Induction Junction

by Lauren Gross
Staff Writer

"Rock 'n' roll," said DJ Alan Freed in the early 1950s.

He used the phrase to describe rhythm-and-blues music, but he was also the first white DJ to play music by black musicians.

Since then the genre has expanded to cover a variety of musicians and musical styles. Freed has been an influential person to the history of rock 'n' roll and therefore, he was the first non-performer to be honored at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Along with Freed, in the magical year of 1986 the Godfather of Soul (James Brown) and The King (Elvis Presley) were inducted along with musical legends Buddy Holly and blues man Fats Domino.

Since then more than 160 rock 'n' roll ancestors, both performers and non-performers, have been inducted.

Many people go into making a musical legend without playing or singing a note. Among the non-performers in the Hall of Fame are Phil Spector, producer of many '50s doo-wop groups, and more. Founders of record labels, including Berry Gordy (Motown), Jerry Wexler (Atlantic Records) and Leonard Chess (Chess Records) also are in the Hall. Inducted songwriters are Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Dozier and Holland.

On March 19, 11 more were inducted into the Hall of Fame. The 16th annual induction ceremony was held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. The ceremony, which has been broadcast on VH-1, welcomed the following:

Aerosmith:

In response to the hard-rock British groups of the early 1970s came Aerosmith. A musical icon known for his distinguished style and voice, Steven Tyler is the singing front man for the band. Guitarist Joe Perry is the Keith Richards of the American band. Brad Whitford also plays guitar while Tom Hamilton rocks the bass and Joey Kramer plays a mean drum. As a band, they clearly bridge the generation gap, with 15 albums from 1972 to 2001.

Solomon Burke:

Burke was born in 1936, in Philadelphia, Pa. His first recordings were recorded on the New York-based Apollo label. He paved the way for the soul singers of the 1960s and '70s. With over 20 albums released, Burke continued to record into the '90s, releasing several worthy albums.

The Flamingos:

In the 1950s, many black musicians were overlooked due to the white covers of their songs. This proved true for the Flamingos, a band formed out of its Chicago church choir. Founding members Jake Carey, Zeke Carey, Paul Wilson and Johnny Carter belonged to the black Jewish Church of God and Saints of Christ. After mastering the melodies of Jewish hymns, they began singing pop and R&B. "I Only Have Eyes for You" is probably their biggest hit. The Flamingos continued to record and perform through the late 1990s, until the deaths of the Carey Brothers.

Michael Jackson:

Beginning with the fame of the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson has been in the spotlight since he was just a child. Jackson has since built quite a reputation for himself. As a singer, songwriter and amazing dancer, Jackson introduced the world to the moonwalk and the shining glove of the 1980s. From the reputable honor of the "Thriller" video, to his relationship with Macaulay Culkin, to his on-a-whim marriage to Lisa Marie Presley, not a year goes by without Jackson in the press. This is Jackson's second induction; the first was in 1997 with the Jackson 5.

Queen:

Freddie Mercury once said "We're the Cecil B. DeMille of rock 'n' roll, always wanting to do things bigger and better," in reference to his band, Queen. That they did. The band was best recognized for its flamboyant behavior and stadium-filled performances. The hits include (but are not limited to), "Another One Bites the Dust," "Fat-Bottomed Girls," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and the crowd-pleasing chants of "We Are the Champions." The ruling of Queen ended in 1991, with the AIDS-related death of lead singer Freddie Mercury. The inclusion of "Bohemian Rhapsody" in ••Wayne's World•• introduced a new generation to the band.

Paul Simon:

Simon and Garfunkle (inducted in 1990) broke up in 1970. With that breakup Simon has had one of the most successful solo careers in musical history. In the past three decades, Simon has released a collection of recorded masterpieces.

Steely Dan:

The band began in 1972. The name comes from a sex toy reference in a William Burroughs novel. For as many recordings as they released throughout the 1970s, they only toured once. This year has been a run of good luck for the band as they released ••Two Against Nature••, their first studio production in 20 years. The band also won its first Grammy.

Ritchie Valens:

Richard Steven Valenzuela was born in the Los Angeles suburb of Pacoima. At age 16, he began to explore his musical talents. Sadly, Ritchie Valens had one of the most tragic ends in musical history. After a short-lived musical career, he died at age 17 in the same crash as Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. The fatal accident has since been labeled "the day the music died." The songs "LaBamba" and "Donna" were his best-known hits.

Side-man inductees:

James Burton

Johnnie Johnson

Non-performers:

Chris Blackwell:

Blackwell was the founder of Island Records. In 1959, he started the company with an investment of $1,000. He signed now-famous acts like U2, Bob Marley, Cat Stevens and Steve Winwood.