The long running group has run the gauntlet of Gospel, Doo-Wop, R&B, Rock, Funk, Soul, Disco and everything in between. It seems that the Isley Brothers have been around forever and by all accounts they have! This group of talent is as respected as they have been durable.
It was beginning to look like the Hollies were going to perpetually be the most successful British Invasion band that could not crack the Hall, but that changed last year with a well deserved induction. Still, despite their ample success, they still suffer from a level of disrespect that seems unwarranted.
A very early R&B star, Hank Ballard helped shape the early days of Rock and Roll. Ballard did it all, but he was at his best with his risqué version of R&B which helped to set Rock and Roll’s eventual tone. Ballard was also important in Doo Wop and Dance craze recordings, and if any artist symbolized 50’s music, it could be argued that it would be Hank Ballard.
He may have been dubbed as the “Quiet Beatle” but it was George Harrison who first broke out as a solo star and left behind a legacy of hits and brilliant music. Though Harrison may not have been the “favorite” Beatle when he was with the Fab Four, he may have become that of many after the success of his individual efforts.
A member of both the Rock and Roll and Rockabilly Hall of Fame, Gene Vincent was a key figure in both the early development of both genres. Be-Bop-A-Lula is a song strong enough on its own to secure induction to both Halls.
The induction of Gene Pitney may be more of a nod to his songwriting as he penned many hits for others. Still, Pitney’s own discography has a solid merit of his own being one of the few true Rock stars between Rock’s Origin and the British Invasion.
Too many they are the greatest “Jam” band that ever lived and there are legions that have followed them across the country that would attest to that. They were a technically proficient band though this fact was often lost on those who didn’t follow them….of course those who did often “forgot” that they were listening to them in the first place.
Though many bemoan Rap being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, its inclusion was inevitable. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five was as good a place to start as any. Pioneers in music; pioneers to the Hall.
With a huge run of smooth vocally driven R&B, Gladys Knight and the Pips had a string of hits capped by the monster smash, Midnight Train to Georgia. Although overall successful, odds are without the “Georgia” hit, it is doubtful that they would have made the Hall.
Genesis had two distinct periods. The first was the Progressive Rock version fronted by the eccentric Peter Gabriel. The second was the hit making Pop/Rock machine that was taken over by Phil Collins’ vocals. Either version could make a case for induction. Combined, they should have been in years ago.