Current Rock and Roll Inductees (240)
Leading the Punk Revival charge, Green Day has a claim as one of the more influential bands of the 1990’s. This was ironic as they never exactly broke new ground, but their echoes of the music that came fifteen years before, ushered in the Neo Punk movement. While doing this, they remained a relevant band and continued to outsell many…
Although their induction was marred by Axl Rose’s pre show anti HOF diatribe, there was little doubt that Guns N' Roses earned their induction in their first year of eligibility. With a rough edge and a broad appeal, the L.A. based rockers kicked ass and took names in the musical world. Sounds like Rock and Roll to us!
In other entries on this list, we discussed the Philly Soul sound. Although Hall & Oates were not considered part of that genre, there is little doubt that they were inspired by it.
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…
The 70’s Rock scene was very much a boy’s club. One of the few exceptions was Heart, led by the powerful vocals of their lead singer Ann Wilson and the technical brilliance of her sister and lead guitarist Nancy Wilson. Although women were very much accepted in the world of popular music, there hadn’t yet been a group who could…
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.
R&B was never more energetic than when done by Ike & Tina Turner. Though many of their hits were covers, few would touch them after Ike & Tina got through with them. They may be better known for Ike’s domestic violence towards Tina as opposed to the music they created.
As one of the links between 50’s R&B and 60’s Soul, the Impressions were almost a pre-All Star vocal group that boasted some of the finest voices of the business. Their blend of beautiful music and social consciousness rendered them as legends.
A Proto Rap and Soul star, Isaac Hayes became best known to the current generation as the voice of “Chef” from South Park. Hayes was a lot more than Chef and Shaft and a look at his overall career would show a musician that has earned his place in Hall.
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 said that the family patriarch Joe Jackson wanted his brood to eclipse that of the Osmonds and in that was a mission accomplished in every conceivable way. They were a huge force in the 70’s and much of their music remains well known today.
A very successful Singer/Songwriter throughout the 70’s, Jackson Browne combined angst and sensitivity to become a beloved musical star. His political singing has also kept him relevant and in the public eye.
Jackie Wilson’s nickname of “Mr. Entertainment” was an accurate one. With a blend of Sam Cooke’s Soul and James Brown’s showmanship, Jackie Wilson was massively respected and universally beloved.
The “Hardest Working Man in Show Business” is a certified legend and a man who defined influence. Soul, Funk and Rap stars revered him and to this day there is no artist more sampled than “The Godfather of Soul”. A case could be made that Brown was the most important figure in music.
A superstar Singer/Songwriter of the 1970’s, James Taylor was easily among the elite of his genre. Taylor was able to have the dual threat of being commercially successful and critically loved; not easy on the Singer/Songwriter field.
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.
Janis Joplin was not around for a long time but her raspy Blues soaked voice made her an instant legend and an icon to millions of young women who strove to emulate her. Joplin actually did not have that many hits, but the songs she did sing have taken on their own life.
With all due respect to Rock purists, there really is little doubt that at present Jay-Z is the top contender of the 2020 list of Hall of Fame candidates. The man with many monikers has been one of the most dominate Rap artists of the past ten years and he is beloved by critics, the mainstream, and the streets.
A legendary guitarist who has been called one of the most influential guitarists of all time, Jeff Beck was a great Rock and Roll improviser who drew from far more than traditional Rock influences. Despite Beck’s prowess, his solo induction was a touch of a surprise as his solo catalogue was not necessarily the most acclaimed, and he was already…
The stars of San Francisco Psychedelic were too many a symbol of the late 60’s. They were at the very least representative of the San Francisco sound and with legendary performances and iconic songs they deserved their induction. The band Starship however…..