An early Funk pioneer who did not find success in the music world until in his late 30’s, Lee Dorsey was symbolic of the Louisiana Sound. His gritty, playful voice was a perfect match for New Orleans R&B. His music showed swagger (before that was really thought of) and although he did not have as much commercial success as he may have been entitled, he could be the representative of New Orleans that the Hall is missing.

The Bullet Points:

Eligible Since:

1986

Country of Origin:

U.S.A. (New Orleans, LA)

Nominated In:

Never

NIHOF’s Favorite Album:

Ride Your Pony (1966)

NIHOF’s Favorite Song:

For argument’s sake we are going to combine the collective works of Manfred Mann’s various bands and include the Earth Band as one progressive link. Chances are; it is only going to be him who would get inducted anyway. If they did, they would be inducting an artist who transcended infectious British Invasion Pop to the fringes of Progressive Rock. He may have never dominated the charts, but the length of his career was impressive and he would not be out of place in the Hall.

Known primarily as a Goth band, The Sisters of Mercy combined dark imagery with an intriguing blend of Alternative Pop, Metal and Psychedelic influences.  A very polarizing band, their brooding fans identified with music on a very deep level.  Those who were not fans found them a self-aggrandizing group that was not as good as they thought they were.  Regardless of opinion, their spot as a key Goth and Alternative band is without doubt.

Although he has been classified as a British Folk star, John Martyn was an artist who easily wore many hats. Martyn was a Singer/Songwriter whose guitar skills borrowed equally from the Mississippi Delta as the plains of Scotland. An experimental artist who subtly embraced multiple genres as his career progressed, John Martyn’s talent was never in question, though for the Hall the question was just how much that respect he earned in the United Kingdom translated to America. Our guess will be not enough.