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.