ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME 2024 NOMINATED INDUCTEES.

Caffè Lattè examines this year’s 15 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame contenders:

THE CLASS OF

2024

We argue the case for each of 2024’s 15 nominees for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame…

- MARY J. BLIGE -

 

Regarded as the “Queen of Hip-Hop”, Blige deserves to be recognized with an induction. Female rappers have generally been ignored by the Hall of Fame. She has recorded powerful songs. Her records have attracted major sales. Blige’s career has continued over many decades since her breakthrough in 1991.

 

WHO IS STILL NOT IN THE HALL OF FAME?*

               *Excludes acts nominated for induction in 2024.

Despite being eligible, the following acts are 60 glaring omissions that are yet to be inducted:

 

STEVE WINWOOD

Although he is in the Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic, Winwood deserves to be in the Hall Of Fame as a former member of the Spencer Davis Group and the short-lived yet influential Blind Faith and for his solo career. In his own right, Winwood has served some fine work such as “While You See A Chance”, “Arc Of A Diver”, “Valerie”, “Back In The High Life Again” and “The Finer Things”. He scored 2 US #1 singles with “Higher Love” and “Roll With It”. His vocals and musicianship have played a significant role in rock music since he began performing in his teens, back in the 1960s. 

ROBERTA FLACK

Flack dominated soul music in the early 1970s. She released 3 US #1 singles: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “Feel Like Makin’ Love”. Her duets with Donny Hathaway have been lauded by music critics and embraced by the public. For some inexplicable reason, Flack has not been inducted into the Hall Of Fame.

 

 

PHIL COLLINS

Although he was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis, there is a sound argument that Collins deserves to be included in his own right. Genesis may have been more warmly embraced by music commentators, but the public demonstrated greater enthusiasm for his solo output. After all, this has been the case for Peter Gabriel, who has been included as a former member of the group and as a soloist. Collins was one of the acts that dominated 1980s pop music. He released a string of popular singles that included “In The Air Tonight”, “Thru These Walls”, “Against All Odds”, “Easy Lover”, “Sussudio”, “Another Day In Paradise” and “Two Hearts”. Many of them topped charts around the world.

 

COMMODORES

The Hall Of Fame is a curious beast. It has welcomed the addition of less obvious acts such as Depeche Mode and Hall & Oates, yet has overlooked significant acts such as Motown group Commodores. The band started developing its individual style of soul, funk and pop music in the 1970s with upbeat singles such as “Brick House”, “Machine Gun” and “Too Hot To Trot”. As the talent of Lionel Richie became increasingly obvious, he offered the group staples such as “Easy”, “Sail On” and “Still”. In 2022, Richie was inducted as a soloist. As for his former bandmates, the Hall Of Fame continues to deny entry to Commodores.