Mary J. Blige, Cher, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Kool & The Gang and Ozzy Osbourne have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with Dave Matthews Band and Peter Frampton.
Alexis Korner, John Mayall, and Big Mama Thornton received the Musical Influence Award. The Musical Excellence Award will go to the late Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick, and Norman Whitfield. Suzanne de Passe, a pioneering music executive, won the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
“Rock ‘n’ roll is an ever-evolving amalgam of sounds that impacts culture and moves generations,” said John Sykes, chair of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “This diverse group of inductees each broke down musical barriers and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”
The induction ceremony is scheduled for October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. It will be streamed live on Disney+ and later aired on ABC, with availability on Hulu the following day.
Nominees who didn’t make the cut this year included Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Sinead O’Connor, Sade, Oasis, Eric B. & Rakim, and Jane’s Addiction.
There was a strong effort to include Foreigner in the hall, supported by Mark Ronson, Jack Black, Slash, Dave Grohl, and Paul McCartney. Ozzy Osbourne, known for his controversial music, goes in as a solo artist after being previously inducted with Black Sabbath.
Four of the nominees, including Cher, Foreigner, Frampton, and Kool & The Gang, were first-time ballot entries. Cher and Mary J. Blige will contribute to increasing female representation in the hall.
Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they are eligible for induction. Nominees were voted on by over 1,000 artists, historians, and music industry professionals.
Last year’s inductees included Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, Don Cornelius, Kate Bush, and George Michael.
