The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame revealed its 2021 Inductees, celebrating the most diverse list of Inductees in the history of the organization. They are:
Performer Category:
Tina Turner
Tina Turner worked hard to reimagine the role of a Black woman in rock and roll – one not relegated to the edges.
Carole King
By singing about her desires, experiences, heartaches, and life, King gave women a voice and the confidence to incite change.
The Go-Go’s
Considered the most successful all-woman rock band of all time, the Go-Go’s catchy, well-crafted songs formed a bridge between the brash urgency of L.A. punk and the dark melodies of new wave pop.
JAY-Z
JAY-Z has maintained authenticity with hip-hop purists while still achieving incomparable commercial and business success. Many have tried, but no one has come close to knocking him off his throne.
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters carry the torch of rock authenticity with infectious hooks, in-your-face guitar riffs, monster drums, and boundless energy.
Todd Rundgren
A true jack of all trades, Todd Rundgren continues to redefine the sound of rock & roll through genre-melding songwriting and production.
Early Influence Award:
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk established the blueprint for modern electronic music – without them it simply would not exist.
Charley Patton
Before Jimi Hendrix mastered the guitar, before Chuck Berry pioneered rock & roll, before Robert Johnson strummed a single chord – Charley Patton did it all.
Gil Scott-Heron
Scott-Heron’s fusion of jazz, blues, soul, and funk challenged the status quo with biting satire, unapologetic social commentary, and confrontational poetry.
Musical Excellence Award:
LL Cool J
LL Cool J delivers both hardcore raps and sexy love songs with swagger still heard in hip-hop today.
Billy Preston
Billy Preston is an essential part of the fabric of rock & roll. He blazed a path with the smoking sounds of his B3 organ, the funky rhythms of his clavinet, and the exciting tones of his gospel-inspired vocals and piano.
Randy Rhoads
Incorporating classical elements into his astounding signature style, Randy Rhoads pioneered a high-speed, technical style of guitar soloing that came to define metal in the 1980s
Ahmet Ertegun Award:
Clarence Avant
Known as the Godfather of Black Music, Clarence Avant is someone who makes the impossible possible. He has spent a lifetime helping artists understand – and earn – their true value.
“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. 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 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.
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 at a later date on HBO and stream on HBO Max.