The Cavaliers, consisting of Lake Preston and Arlington musicians Greg Shelden (guitar,vocals), Dave Cecil (rhythm and lead guitar), Ron Nelson (rhythm guitar), Lynn Larson (drums), Mike Peterson (bass guitar) and Dave Scheller (keyboards ), will be inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame April 24. This photo was taken at the Sioux Falls Shrine Auditorium at last year's rock 'n roll celebration.

Nearly 44 years after taking the stage for the first time at Watermelon Day in Lake Preston, a rock group made up of Arlington and Lake Preston musicians is about to be inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Cavaliers are Lake Preston natives Greg Shelden (guitar,vocals), Dave Cecil (rhythm and lead guitar) and Ron Nelson (rhythm guitar) as well as Lynn Larson (drums), Mike Peterson (bass guitar) and Dave Scheller (keyboards), who hail from Arlington. They will be inducted April 24 in Sioux Falls.

"It's a really incredible honor to be selected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," said Nelson, who lives in Lake Preston. "It's nothing I ever imagined would happen in my lifetime."

Nelson said he looks forward to the band, whose members are spread around the country, reuniting this spring for both the induction ceremony and a separate gig in Lake Preston in March.

The Cavaliers will play a 30-minute show at the second annual South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction/concert, during which The Talismen, Dale Gregory and the Shouters, The Trippers, Larry Bell, Fabulous Flippers, Castaways, Apostles and Lord Douglas/Harley Worthit will also be inducted.

The Talismen are another local group who got their start in Brookings in 1960.

Tickets to the April 24 event, which will be held at Ramkota Exhibit Hall in Sioux Falls at 41:30 p.m., can be purchased for $20 (free for those 14 and under) at Lewis Southgate or online at www.southdakotarockandrollmusicassociation .com.

Nelson said The Cavaliers, who played their official first gig in the summer of 1966 on top of a flatbed trailer at the summer Lake Preston festival called Watermelon Day, actually got their start one day in high school biology class.

That day, eventual band leader Greg Shelden urged Nelson to get rid of his accordion and buy a guitar instead.

"I started going home with him at night; we'd sit on the edge of his bed and he'd teach me chords and stuff," Nelson said. Jump started by Arlington crew

The group was "jump started" soon after that, as the three Lake Preston members played in front of an audience for the first time at a PTA meeting, and were later joined by the Arlington musicians to play their first official gig as a group at the Lake Preston festival.

They practiced at the farm of drummer Lynn Larson, and over the years played school functions and dances in addition to gigs at dance halls and bars in eastern South Dakota.

The Cavaliers often played at a popular bar in Ramona frequented by teens from Arlington, Lake Preston, De Smet, Oldham and Madison, according to the group's biography.

They also made appearances at clubs such as Horatio's in Brookings, Southgate Tap in Sioux Falls, Hilltop in Rapid City, Prairie Moon Ballroom in Watertown, Teen Town in De Smet, Edward's at Lake Poinsett, The Playhouse in Clark and the Blue Dog Inn at Waubay. Most of those establishments no longer exist.

Nelson said The Cavaliers play a classic rock style that could be compared to famous acts such as The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival or Loving Spoonful.

The band performed from 1966 until 1969, when band members went their separate ways before reuniting in 1987 for a 20-year reunion. Since that time, they have reunited in 2003, 2005 and 2009, and also recorded a CD in 2005 called "Back to the Garage." Tough getting together

Reuniting isn't as easy for the band and doesn't happen often, as the members live all over the U.S.

Nelson resides in Lake Preston, where he owns Spectrum Photography, and continues to play locally for the group Street Legal. Dave Cecil lives in Sioux Falls and works for Wells Fargo. Cecil is still active in music, playing and singing in local bands.

Lynn Larson has a private practice as a psychologist in Las Vegas, while Mike Peterson works as a casino dealer in Deadwood.

Dave Sheller makes his home in Rochelle Park, N.J., where he works as a computer programmer .

Prior to the April induction ceremony, the group will get together and practice from March 23-26 before playing at an event in Lake Preston on the 26th, a gig that will serve as a tune-up for the April ceremony.

Nelson said the group enjoys its rare opportunities to reunite and play together the way they first did as teenagers growing up in rural South Dakota many years ago so much so that it's difficult for them to part ways.

"We have a love for music and the six guys that I play with we're like brothers," Nelson explained. "Sometimes when it's all over it gets very emotional when everybody's splitting again."

Contact Ryan Woodard at rwoodard@brookingsregister .com.