ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2021 INDUCTEES36TH ANNUAL ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY TO TAKE PLACE OCTOBER 30 IN CLEVELAND, OHIO; TICKETS ON SALE IN JULYOFFICIAL PRESS RELEASENEWS PROVIDED BY Universal Music Canada The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame reveals its 2021 Inductees, celebrating the most diverse list of Inductees in the history of the organization. They are: Performer Category: Early Influence Award: Musical Excellence Award: Ahmet Ertegun Award: “This diverse class of talented Inductees reflects the Rock Hall’s ongoing commitment to honor artists whose music created the sound of youth culture”, said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “It will make for an unforgettable live celebration of music in October at this year’s Induction Ceremony in Cleveland.” To be eligible, artists are required to have released their first record 25 years prior to induction. The Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, and JAY-Z were on the ballot for the first time. Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) will become a two-time Inductee having previously been Inducted with Nirvana in 2014. Other two-time inductees include Carole King, previously inducted with Gerry Goffin in 1990, and Tina Turner, previously inducted with Ike and Tina Turner in 1991. The 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 8 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio with a radio simulcast on SiriusXM’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Radio channel 310. The Induction Ceremony will air on HBO and be available to stream on HBO Max at a later date. The Induction categories and criteria for selection: To learn more about past recipients, click here. Ballots were sent to an international voting body of more than 1,200 artists, including current living Inductees, historians and members of the music industry. Factors such as an artist’s musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration. Three out of the top five on the “Fans’ Ballot” are being Inducted, including Tina Turner (winning the fan vote), The Go-Go’s, and Foo Fighters. 5 million votes were cast. The Inductees were announced on Rock Hall’s social channels and live on SiriusXM’s Volume channel and the morning show “Feedback,” hosted by Nik Carter and Lori Majewski, featuring special guest, Joel Peresman, CEO, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Tickets go on sale to the public and members in July at ticketmaster.com. Select Rock Hall donors and members get exclusive Induction ticket opportunities. Donate or join by June 30, 2021 to be eligible. Visit rockhall.com/join to learn more. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2021 Inductee exhibit celebrating this year’s class opens at the Museum in Cleveland on July 1. The Museum is open daily with advance tickets required at rockhall.com. Press can access hi-resolution images, bios for Inductees and submit Media Credential Applications at rockhall.com/press-room. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2021 Inductee Bios CLARENCE AVANT Avant’s career began in the 1950s when he served as the manager for Little Willie John and jazz organist Jimmy Smith. In late 1969, he launched Sussex Records, a label that soon achieved a Top Ten hit with Dennis Coffey’s “Scorpio.” The most notable artist on Sussex was Bill Withers, who released his first three records for the label, featuring the hits “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Lean on Me,” and “Use Me.” In 1971, Avant launched Avant Garde Broadcasting, one of the first Black-owned radio stations in the country. Always recognizing the power of music, Avant served as executive producer for the 1973 concert film Save the Children. This historic concert was filmed at Rev. Jesse Jackson’s PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) Black Expo and was notably one of the few festivals to feature artists from Motown, Stax, and Atlantic Records. Avant spent much of the 1970s serving as a consultant to major record labels, fighting for more equitable and lucrative deals for their roster of Black artists. Beginning in the 1980s, he became a mentor to the songwriting/production teams of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and L.A. Reid and Babyface. He served in a key promotional role for Michael Jackson’s 1987 Bad world tour and eventually became chairman of the board of Motown Records. In a business historically fraught with distrust, Avant has been trusted and respected by all. He has spent a lifetime helping artists understand – and earn – their true value. Inductee: Clarence Avant FOO FIGHTERS Foo Fighters churn pop, prog, metal, punk, and hard rock into a polished – but still raw – version of modern rock. Some consider Foo Fighters a “guitar” band, because over time, they have expanded into a thick wall of guitar sounds, with Grohl playing straightforward chords, Pat Smear adding large atmospheric sounds, and Chris Shiflett crafting melodies that complement the vocals. Others consider them a “drums” band – after all, they do have Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins, two hard-hitting monster drummers with a keen sense of musicality and ability to construct the perfect drumbeat for each song’s needs. Foo Fighters continually reshape their production techniques. They recorded There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999) as a trio in the basement of Grohl’s Virginia home with no record company to oversee the process or inhibit the flow of creativity. 2005’s In Your Honor became a double album – one filled with the classic, heavy Foo Fighters sound, and one that showed the band’s softer, acoustic, introspective side. They recorded Wasting Light (2011) on analog tape to recapture the feel and sound of tiny imperfections and to track everything “live” – without the slickness of computer-based production. Through these studio innovations, they updated the classic rock values of authenticity and rawness for modern ears. Foo Fighters have become the go-to rock band of the 21st century, performing two sold-out, back-to-back nights at London’s Wembley Stadium, multiple Grammy award ceremonies, David Letterman’s final Late Show episode, and President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration celebration. Selected discography: Inductees: Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear THE GO-GO'S Formed out of the diverse and egalitarian punk scene in Los Angeles in 1978 with Belinda Carlisle on lead vocals and Jane Wiedlin on rhythm guitar and vocals, the core lineup of the band solidified over the next few years with the additions of lead guitarist and keyboardist Charlotte Caffey, drummer Gina Schock, and bassist Kathy Valentine. Known for their raw and energetic live shows, the Go-Go’s circumvented record label sexism and signed with IRS Records in 1981. Their debut album Beauty and the Beat was released later that year and became the first (and, to date, only) album by an all-woman band that played its own instruments and wrote its own songs to top the Billboard albums chart. Despite a shift toward a more melodic new wave sound, the band’s D.I.Y. punk roots remain evident in hits like “We Got the Beat” and “Our Lips Are Sealed.” The group’s second and third studio albums, Vacation (1982) and Talk Show (1984), furthered their success with the singles “Vacation” and “Head Over Heels.” In heavy rotation on MTV, their songs (primarily composed by Caffey, Wiedlin, and Valentine) had weighty lyrics belied by their sunny melodies and a timelessness that set the band apart from many of their 1980s counterparts. Though the band broke up in 1985, the Go-Go’s have reunited periodically since 1990 to record and tour. In recent years, the band’s music has been celebrated with the Broadway musical Head Over Heels and chronicled in the Showtime documentary The Go-Go’s (2020). For the documentary’s soundtrack, the band reconvened virtually to record their first new song in 19 years, “Club Zero.” The Go-Go’s influence is seen in countless artists, including Bikini Kill, Green Day, and Nirvana. Selected discography: Inductees: Charlotte Caffey, Belinda Carlisle, Gina Schock, Kathy Valentine, Jane Wiedlin JAY-Z Born Shawn Carter in Brooklyn, JAY-Z’s autobiographical approach to songwriting – a balance of braggadocious confidence and comfortable vulnerability – propelled his popularity. His earliest recordings date back to 1986, but it was his groundbreaking debut album Reasonable Doubt (1996) that turned heads when it was released on his independent label Roc-A-Fella Records. 2001’s The Blueprint earned the coveted Five-Mic review from The Source, as well as his first Top 10 single “Izzo (H.O.V.A.).” JAY-Z announced a short-lived retirement following the release of The Black Album (2003), which included the Rick Rubin-produced “99 Problems.” In 2004, he became president of Def Jam Records, where he signed Rihanna, Kanye West, and J. Cole. JAY-Z’s next few years included a mash-up album with Linkin Park, the Grammy-winning ode to New York City “Empire State of Mind,” and a chart-topping album with Kanye West. He proved that hip-hop could pack stadiums when his Magna Carta tour sold out in minutes. In 2018, he released a joint album with his wife and fellow megastar Beyoncé, Everything Is Love. As JAY-Z puts it, “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.” His profound impact extends well beyond music, including fashion, sports ownership, and music streaming, and in 2019, he became hip-hop’s first billionaire. He’s hosted political fundraisers, performed at presidential inaugurations, and has been an outspoken advocate for civil rights. His 2017 song “The Story of O.J.” shined a spotlight on systemic racism and was nominated for three Grammys, including Record of the Year. Throughout it all, JAY-Z has maintained authenticity with hip-hop purists while still achieving incomparable commercial success. Many have tried, but no one has come close to knocking him off his throne. Selected discography: Inductee: JAY-Z CAROLE KING King’s time as a Brill Building-style pop songwriter would be enough to make her a legend, but she was just getting started. With the launch of her solo career, she emerged as a strong, pensive singer-songwriter and Laurel Canyon star. Her sophomore release Tapestry (1971) swept the Grammys. On the Tapestry version of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” the danceable rhythms and full production of the girl group sound is replaced by aching piano chords, subdued tempo, and sparse instrumentation. Above this texture, her voice – honest and earthy, simple and beautiful – calls out from the place of a grown woman. The personal style of King’s performance on that track, on new songs such as “Beautiful,” and on subsequent albums like Fantasy (1973) and City Streets (1989), has connected with listeners – particularly women – because it came from a place of unabashed vulnerability. Carole King’s life is a testament to perseverance and creativity, so much so that Beautiful: The Carole King Musical ran for five years on Broadway, scoring its own Grammy and two Tony awards. Everyone from the Beatles to Lady Gaga has covered her songs, and she defined what a singer-songwriter is for all who followed. King spent her career taking the concerns of women and girls seriously. By singing about her personal desires, heartaches, triumphs, and failures, Carole King gave women a voice and the confidence to change their own lives – and to collectively change our entire world. Selected discography: Inductee: Carole King KRAFTWERK The following years secured Kraftwerk’s place as both musical innovators and master songwriters. The albums The Man-Machine (1978), Computer World (1981) and Electric Café (1986) established the blueprint for modern electronic music – without them it simply would not exist. Kraftwerk have been sampled widely, from New Order’s use of “Uranium” in their masterpiece “Blue Monday,” to artists as varied as Jay-Z, Sunshine, and Coldplay. The band’s influence can be heard in the synth-pop of Depeche Mode, the electronic-rock integration of U2, the production techniques of Kanye West, and in countless EDM and dubstep artists. Kraftwerk are entirely unique – they have produced Number One chart success with their song “The Model” and were invited to perform at MOMA and the Tate Modern for their contributions to avant-garde art. Kraftwerk have been, and will always be, “Music Non-Stop.” Selected discography: Inductees: Karl Bartos, Wolfgang Flür, Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider Through the 1980s, LL blazed a trail from Queens to the nation, becoming one of the best-selling hip-hop artists of the decade. In 1987, he became the first rapper to top the R&B charts with “I Need Love.” His 1991 Grammy-winning anthem “Mama Said Knock You Out” was a KO heard around the world, while singles “Going Back to Cali,” “Around the Way Girl,” “Hey Lover,” and “Doin’ It” became huge radio hits. LL’s voice is powerful, his flow intimidating, and his swagger mesmerizing. Michael Jackson, inspired by LL’s “I’m Bad,” recorded “Bad” after meeting him in person. LL is equally comfortable with hardcore battle raps (Eminem calls him one of his biggest influences) as he is with sexy love songs (hence the name Ladies Love Cool James). If you didn’t love LL, you wanted to be LL. LL Cool J epitomizes the entrepreneurial musician. He leveraged his music career into successful ventures in movies, television, fashion, and fitness. The empires run by Beyoncé, JAY-Z, 50 Cent, and Diddy owe him a debt of gratitude. He didn’t open the door – he smashed it wide open, creating opportunities for anyone who picked up a mic. Selected discography: Inductee: LL Cool J CHARLEY PATTON Charley Patton picked up his first guitar at age 7, shortly after moving to Dockery Plantation in Mississippi. As an elder statesman of the blues, he mentored a who’s who of Delta musicians including Son House, Robert Johnson, and Howlin’ Wolf. Patton recorded his first session for Paramount Records in 1929, cutting seminal songs like “Pony Blues,” which the Library of Congress later canonized in the National Recording Registry. Patton crafted such full textures in his music that his recordings can sound as though three guitarists are performing together – but it was all Patton. The virtuosity of his inimitable guitar technique offered a way to convey on record the energy of his live performances. Patton played his guitar between his legs, shouted to reach the back of crowded juke joints, and harshly beat rhythms on his guitar with songs that sometimes stretched to half an hour. Patton’s story paints a fuller picture of the myriad influences of Delta performers. His songs capture the pain of field hollers (“Oh Death”), the joy of vaudeville (“A Spoonful Blues”), the humor of ragtime (“Shake It and Break It”), and the righteousness of gospel (“I Shall Not Be Moved”). As a symbol of success and professionalism in his community, Patton’s story debunks the often-told myth of the downtrodden-but-mystically-gifted bluesman. The world will never know how the blues sounded before musicians like Patton, Ma Rainey, and Blind Lemon Jefferson started recording the music in the 1920s. These artists form the nexus between history and mystery. Patton planted the Delta blues seed that sprouted the endless branches of rock & roll from Chicago blues to the British Invasion, from heavy metal to hip-hop. When music fans search for the true origins of rock & roll and its roots, Charley Patton is about as close as it gets. Selected discography: Inductee: Charley Patton BILLY PRESTON In 1962, Preston joined Little Richard’s touring band, and a year later he performed on Sam Cooke’s Night Beat album. Cooke signed him to his SAR Records label and released the album 16 Yr. Old Soul, which contained the organ powerhouse instrumental “Greazee.” During the late 1960s, his work with George Harrison and the Beatles elevated Preston to a new level of international recognition. The single “Get Back” b/w “Don’t Let Me Down” was credited to “the Beatles with Billy Preston” – an unprecedented honor. He played on the final two Beatles albums, Let It Be and Abbey Road, and joined the band during their final rooftop performance. Throughout his solo career, Preston wrote and recorded songs that mixed his gospel and soul roots with rock and funk power. “That’s the Way God Planned It” became an international hit and featured the backing band of Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Ginger Baker, and George Harrison. Preston’s performance of the song stole the show at the “Concert for Bangladesh” in 1971. Throughout the 1970s, he released innovative instrumentals, playing the clavinet through a wah-wah pedal on “Outa-Space” and creating futuristic synthesizer parts on “Space Race.” His soulful voice was featured on the chart-topping hits “Will It Go Round in Circles” and “Nothing From Nothing.” Preston was always in high demand, performing with Ray Charles, the Everly Brothers, the Rolling Stones, Sly and the Family Stone, Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and countless others. Billy Preston is an essential part of the fabric of rock & roll, the magic ingredient that could take a song from “good” to “legendary.” Even Little Richard was in awe of Preston’s ability, proclaiming, “There is nobody in this world who could play the piano like Billy Preston.” Selected discography: Inductee: Billy Preston RANDY RHOADS After recording two albums with Quiet Riot (the band he cofounded in 1973), Rhoads joined ex-Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne's new solo band in 1979. In many ways due to Rhoads' stunning guitar work, Osbourne's first solo release, Blizzard of Ozz (1980), is recognized as one of heavy metal’s greatest albums, and its biggest single, “Crazy Train,” features one of the most recognizable guitar riffs ever played. Both Blizzard of Ozz and its superb followup, Diary of a Madman (1981) – showcasing Rhoads’ astounding talents – are loaded with songs that became instant metal classics. Just as he was beginning to receive major accolades as a distinguished musician (including 1982’s “Best New Guitarist” honor from Guitar Playermagazine), 25-year-old Rhoads was tragically killed in a plane crash on March 19, 1982. When the Osbourne/Rhoads live album, Tribute (1987), was later released, it confirmed the astonishing skill and limitless potential of the young guitarist, ensuring that his status in the music world would reach mythic proportions and that rock music and guitar playing were changed forever. Selected discography: Inductee: Randy Rhoads TODD RUNDGREN A Philadelphia native, Rundgren was influenced by the sound of soul, British rock, vocal harmony, and 1960s singer-songwriters. In 1967, he formed power pop group Nazz and honed his chops as a songwriter, but his curiosity led to more. He joined Albert Grossman’s Bearsville Records as a producer and engineer, a decision that quickly paid off. Rundgren earned his first top 20 hit with “We Gotta Get You a Woman” as part of his debut solo effort Runt (1970). His ambitious 1972 double album Something/Anything? thrust him in the spotlight with iconic hits like “I Saw the Light” and “Hello It’s Me.” Always prolific, in the 1970s and 1980s he released 12 solo albums, nine albums with his progressive rock outfit Utopia, and produced groundbreaking albums for the Patti Smith Group (Wave), Meat Loaf (Bat Out of Hell), Grand Funk Railroad (We’re an American Band), and the New York Dolls (New York Dolls). At each turn, his sound evolved: “I never felt pressure that I had to come back and top what I might’ve done before.” We can hear Todd Rundgren’s influence in everyone from Prince and Daryl Hall and John Oates to Björk and Daft Punk. In 2017, Rundgren released White Knight, which includes collaborations with Trent Reznor and Robyn – further demonstrating the wide-reaching impact of one of rock & roll’s truest renaissance men. Selected discography: Inductee: Todd Rundgren GIL SCOTT-HERON The critically acclaimed I’m New Here (2010) was Scott-Heron’s first album in 16 years, and a remix version of the album earned rave reviews and was released shortly before his death in 2011. While Scott-Heron rejected the label of “first rapper ever” (he preferred the term “bluesologist”), there’s no denying his role as a key progenitor of hip-hop and neo-soul. Today, his legacy lives on in artists who employ confrontational storytelling (Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine) and celebrate non-conformity (Patti Smith, MF Doom) and also by the many artists who have sampled his music, including Kanye West, Drake, and Rihanna. Selected discography: Inductee: Gil Scott-Heron TINA TURNER Turner’s early solo work positioned her as a soulful interpreter of country, rock, blues, and disco, but she finally found her voice with 1984’s five-time platinum album Private Dancer, which included seven hit singles. On the haunting title track, Turner croons deep into the microphone, drawing out the words to pull the listener into her story, eventually belting out the final chorus in a dance of emotions. The swinging rhythms of “What’s Love Got to Do With It” won her three Grammy Awards and became a staple on MTV. Her carefully crafted look – leather skirt, jean jacket, and teased hair – connected her more directly to modern rock and the new generation that was watching. Turner worked hard to reimagine the role of a Black woman in rock & roll – one not relegated to the edges. A string of duets with male artists, including David Bowie and Mick Jagger, positioned her as equal to, and often above, her male counterparts. Turner continued to land hits with “Typical Male,” “The Best,” and “I Don’t Wanna Fight,” and her 1986 autobiography I, Tina – and subsequent biopic – told the story of her career, her past experience with abuse, and her dreams of rock stardom. Turner continued performing, setting world records for concert attendance and, in 2009, celebrated 50 years in music. Despite retirement, her music and stage performances continue to resonate with countless artists, from Whitney Houston and Beyoncé, to Mariah Carey and Annie Lennox – setting the stage for every strong female performer who followed. Turner embodies the strength that comes from emotional recovery. Her music and life have empowered fans of multiple generations, giving them the courage and spirit to reclaim their own story in their own words. Tina Turner is “simply the best.” Selected discography: Inductee: Tina Turner
Source Universal Music Canada
May 14, 2021 12:00am ET by Pressparty |