There is no rule in music that says that you have to be a commercial success to make a difference. Hüsker Dü fits that category as they were considered influential by countless bands though they themselves never really broke past cult status.

Our next act is a band that will likely be beat out for induction by other 90’s Alternative acts, despite having a sound that wasn’t really like the bands they are often lumped with. Of course, it is really hard to categorize Sonic Youth with any other band, they were just that unique.

This is the man that has the unarguable distinction of having the most distinct singing voice on this list. The raspy alcohol and tobacco soaked voice of Tom Waits blends perfectly with the lyrics about the downtrodden and his ballads have much more somberness because of it. He was certainly different than the other Singer/Songwriters of the 70’s and it wasn’t just because of his unique voice.  

For those who watched the original run of Good Times, it wasn’t likely that you would have pegged Janet Jackson as the cast member who would become the biggest star among them. Of course, with the last name of Jackson and her famous siblings; perhaps nobody should have been surprised.