Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Dr. John and Darlene Love are the latest inductees to the pantheon of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the organization will announce on Wednesday morning.
Ms. Love, the go-to backup singer in the 1960s who sang on many of Phil Spector’s biggest hits — sometimes as the lead, but not always with credit — had been nominated twice before, but all of the other performers had been nominated for the first time. In addition, Leon Russell is being honored with the award for musical excellence (formerly known as the sidemen award), and nonperformer honors will go to Jac Holzman, who founded Elektra Records, and Art Rupe, who created the Specialty label.
As always, who didn’t get in says as much as who did. A look at the nominees who didn’t make the cut suggests that the Hall of Fame voters played it safe, after some criticism last year when Abba, the epitome of 1970s disco-pop, was admitted in favor of Kiss. This year, on the other hand, the disco-affiliated nominees (Donna Summer, Chic) were shut out, as well as anyone who could have added to the Rock Hall’s limited hip-hop roster (LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys).
Also shut out was Bon Jovi, whose nomination stirred some debate, as well the singer-songwriters Donovan and Laura Nyro, and the R&B singers Joe Tex and Chuck Willis.
Artists become eligible for nomination 25 years after the release of their first single or album, and the awards are voted on by more than 500 music professionals. The 26th annual induction ceremony will be held on March 14 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.
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