Labor Day weekend, Jim Downs and fellow band mates will travel to Lake Okoboji, in northwest Iowa, to be inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association’s Hall of Fame.

The group, known as The Inner Lite, performed in various iterations since its formation in Marshalltown in 1969.

Original members included Rick White, Dan Sullivan and brothers David and Mike Robinett.

Downs, 64, was later added to the roster when band members determined they needed a lead singer. Prior, he sang for several years with the band, Bottom of the 5th.

The Inner Lite’s first hit, “Hold Onto Him,” featured Downs’ vocals. It was released in November 1969.

Downs said the song was considered a “regional hit,” as it played in seven states.

It charted at No. 4 on KIOA radio, in Marshalltown, and No. 1 in Oswego, New York.

“For some reason – I don’t know why,” Downs said of its New York popularity.

Another singer, Chris Kaskie, joined the group before it recorded a second record.

The band was in its heyday from 1969 to 1971, performing in large venues where entire towns attended.

“Back in those days, things were a lot different,” Downs said. “Everything that we played was either in coliseums or ballrooms. It wasn’t like they are nowadays, where they’re smaller things in bars and stuff.”

Downs said he is pleased The Inner Lite is being inducted into the hall of fame.

He said the Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association expressed interest several years ago after original band members regrouped to perform at class reunions.

At the induction ceremony, Sunday, Downs said several band members will be present, including Downs, White, Kaskie and drummer Larry Mersereau.

New band members Martin Downs (Jim’s son), Rick Goodman and Fred Koogler will also be inducted.

“It’s a process that they have over 300 bands a year that they consider for this honor,” Jim Downs said. “Our band was really well known and the credentials were good.”

The Iowa Rock ‘n Roll Music Association was founded nearly 20 years ago in Arnolds Park. Its mission is to preserve “the legacy of rock and roll and the history of music in the State of Iowa.”

Details about the inductions can be found at www.iowarocknroll.com