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| Johnny Ace |
Pioneering rock balladeer, its first legendary tragedy (dies playing Russian Roulette backstage Christmas Night, 1954), member of the Memphis supergroup Beale Streeters with R&R HOF'ers BB King & Bobby Bland, possessor of three #1 R&B hits including the posthumous crossover smash "Pledging My Love" which helped introduce rock 'n' roll to white America in the winter of 1955. Should be a sure thing for recognition alone, as he's the biggest name in 50's lore not yet in.
Qualifications: 8
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| B-52's |
Though fairly successful new wave icons they also have an image in the mainstream as too kitsch-oriented, which is always a drawback to be taken seriously by voters. But even if the campy impression they left hurts them, they have the requisite handful of familiar hits to provide easy reference to and remain familiar figures in a style that was widely admired, so at the very least they could have enough support for a nomination at some point.
Qualifications: 5
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| Afrika Bambaataa |
Afrika Bambaataa is the ground zero point for the explosion of hip-hop culture as a whole. Though beaten to the charts by the Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Bambaataa soon followed with the breakthough hit "Planet Rock" in 1982 which not only paved the way for the rap explosion that followed, but Bambaataa's entire persona gave the style its signature cultural look and feel. Musically, he injected electronic rhythms and pioneered the deep bass sound that still exists today. His hitmaking career only encompassed a few more releases, including the legendary pairing on "Unity" with James Brown, but there aren't many artists who were as influential as Bam in rock history.
Qualifications: 7
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| Jeff Beck |
It's not his ability or recognition in the music world as one of the great guitarists that's keeping him out, it's his unique position of not being a solo artist per say, and not having a stable band to get him considered. Technically he's in the Hall already as a Yardbird, but he was only a member briefly. After that only the first two Jeff Beck Group projects were notable enough on their own to be given consideration, though his 70's jazz-fusion work is widely praised. It might be most appropriate to induct him as a sideman.
Qualifications: 5
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| The Beastie Boys |
One of the longest lasting, most versatile and innovative rap groups in history, the Beastie Boys also broke the color line in the process which helped bring the style into the white middle class teen realm, pushing sales of all rap artists higher. "Licensed To Ill" was the biggest selling rap LP of the 80's, but their follow-up "Paul's Boutique" was the album which contained the most experimental sounds and became massively influential on the sampling culture. Any thought that they had been a short lived novelty was erased when they topped the charts with two more albums in the mid-to-late 90's.
Qualifications: 8
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Jesse Belvin
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A prolific songwriter who penned the classic "Earth Angel", as well as being one of the most versatile vocalists of his era and an influence on almost every west coast R&B singer of the 50's. He recorded with so many short lived groups and under multiple aliases that his work is scattered to the wind, but his signature song, "Goodnight My Love", became a rock standard. Belvin died at the age of 26 in a 1960 car crash and his role as RCA's potential crossover R&B artist was taken by Sam Cooke.
Qualifications: 6
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| Big Maybelle |
If talent were all it took to get in Big Maybelle would've made it long ago for few females in rock were ever better singers. But aside from a small handful of R&B hits in the early 50's, an era before most of white America knew the music even existed, she wouldn't elicit a glimmer of recognition from most people, which unfortunately might include voters. Her work though, from the early 50's through some powerful 60's soul sides, speak for themselves. As an early influence at the very least she'd be worth a look.
Qualifications: 5
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| Blood, Sweat & Tears |
Jazz-rock is not highly regarded, nor was it too widely successful, so the group that kicked off that trend probably won't get much support from voters, especially since BS&T founder Al Kooper, who does get respect, left acrimoniously so soon after they began. If the Hall is looking to bestow honor on Al they have an outside shot, otherwise it's a pipe-dream, even with their brief run of big hits early on.
Qualifications: 5
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| Kurtis Blow |
The first solo rapper of note Blow made waves when "The Breaks" became the first 12" record to be certified Gold. While he never equaled that success, he nevertheless followed it up with numerous smaller hits throughout the 80's and paved the way for every individual behind the mic since. He'll definitely have to wait until bigger hip-hop artists get their due, but down the road he'd be deserving of consideration.
Qualifications: 6
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| Gary "U.S." Bonds |
Instigator of what became the frat-house style of rock in the early sixties, he had some classic sides but his success was short lived and won't realistically be enough to get him in. His best shot, ironically, comes from his continuing association with Bruce Springsteen, who is a huge fan and helped Bonds launch a successful comeback in the early 80's, as well as on multiple projects since. The Hall loves Bruce's induction speeches, so maybe that'd be seen as reason enough for some to cast a vote his way.
Qualifications: 5
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| Boston |
A huge debut and a handful of other big hits along the way, in a style that didn't break any new ground and has the image of one built on bombast to some as it is, probably won't be enough to get them so much as a nomination, leaving hardcore fans convinced the Hall is biased. In truth Boston deserves a look, but not much more. They're like an athlete with one big season that will remain on the books forever, but their full career didn't live up to those early expectations.
Qualifications: 5
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| Jerry Butler |
Though the group he initially fronted in 1958, The Impressions, made it in long ago, Butler, who went on to have huge solo career, never got in himself, despite over 40 hits to his credit. Often veered between deeper soul, such as the immortal "Only The Strong Survive" and more ornate pop, like his rendition of "Moon River", but the conflicting material didn't keep Bobby Darin out of the Hall. Butler's widely considered to be one of the true class acts in an industry not always known for that, so that image could help.
Qualifications: 7
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| The Cadillacs |
Groundbreaking vocal harmony group was the first to bring stage choreography to rock 'n' roll, making them one of the most influential artists performance-wise in history. In lead singer Earl "Speedoo" Carroll they had one of the most charismatic frontmen who ever graced a stage and were equally skilled at humorous uptempo songs and romantic ballads. But on the whole vocal harmony groups of the 50's often had fleeting mainstream success, and so unless their biggest hit is still widely known, the chances are slim.
Qualifications: 5
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| Canned Heat |
Brought the boogie-styled blues back to rock 'n' roll which paved the way for ZZ Top among others, but their popularity as a live act and the authenticity of their approach aside, it was relatively small in impact. The early deaths of two of their most prominent members hurts their chances when looking at it from an induction ceremony standpoint. Fondly remembered by fans, with two hits of theirs still instantly recognizable thanks to commercial use, but without the mainstream familiarity necessary for wider support.
Qualifications: 5
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| James Carr |
Very little in the way of commercial success, none of his singles even broke the Top 60, though they did do much better on the R&B Charts, but like similarly hit-starved inductees Velvet Underground, Frank Zappa and The Ramones, Carr is near legendary within music circles. His drawback is, unlike those three examples who have tons of influence, Carr was just a singer, not an innovator. But then some would say he was the single greatest southern soul singer ever, so if that matters he's got a chance.
Qualifications: 5
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| The Cars |
Though probably not thought of immediately when it comes to possible Fame status they have a chance to at least have their credentials looked at, which are very good in terms of popularity (8 Top Twenty hits) but not viewed as all that groundbreaking. Even without that groundbreaking status they were so successful and emblematic of their style and era that they are a decent bet to be at least be nominated at some point in the future. Their chances at getting in depends on how that era and style are remembered at the time of the vote.
Qualifications: 7
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| Clarence Carter |
The blind guitar playing soul-blues star of the late 60's and early 70's has a number of hits and equally well-remembered lesser songs to his credit but takes a back seat in recognition to his contemporaries in most circles. The sexual lothario image he created was a precursor to much of the 70's black music scene but he failed to make pop inroads with it as time wore on. One of the key figures in the Muscle Shoals sound and married to a time to fellow soul star Candi Staton remains a decent long shot.
Qualifications: 5
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| Gene Chandler |
One omnipresent song can sometimes give an outside shot a better chance than otherwise expected but in Chandler's case that song ("Duke Of Earl") actually overshadows a very long, solid career in a much more mature soul style. If he does get considered it will surely be for that one massive record, but his subsequent 30+ hits stretching into the 1980's, including some great songs written by Curtis Mayfield and one transcendent live album, could earn him added support.
Qualifications: 6
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| The Chantels |
The Hall of Fame is always in need of females to acknowledge, which can be hard in a male dominated style of music such as a rock 'n' roll, so here's one that helped kick off the girl group era way back in 1958, who have a respected lead singer in Arlene Smith, and two enduring songs, including the all-time classic "Maybe". They've gotten a nomination already so they're definitely on somebody's radar.
Qualifications: 5
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| Chic |
The greatest self-contained disco artists in rock history, Chic has multiple nominations without getting in, despite their achievements which include two #1 hits for themselves, plus numerous hits that their founders, guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards, wrote and produced for others. The cultural backlash against the excessive disco style has likely kept their support for the Hall from growing, especially with the public, but disco was far too big a piece of rock for a full decade to be ignored and Chic boasted perhaps the greatest and most influential rhythm section (with drummer Tony Thompson) of any group in the past thirty years. The style itself is in need of more representation within the Hall and Chic stands out as the standard bearer of the sound from its heyday.
Qualifications: 7
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| Chicago |
Their chart success is staggering, with nearly 50 hits to their credit, but their style is undoubtedly what turns off potential voters, as they abandoned their early blues-rock upbringing that had featured Terry Kath's guitar pyrotechnics for a more mellow adult contemporary jazzy ballad persona that made them superstars in the 70's and 80's but resulted in often poor critical response. Whether the Hall embraces the oft-maligned image that pop-rock has remains to be seen, even twenty years in to the proceedings.
Qualifications: 5
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| The Chiffons |
The girl group style was dominant in the early to mid-60's and the Chiffons lasted as long at the top as any. They have three Top Ten hits to their credit that are all still widely heard, including the #1 smash "He's So Fine" which George Harrison later lifted for "My Sweet Lord". The lack of identifiable individual members hurts them, as does the modern image of the girl-group sound, but anyone looking deeper into their catalog will find they were much more versatile than they're usually given credit for. While they are a long-shot at best, some long-shots do come in and they wouldn't be entirely undeserving of a look.
Qualifications: 5
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| The Chi-Lites |
Black vocal harmony groups of the 70's still largely have a ways to go in voters minds, as such deserving candidates such as the Dells and O'Jays had to wait multiple years before finally getting the call. The Chi-Lites, despite over 40 R&B Hits to their credit, including a #1 Pop Hit along the way, don't even get the recognition of those two acts, so they might be waiting a long, long time, even with the great Eugene Record in their midst. Vastly underrated today and therefore seriously overlooked by voters so far.
Qualifications: 7
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| Jimmy Cliff |
Reggae has only one artist representing the entire style in the Hall, something that shows the voters lack of recognition for something that is bigger outside the US than within it. Cliff was one of the first superstars from Jamaica, dating back to the ska era of the mid-60's, and he later brought reggae some of its most visible notoriety when he starred in the classic film, "The Harder They Come". Very highly respected by musicians and an enduring name for four decades now.
Qualifications: 6
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| The Clovers |
One of the Hall Of Fame's most indefensible exclusions, the Clovers were the first rock vocal group of note, landing an astonishing 15 Top Ten hits in the early to mid-50's. Today they are known almost exclusively for their belated 1959 pop chart hit "Love Potion #9", which gives them the surface appearance of a flash in the pan to those who don't know rock's origins, which sadly might include the voters. In truth, the Clovers set the model that most other vocal groups followed and were the biggest group of their era. A dominant force in rock's evolution.
Qualifications: 8
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| Joe Cocker |
Gruff voiced singer who's work includes some of the more memorable late 60's anthems never quite became a star, despite being considered one of the better live acts around. Since so many of his most famous records were covers, combined with many of his later hits being adult contemporary type ballads, it doesn't seem as if he's got more than a wild card's chance at induction up his sleeve, but he's very distinctive, so you never know.
Qualifications: 5
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| Phil Collins |
Because he is so intrinsically linked with Genesis it seems unlikely that he'd make it into the Hall of Fame as a solo artist before they made it as a group, but his work on his own makes a strong case for a separate induction at some point. He had 14 Top Ten hits and perhaps his most well-respected song, "In The Air Tonight", only made the Top Twenty, so his catalog isn't lacking. Genesis is the better bet if only one of them gets in but Collins might garner enough support on his own to make it as well.
Qualifications: 6
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| The Commodores |
They were more than successful enough to warrant induction but an image of being too laid back musically, along with the split of rock listeners in the 70's along demographic lines might hurt their chances, especially if too many of the voting body fall outside their style. Lionel Richie's huge success upon leaving the group might take away from the Commodores legacy as a whole if voters view the group as simply riding his coattails. They are one of those cases where their image is viewed as a detriment, despite their credentials.
Qualifications: 6
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