Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
(10/03/2008)
Madonna, Leonard Cohen, John Mellencamp, la banda británica The Dave Clark Five y el grupo instrumental The Ventures pasarán hoy lunes a formar parte del Salón de la Fama del Rock and Roll. Los cinco artistas han sido elegidos por 600 profesionales del sector, superando a la reina de la música disco Donna Summer, el grupo de funk Chic, el pionero de rap Afrika Bambaataa y el grupo de hip-hop The Beastie Boys, en la vigésimo tercera ampliación del pasillo de la fama.
Los artistas pueden convertirse en candidatos para el Salón de la Fama una vez pasados 25 años del lanzamiento de su primer disco o single, y una vez seleccionados pasan a mostrarse en una exposición en el museo del Salón de la Fama del Rock and Roll en Cleveland, Ohio. "Los introducidos en 2008 son pioneros, todos únicos e influyentes en sus géneros", dijo Joel Persman, presidente de la Fundación Salón de la Fama del Rock and Roll. "De la poesía al pop, estos cinco artistas demuestran la rica diversidad del rock and roll".
Para la banda británica de los 60 The Dave Clark Five, el nombramiento será agridulce después de que Smith, su cantante, muriera el mes pasado a los 64 años debido a una neumonía. El actor Tom Hanks les presentará en la ceremonia de reconocimiento. Tanto la banda británica como Mellencamp habían estado nominados antes, pero este era el primer año en el que Madonna podía ser candidata. Será Justin Timberlake quien la presente, y el grupo Iggy & The Stooges actuará en su honor.
Madonna, de 49 años, hizo su debut en 1982 y su primer disco "Madonna" incluyó éxitos como "Holiday" o "Lucky Star", que la ayudaron a convertirse en una de las artistas de pop que de más éxito con más de 200 millones de discos vendidos en todo el mundo.
Mellencamp lanzó su primer disco en 1976, y ha cantado a menudo sobre el fracaso del sueño americano, lo que llevó a la Fundación a definirle como "un símbolo de las esperanzas, luchas y pasiones del corazón de América". El artista actuará en la ceremonia, y será presentado por Billy Joel.
Cohen, el canadiense de voz grave que canta al amor y el sexo, a la fe y a la traición, está entre los cantautores más literarios. Publicó cuatro libros de poesía y dos novelas antes de probar suerte con la música. Será presentado por Lou Reed y el cantante irlandés Damien Race actuará por él.
Los éxitos de los Ventures incluyen "Walk don't Run" y "Hawaii Five-O", y la fundación les reconocerá por su definición del rock instrumental de guitarra en los 60. El grupo será presentado por John Fogerty y actuará en la ceremonia, que tendrá lugar en Nueva York.
Induction Ceremony and Process
Congratulations to the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees!
The 23nd annual induction ceremony will take place at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City on March 10, 2008.
The inductees and their presenters:
Leonard Cohen inducted by Lou Reed
The Dave Clark Five inducted by Tom Hanks
Madonna inducted by Justin Timberlake
John Mellencamp inducted by Billy Joel
Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff inducted by Jerry Butler
The Ventures inducted by John Fogerty
Little Walter inducted by Ben Harper
Want to watch this year’s induction ceremony? Here’s how:
Simulcast at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland
The Museum will broadcast the 2008 Induction Ceremony from the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on several giant screens located throughout the building. There will a drawing for a pair of tickets to the 2009 Induction Ceremony held in Cleveland. (You must be present to win.) The 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees are Leonard Cohen, the Dave Clark Five, Madonna, John Mellencamp, the Ventures, Little Walter and Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. A cash bar, soft drinks and snacks will be available for purchase. The event starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 and are available through Ticketmaster and at the Museum box office. This year’s event is presented by Jim Beam and MIX 106.5 FM.
VH1 Classic
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will air live on VH1 Classic on March 10 at 8:30 p.m. EST. The ceremony will be rebroadcast on VH1 through March (check local listings for air times).
Live Stream on bestbuy.com
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will stream live on
www.bestbuy.com/halloffame on March 10 at 8:30 p.m. EST.
Election of Inductees
Leaders in the music industry joined together in 1983 to establish the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. One of the Foundation’s many functions is to recognize the contributions of those who have had a significant impact on the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock and roll by inducting them into the Hall of Fame.
The Categories
Performers
Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.
The Foundation’s nominating committee, composed of rock and roll historians, selects nominees each year in the Performer category. Ballots are then sent to an international voting body of more than 500 rock experts. Those performers who receive the highest number of votes - and more than 50 percent of the vote - are inducted. The Foundation generally inducts five to seven performers each year.
Non-Performers
Songwriters, producers, disc jockeys, record executives, journalists and other industry professionals who have had a major influence on the development of rock and roll.
Early Influences
Artists whose music predated rock and roll but had an impact on the evolution of rock and roll and inspired rock’s leading artists.
The special selection committee elects the inductees in the Non-Performer and Early Influences categories.
Side Men
This category was introduced in 2000. It honors those musicians who have spent their careers out of the spotlight, performing as backup musicians for major artists on recording sessions and in concert.
Though they often play a key role in the creation of memorable music, the public rarely knows them by name. A separate committee, composed primarily of producers, selects the inductees in this category.
