NEW YORK — First-time nominees Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, and Bad Company will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, alongside pop icon Cyndi Lauper, hip-hop pioneers OutKast, rock duo The White Stripes, and grunge legends Soundgarden.
Salt-N-Pepa, the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status, and the late singer-songwriter Warren Zevon will receive the Musical Influence Award. The Musical Excellence Award will be given to the late record producer Thom Bell, pianist Nicky Hopkins, and bassist Carol Kaye.
Joe Cocker, known for his iconic performance at Woodstock and his famous cover of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends,” had support from stars like Billy Joel, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, and Pete Thomas of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, all of whom argued that Cocker embodied the essence of rock and roll.
Soundgarden, led by the late Chris Cornell, will enter the Hall on their third nomination, following in the footsteps of fellow grunge bands Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Bad Company, known for arena-rock anthems like “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” “Can’t Get Enough,” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy,” are also among the inductees.
The Ahmet Ertegun Award, recognizing nonperforming industry professionals who have had a significant impact on music, will be presented to Lenny Waronker, former head of Warner Bros. Records, who signed Prince and R.E.M. and worked on records with Madonna, Randy Newman, the Doobie Brothers, Rickie Lee Jones, Paul Simon, and Gary Clark Jr.
Some notable nominees who did not make it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year include Mariah Carey, Phish, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Maná, the Black Crowes, and Oasis.
Chubby Checker’s iconic recordings of “The Twist” and “Let’s Twist Again” are among the most famous songs in rock history. At 83, he has expressed frustration at not being inducted sooner, once telling the AP in 2014, “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 fame in the 1980s with hits like “Time After Time” and “Girls Just Want To Have Fun,” and later won a Tony Award for Kinky Boots. OutKast, consisting of André 3000 and Big Boi, won six Grammys and earned a reputation for pushing the limits of hip-hop. The White Stripes, made up of Jack and Meg White, became indie darlings 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 prior. The induction ceremony is set to take place in Los Angeles this fall.
The nominees were chosen by over 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals. The selection criteria include an artist’s impact on other musicians, the longevity and scope of their career and work, and their innovation and excellence in style and technique.
Last year’s inductees included Mary J. Blige, Cher, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, and singer-guitarist Peter Frampton.
