia High School is a special place! Many CHS graduates have gone on, and continue to go on to do great things in the world – from doctors, to lawyers, to activists, actors, athletes, artists, musicians, producers, designers, the list goes on!
In the mid-1980’s, the CHS “Hall of Fame” Committee was established as part of Student Council, to recognize the vast accomplishments of its graduates. In 1985, the Hall of Fame inducted its first two alumni – Senior U.S. Circuit Judge, Amalya Kearse, and world renown actor, Roy Scheider. Since then, every year, the committee has inducted anywhere from 1-4 former students who had demonstrated academic excellence during their time at CHS, and have gone on to influence the world around them in positively meaningful ways.
On Fri., 6/4, we will induct two more alumni (one for 2020, one for 2021), whom you may know, who have gone on to do great things in South Orange, Maplewood, and beyond!
This special event is open to CHS seniors in person. All other students as well as faculty, staff, and community members will be provided with information to watch it virtually.
