The Rock Hall’s vice president for development and government affairs, Greg Harris, will take over the top job on New Year’s Day.   He’s been with the Hall of Fame since 2008 charged with raising philanthropic donations and grants for the museum.     

Harris has some academic chops including a master’s degree in history and museum studies.  He also spent 14 years at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, where he was vice president for development.

And he has a rock background.  Harris grew up in Bucks County, Pa., and in the 1980’s owned and operated the Philadelphia Record Exchange, a store for used, rare, and independent music recordings.

 In fact, the leader and drummer for The Roots, Questlove, issued a statement through the Rock Hall saying the story  “was my home away from home, and most of my 70,000 plus vinyl records came from there.”

Harris takes over the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two months after its vice president for exhibitions,Jim Henke, decided to step down and work as a consultant.  The hall is expected to announce its next class this month,  and the induction ceremonies will be April 18 in Los Angeles.