Current Rock and Roll Inductees (256)
Roy Orbison’s voice did not seem made for Rock and Roll, but he used that powerful voice to make some of the most beautiful songs of the early Rock and Roll era. His image and sound remain amongst the most distinct in Rock history.
We wondered aloud if the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame just plain forgot about our next selection. It is curious that with both the Velvet Underground and the Talking Heads enshrined that Roxy Music; the premier Art Rock band between them has not received a serious look for induction.
With all due respect to Grandmaster Flash, it was Run-D.M.C. that should have been the first Rap act to the Hall. Granted they were not the first, but their impact was so vital, the inaugural Rap slot should have gone to them.
To their legions of fans, Rush could be the quintessential definition of Progressive Rock. Through periods of Blues infused Rock, futuristic concept albums, the use of the synthesizer in the 80’s and Alternative Rock, Rush has been able to successfully borrow from multiple styles yet still remain a hard driving Rock band. Any publication that ranks the individual talents of…
A star on the R&B charts through out the 50’s, Ruth Brown had few peers and though she faded from fame after that decade, her legacy was already set.
The great Soul duo of Sam Moore and Dave Prater were among the great stars of the Stax Record Label and with their “call and response” style they became the standard that all Soul duos tried to live up to.
Easily the most important figure in Soul music, Sam Cooke laid the groundwork that virtually every other Soul star would follow. Cooke was among the first to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; an accolade he most definitely deserved.
The band that was named after the legendary Carlos Santana, brought the world one of the finest Latin based Rock bands of history. Actually, they were so good that they were among the finest bands in history regardless of race. Carlos Santana may not be recognized as the greatest guitar player ever but his solos could be considered the most…
The Sex Pistols were the band that defined Punk Rock and they kept that attitude by refusing to attend their induction ceremony by calling the Hall a “piss stain”. Maybe we agree on some level as we created this website after all.
One of the great girl groups of all time, the Shirelles were a huge force at the dawn of the 60’s, but like so many with their sound they seemed so irrelevant five years later. History has been very kind to the Shirelles and their music has regained a timeless beauty.
With a seemingly perfect blend of harmonies, Folk, Pop and the Singer/Songwriter sensibility their may be no duo more revered in music than that of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Considering any reunion concert they do could fill Central Park, it shows the power that their music still has today.
They were multi racial, multi gendered and all the way Funky. Sly & the Family Stone were as relevant as they were fun and there aren’t many who can pull that off.
A controversial selection to us as despite the huge status of Smokey Robinson, his best work was clearly with the Miracles (who were inducted decades after) and was clearly superior to his solo career. Robinson should be in the Hall, but the Miracles should have entered at the same time. Inducted in 1987. From Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
The “King of Rock and Soul”, Solomon Burke is one of the most respected Soul singers and one of the most successful of all time. His R&B chart success is only eclipsed by his respect within the music community, and there should be no doubt about his position in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Burke got in the…
Likely the closest thing a pure Gospel group in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Staple Singers meshed Gospel and Soul and left behind a surprising amount of hits behind. They have been called “God’s Greatest Hitmakers” and this is one of those rare musical statements that rings true.
They were unconventional as they didn’t seem to enjoy performing live as much as they loved the studio, but their blend of Pop, Jazz-Fusion and all around sophisticated sound gave Steely Dan a solid place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, though they may act less like “Rock Stars” than anyone else who is in.
The NIHOF Committee wonders if other people feel the same way about our next selection. All five of us were fans of the Steve Miller Band, though none of us could really say that Miller was one of all time favorites or a must see on the concert tour. The Steve Miller Band certainly has a solid fan base, though…
A few of us remembered at NIHOF when Stevie Ray Vaughan passed away in a tragic helicopter crash. A running joke that went around was how terrible it was that Stevie Ray was dead and all the New Kids on the Block are still alive.Nearly twenty years later, his fans miss him as much as they did when he was first…
It is difficult to argue that Fleetwood Mac should not be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but what of their breakout star, Stevie Nicks? Certainly she had a successful solo career and her look was copied enough, but it is also easy to counter that her best work was in the band that first made her a…
From child prodigy to adult superstar to living legend, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can not exist without Stevie Wonder.