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Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, and Bad Company are set to join the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as first-time nominees in a class that includes pop sensation Cyndi Lauper, hip-hop innovators Outkast, the rock duo the White Stripes, and grunge icons Soundgarden.
Additionally, the influential rap group Salt-N-Pepa, celebrated for being the first female act to achieve gold and platinum sales, along with the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, will receive the Musical Influence Award. The Musical Excellence Award will be presented to the late record producer Thom Bell, pianist Nicky Hopkins, and bassist Carol Kaye.
Joe Cocker, renowned for his performance at Woodstock and his iconic rendition of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” received endorsements from notable figures including Billy Joel, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, and Pete Thomas of Elvis Costello & The Attractions. They highlighted Cocker’s rock and roll essence, stating he is “about as rock and roll as it gets.”
Soundgarden, featuring the late Chris Cornell, enters the Hall with their third nomination, joining other grunge legends such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Bad Company is recognized for their enduring radio hits, including “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Can’t Get Enough,” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy.”
The Ahmet Ertegun Award will be bestowed upon Lenny Waronker, the former head of Warner Bros. Records. He is credited with signing influential artists such as Prince and R.E.M., while also contributing to the works of Madonna, Randy Newman, the Doobie Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones, Paul Simon, and Gary Clark Jr.
Among those not inducted this year are Mariah Carey, Phish, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Maná, the Black Crowes, and Oasis.
Chubby Checker’s classic tracks “The Twist” and “Let’s Twist Again” are regarded as quintessential anthems in rock ‘n’ roll history. At 83, Checker has openly expressed his disappointment over previous snubs, stating in a 2014 interview: “I don’t want to get in there when I’m 85 years old. I’ll tell them to drop dead, so you better do it quick while I’m still smiling.”
Cyndi Lauper gained prominence in the 1980s with memorable hits like “Time After Time” and “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” later earning a Tony Award for her work on “Kinky Boots.” OutKast, comprised of André 3000 and Big Boi, is celebrated for their six Grammy Awards and their innovative contributions to hip-hop. The White Stripes, formed by Jack White and Meg White, emerged as indie favorites in the early 2000s with tracks like “Seven Nation Army.”
To be eligible for induction, artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years earlier. The induction ceremony is slated for this fall in Los Angeles.
Nominations were determined by over 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals, with selection criteria focusing on an artist’s influence on others, the breadth and longevity of their career, and their stylistic innovation and excellence.
Last year’s inductees included prominent figures such as Mary J. Blige, Cher, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, and guitarist-singer Peter Frampton.
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