Music Blogs

2006 was the 20th anniversary of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, whose most well-known function is “to recognize the contributions of those who have had a significant impact on the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock and roll by inducting them into the Hall of Fame.”

An artist or band cannot be eligible for induction until 25 years from the release of their debut album. And the official criteria for consideration include “the influence and significance of the artist’s contribution to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll”.  Of course, many sub-genres feel they are under represented at the Hall, so not everyone agrees with the foundation’s selections. 2006 inductee The Sex Pistols even referred to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a “Piss Stain”. But then again the Sex Pistols would not be the Sex Pistols without such a comment, and in fact, the band generated much more publicity by publicly rejecting the Hall of Fame.

Personally, I’m not so sure I agree with a bunch of music insiders and journalists selecting artists to be held in higher esteem than others, but on the other hand the list is much better than the Billboard Charts. Either way, I could not resist creating this playlist.

Even if there are serious omissions in the The Hall of Fame, the artists that have been selected to date all have undeniable influence in the world of popular music. Inductees enter the exclusive club in one of four main categories: Performers, Non-Performers, Early Influences and, since 2000, Side-men. The foundation also occasionally bestows an award for lifetime achievement. This playlist contains one classic track by all the YMU available artists that have been inducted as performers, or as early influencers. At over 11 hours, this playlist is a time capsule of Rock & Roll history.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees (Performers and Early Influencers)

1986

• Chuck Berry
• James Brown
• Ray Charles
• Sam Cooke
• Fats Domino
• The Everly Brothers
• Buddy Holly
• Jerry Lee Lewis
• Little Richard
• Elvis Presley

1987

• The Coasters
• Eddie Cochran
• Bo Diddley
• Aretha Franklin
• Marvin Gaye
• Bill Haley
• B. B. King
• Clyde McPhatter
• Ricky Nelson
• Roy Orbison
• Carl Perkins
• Smokey Robinson
• Big Joe Turner
• Muddy Waters
• Jackie Wilson

1988

• The Beach Boys
• The Beatles
• The Drifters
• Bob Dylan
• The Supremes

1989

• Dion
• Otis Redding
• The Rolling Stones
• The Temptations
• Stevie Wonder

1990

• Hank Ballard
• Bobby Darin
• The Four Seasons
• The Four Tops
• The Kinks
• The Platters
• Simon & Garfunkel
• The Who

1991

• LaVern Baker
• The Byrds
• John Lee Hooker
• The Impressions
• Wilson Pickett
• Jimmy Reed
• Ike and Tina Turner

1992

• Bobby “Blue” Bland
• Booker T. & the M.G.’s
• Johnny Cash
• The Isley Brothers
• The Jimi Hendrix Experience
• Sam & Dave
• The Yardbirds

1993

• Ruth Brown
• Cream
• Creedence Clearwater Revival
• The Doors
• Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
• Etta James
• Van Morrison
• Sly & The Family Stone

1994

• The Animals
• The Band
• Duane Eddy
• Grateful Dead
• Elton John
• John Lennon
• Bob Marley
• Rod Stewart

1995

• The Allman Brothers Band
• Al Green
• Janis Joplin
• Led Zeppelin
• Martha & The Vandellas
• Neil Young
• Frank Zappa

1996

• David Bowie
• Gladys Knight & The Pips
• Jefferson Airplane
• Little Willie John
• Pink Floyd
• The Shirelles
• The Velvet Underground

1997

• The Bee Gees
• Buffalo Springfield
• Crosby, Stills & Nash
• The Jackson Five
• Joni Mitchell
• Parliament/Funkadelic
• The Rascals (Young Rascals)

1998

• The Eagles
• Fleetwood Mac
• The Mamas & The Papas
• Lloyd Price
• Santana
• Gene Vincent

1999

• Billy Joel
• Curtis Mayfield
• Paul McCartney
• Del Shannon
• Dusty Springfield
• Bruce Springsteen
• The Staple Singers

2000

• Eric Clapton
• Earth, Wind & Fire
• The Lovin’ Spoonful
• The Moonglows
• Bonnie Raitt
• James Taylor

2001

• Aerosmith
• Solomon Burke
• The Flamingos
• Michael Jackson
• Queen
• Paul Simon
• Steely Dan
• Ritchie Valens

2002

• Isaac Hayes
• Brenda Lee
• Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• Gene Pitney
• The Ramones
• Talking Heads

2003

• AC/DC
• The Clash
• Elvis Costello & The Attractions
• The Police
• The Righteous Brothers

2004

• Jackson Browne
• The Dells
• George Harrison
• Prince
• Bob Seger
• Traffic
• ZZ Top

2005

• Buddy Guy
• The O’Jays
• The Pretenders
• Percy Sledge
• U2

2006

• Black Sabbath
• Blondie
• Miles Davis
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Sex Pistols (They declined, but were still inducted)

2007

• Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five
• Patti Smith
• R.E.M. 
• The Ronettes
• Van Halen

2008

• Leonard Cohen 
• The Dave Clark Five
• Madonna 
• John Mellencamp 
• The Ventures

Early Influences