It rarely fails. As new genres emerge there seems to a need to anoint a pair of songwriters as the new Lennon and McCartney. New Wave did so with the pair of Chris Difford and Glenn Tillbrook; better known as the creative unit behind Squeeze.
As the Rap stars begin to become eligible for the Rock and Roll of Fame, they face the same debate that stars from other genres do: that of whether popularity should supersede art. LL Cool J could be the first of the Rap stars to fall strongly on the popularity side of the equation, as though he did sell a lot of albums, but was also accused of selling out.
When thinking of the great acts from Motown, the general focus is on the vocal talents they produced. The lone exception would have to be Junior Walker & the All Stars; a self contained Motown band that had the raunchiness and grooves that the other polished Motown artists did not have.
You would think that a band that numerous hits and constant radio airplay in the mid and late 60’s and early 70’s would be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, as we go through this list we find that this is not necessary the rule. In the case of Paul Revere & the Raiders, one has to wonder if the Revolutionary War costumes they wore be the very thing that is keeping them out.