The late George Michael, country legend Willie Nelson, the iconic Kate Bush and groundbreaking rapper Missy Elliott are among this year's inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, organisers have announced.
The #RockHall2023 Inductee Class Announcement with @llcoolj. Hear the complete announcement now on @AppleMusic 1. https://t.co/SHicoN3BaC pic.twitter.com/AX8iEX92pq
— Rock Hall (@rockhall) May 3, 2023
Rockers Rage Against the Machine, singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow and R&B group The Spinners are also among 2023's class of new members.
Solo star Chaka Khan and songwriters Bernie Taupin and Al Kooper will be inducted for Musical Excellence.
Hip-hop trailblazer DJ Kool Herc and the late guitar great Link Wray will be inducted for Musical Influence.
The late television presenter and producer Don Cornelius will be posthumously honoured with the Ahmet Ertegun Award for having "a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock & roll and music that has impacted youth culture".
The Cleveland, Ohio-based institution's chairman, John Sykes, emphasised that this year's crop of inductees "reflects the diverse artists and sounds that define rock & roll", and also coincides with a milestone year that includes the 50th anniversary of the hip-hop genre and Nelson's 90th birthday.
Crow, Elliott, Michael and Nelson were on the ballot for induction into the prestigious music pantheon for the first time.
Rap innovator Elliott made the cut in her first year of eligibility.
Artists can be inducted 25 years after their first commercial music release.
They are voted on by a body of more than 1,000 artists, music historians and industry veterans.
The new honourees will be formally inducted on 3 November in the Rock Hall's annual concert ceremony, which this year will return to Brooklyn's Barclays Center in New York.
Source: AFP
