Thought we’d try something a little different today. It’s the 30th anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On this date in 1986, the inaugural class of HOFers was inducted in NYC. Let me introduce them. Then, the forum is open for you, your comments/tributes and music embeds. Long live rock!
Performers:
Elvis Presley – The historical marker at Graceland says it all: “Presley’s career as a singer and entertainer redefined popular music.”
Buddy Holly – Between August 1957 and August 1958, Holly and the Crickets charted seven Top 40 singles.
Chuck Berry – “It's very difficult for me to talk about Chuck Berry 'cause I've lifted every lick he ever played -- this is the gentleman who started it all! - Keith Richards
Fats Domino – Incredible as it may seem, Fats Domino scored more hit records than Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Buddy Holly put together.
James Brown – This much is certain: what became known as soul music in the Sixties, funk music in the Seventies and rap music in the Eighties is directly attributable to James Brown.
Jerry Lee Lewis – Jerry Lee Lewis is the wild man of rock and roll, embodying its most reckless and high-spirited impulses by combining a ferocious, boogie instrumental style with rowdy, uninhibited vocals.
Ray Charles – In his own words, he fostered “a crossover between gospel music and the rhythm patterns of the blues” and elements of country & western and big-band jazz as well. It all added up to “soul” – “a force that can light a room. The force radiates from a sense of selfhood, a sense of knowing where you’ve been and what it means. Soul is a way of life – but it’s always the hard way."
Sam Cooke – Considered by many to be the definitive soul singer, he blended sensuality and spirituality, sophistication and soul, movie-idol looks and gospel-singer poise.
The Everly Brothers – Their close-harmony singing directly influenced a rising tide of musicians that included the Beatles, the Hollies, Simon and Garfunkel and the Byrds. The Everlys’ band during the early 70s included Warren Zevon on keyboards and Waddy Wachtel on guitar.
Little Richard – His frantically charged piano playing and raspy, shouted vocals on such classics as “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally” and “Good Golly, Miss Molly” defined the dynamic sound of rock and roll.
Non-Performers: Alan Freed; Sam Phillips
Early Influence: Jimmy Rodgers; Jimmy Yancey; Robert Johnson
Lifetime Achievement: John Hammond
