Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces 2024 inductees: See who made the list

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2024 are being inducted within the following categories...

PERFORMER CATEGORY

This category includes artists who have created music with originality, impact and influence that changed the course of rock 'n' roll.

• Mary J. Blige
• Cher (first-time nominee)
• Dave Matthews Band
• Foreigner (first-time nominee)
• Peter Frampton (first-time nominee)
• Kool & The Gang (first-time nominee)
• Ozzy Osbourne (first-time nominee)
• A Tribe Called Quest

MUSICAL INFLUENCE AWARD

This category includes artists whose music and performance style have directly influenced, inspired and evolved rock 'n' roll and music impacting youth culture.

• Alexis Korner
• John Mayall
• Big Mama Thornton

MUSICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

This category includes artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music.

• Jimmy Buffett
• MC5
• Dionne Warwick
• Norman Whitfield

AHMET ERTEGUN AWARD

This category includes non-performing industry professionals who have had a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock 'n' roll and music that has impacted youth culture.

• Suzanne de Passe

You can read in-depth bios and watch music videos from this year's class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees throughout the story below...

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It's back!

The 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony returns to downtown Cleveland this fall with the big event at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday, Oct. 19.

There are two ways you can watch the induction ceremony live:

Attend the ceremony itself at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Ticket information will be announced at a later date. Select Rock Hall donors and members can receive exclusive induction ticket opportunities. Donate or join by June 30 to be eligible.

Watch the ceremony live on Disney+: For the second year in a row, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction will be streamed live on Disney+. An exact time for the inductions has not yet been revealed.

RELATED: Who's already inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? See the full list dating back to the first induction in 1986

Here are the 2024 Rock Hall nominees who were not selected for induction this year...

• Mariah Carey (first-time nominee)
• Eric B. & Rakim
• Jane's Addiction
• Lenny Kravitz (first-time nominee)
• Oasis (first-time nominee)
• Sinéad O'Connor (first-time nominee)
• Sade (first-time nominee)

NOTE: Each of the following inductee bios was provided by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some of the music videos included throughout the chapters below may contain offensive language.

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige flipped the R&B world on its head. Her anthems of resilience and empowerment have inspired a legion of loyal fans while influencing virtually every R&B artist of the last twenty years, including Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and SZA. Her career dominance reveals impressive longevity – 14 Top Ten studio albums, nine Grammys and over 50 million albums sold.

Blige signed with Uptown Records in 1989, becoming the label’s youngest and first female artist. Her debut singlehandedly kick-started the hip-hop soul genre and produced Number One R&B hits “Real Love” and “You Remind Me.” Her image – oversized jerseys, backwards baseball hats, and combat boots – introduced a new look to R&B music, and her lyrics embraced an authenticity that resonated with fans – especially women. Her mid-1990s hits with the Notorious B.I.G., Method Man, and JAY-Z created the blueprint for R&B/hip-hop collaborations for decades to follow.

Blige emerged as a songwriter with hits “Be Happy” and “My Life” from her sophomore effort My Life, while her song “Not Gon’ Cry” showcased the emotional ache of Blige’s affecting vocals. The 2000s ushered in more success with Number One hits “Family Affair” and Grammy-winning “Be Without You.” Blige continues to craft hits, including her ode to unapologetic happiness “Just Fine,” critically acclaimed London Sessions, and collaborations with Inductees Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, and Missy Elliott. In 2018, she received two Oscar nominations for the film Mudbound and became the first person nominated for acting and original song in the same year. In 2022, Blige co-headlined the Super Bowl halftime show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem – earning her an Emmy.

Blige’s music echoes our experiences with love and life. She helps us move on, move out, and move up. She’s the much-needed soundtrack to our heartache, vulnerability, and courage to refuse to accept anything less than we deserve. Long Live Queen Mary J!

An artist so iconic she needs only one name, Cher has used her distinctive voice, stage presence, and avant-garde fashion to achieve unprecedented success while blazing a trail for women performers. A musician who personifies female creative freedom in a male-dominated industry, Cher is the only woman to have a Number One hit on a Billboard chart in each of the past seven decades.

Cher’s breakthrough came from her work with then-husband Sonny Bono in the duo Sonny & Cher. Their 1965 signature hit “I Got You Babe” was a definitive musical moment for the early hippie counterculture. Amid the pair’s success, Cher launched a solo career, scoring hits like “Bang Bang.” In 1971, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour TV variety show helped establish Cher as a consummate entertainer and fashion icon. From bell-bottom jeans to feathered headdresses to navel-baring evening gowns, Cher has always brought personality and bold irreverence to her looks.

In the early 1970s, Cher gained even more popularity as a solo performer, and for more than five decades, she continuously reinvented her style and mastered multiple musical genres. Equally adept at the earthy folk pop of “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves,” the melodic disco of “Take Me Home,” and power ballads like “I Found Someone,” Cher’s versatility is evident. With acting roles in Silkwood (1983) and Mask (1985), Cher also became a star of the silver screen, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for Moonstruck in 1987.

Cher released the quintessential dance-pop classic “Believe” in 1998, pioneering the use of Auto-Tune as an artistic tool. This worldwide hit became an enduring queer anthem, solidifying her role as a longtime ally of – and inspiration to – the LGBTQIA+ community. Cher’s work has influenced other trailblazing artists including Madonna, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga. She has continued to fill dance floors with singles like “Woman’s World” and her 2018 ABBA covers album Dancing Queen. A tenacious performer who has triumphed over adversity and made comeback after comeback, Cher has earned her status as the Goddess of Pop.

Inductees include: Carter Beauford, Jeff Coffin, Stefan Lessard, Dave Matthews, Leroi Moore, Tim Reynolds, Rashawn Ross, Boyd Tinsley

Supported by a communal fanbase, Dave Matthews Band harnessed an eclectic sound and relentless touring schedule to become one of the biggest bands in the world – and they have continued to pick up new generations of fans along the way. Dave Matthews Band are one of the top-selling live acts of all time, and they are the only band with seven consecutive albums debuting at Number One.

They have been called a jam band, a college band, a pop band – and to their devoted fans, they are simply “DMB.” Hailing from Charlottesville, Virginia, the band formed in 1991 and cultivated a trademark sound that includes long, intricate solos, non-traditional rock & roll instruments, unique time signatures, and an electric live show. The airy jazz of LeRoi Moore’s saxophone blends with the animated bluegrass of Boyd Tinsley’s violin, while drummer Carter Beauford’s in-the-pocket grooves and bassist Stefan Lessard’s melodic lines create a powerful rhythm section. Dave Matthews fronts the band with captivating vocals, imaginative lyrics, and percussive guitar strumming.

The band quickly generated strong word of mouth thanks to endless live shows and an active tape sharing community. The 1993 independent-label debut Remember Two Things was popular in the local scene, but their major label debut, 1994’s Under the Table and Dreaming, landed them mainstream hits like “What Would You Say,” “Satellite,” and “Ants Marching.” 1996’s Crash went seven-times Platinum, earned the band its first Grammy award (“So Much to Say”) and yielded another hit, “Crash Into Me.” Live albums like Live at Red Rocks ’95 capture the band’s onstage energy and feature longtime collaborator Tim Reynolds on electric guitar. Musically, the band has influenced a generation of acoustic-driven singer-songwriters like John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and O.A.R.

In 2019, the United Nations designated Dave Matthews Band as Environmental Goodwill Ambassadors, and Matthews has served on Farm Aid’s Board of Directors since 2001. The band’s advocacy and activism has improved our world and inspired fans to think and act in new ways.

Inductees include: Dennis Elliott, Ed Gagliardi, Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood, Mick Jones, Ian McDonald, Rick Wills

With a legacy spanning five decades, Foreigner has dominated rock & roll radio, making them one of the best-selling rock bands of all time. With worldwide sales topping eighty million records, Foreigner’s extensive catalog of hits is still recognizable to this day, with their music embedded in pop culture from Miami Vice and The Simpsons to Arrested Development and Stranger Things.

RELATED: Foreigner and Styx coming to Blossom Music Center with joint concert in 2024: How to buy tickets for 'Renegades and Juke Box Heroes' tour

Foreigner was built around the creative forces of Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, whose original vision for Foreigner was a fusion of rock, progressive rock, R&B, and pop sounds, and the lineup of Jones, Dennis Elliot, Al Greenwood, Ed Gagliardi, and Ian McDonald, paired with Lou Gramm’s distinctive and emotive vocals, brought it all together. Jones and Gramm became legendary songwriting partners, crafting an arsenal of multiplatinum albums and Top Thirty hits, including “Cold As Ice,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Hot Blooded,” and “Juke Box Hero.” Their Number One U.S. hit “I Want to Know What Love Is” remains one of the Top 25 performed songs from the ASCAP catalog. In recognition of their partnership, the duo was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013.

The Jones/Gramm songwriting partnership resulted in Foreigner’s first eight singles charting in the Billboard Top Twenty, making them the first band to achieve this milestone since the Beatles. With the massive success of Foreigner’s second album Double Vision, the best-selling record of their career, the band quickly became an arena headliner.

Before recording 1979’s Head Games, Gagliardi was replaced by ex-Peter Frampton and Roxy Music bassist Rick Wills; Gagliardi’s departure was shortly followed by that of Greenwood and McDonald. Despite these lineup changes, the quartet of Jones, Gramm, Elliot, and Wills continued to record and tour arenas throughout the 1980s in whatever iteration they found themselves – a premise that has served the band for the decades since, as it continues with only Jones from the original lineup. Foreigner’s nearly fifty-year musical legacy has influenced everyone from Bon Jovi to Melissa Etheridge to Mark Ronson.

Passionate songwriter, exceptional guitarist, and cultural touchstone, Peter Frampton is one of few musicians who can evoke an image of rock & roll stardom with three simple words: “Frampton Comes Alive!”

While growing up in England, Frampton learned the music of American rockers like Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent, and at the age of 16 he joined the band the Herd as their lead guitarist and singer, showing his impressive musical skills while gaining notoriety for his good looks. Two years later, in 1969, Steve Marriott recruited Frampton to join the supergroup Humble Pie, in which he experimented with a blistering mix of blues and jazz guitar styles, achieving massive success in the U.K.

Frampton left Humble Pie in 1971, ready to find his own musical path. His solo debut Wind of Change featured an impressive list of collaborators, including Ringo Starr and Billy Preston. In 1976, he recorded one of the greatest live albums of all time, Frampton Comes Alive! On this seminal album, Frampton is in dialogue with his audience, calling to them, taking them on an emotional ride with his pioneering guitar solos – highlighted by his masterful use of the talk box to create a human/guitar hybrid sound – and making everyone feel part of the musical experience. Hook-filled songs like “Show Me the Way,” “Baby, I Love Your Way,” and “Do You Feel Like We Do” were showcased on the album, becoming enduring rock anthems and reaching the Top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Frampton continues to write and perform, and he has collaborated with rock & roll’s elite, including George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, John Entwistle, Donovan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ringo Starr, David Bowie, and Dolly Parton. Since publicly sharing his diagnosis of inclusion body myositis in 2019, he has been recognized as a symbol of hope and raising awareness about the degenerative muscle disease. Today, Frampton continues to find new audiences who embrace him and the spell his music has cast over all of us since the 1970s.

Inductees include: Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown, Robert “Spike” Mickens, Claydes “Charles” Smith, James “J.T.” Taylor, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, Ricky Westfield

For over fifty years, Kool & the Gang have been essential innovators of funk, soul, disco, and R&B, creating rock & roll’s most danceable anthems. They are one of the grooviest and most sampled bands of all time, with a recognizable sound that resonates across generations and has brought joy to millions of fans around the globe.

Kool & the Gang took their funky groove all the way to the top with a mix of pop songwriting, fantastic vocals, and a killer horn section. Formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964, brothers Robert “Kool” and Ronald Bell got their start in clubs, mastering a repertoire of jazz standards and Motown covers. In 1969, they signed to newly formed De-Lite Records and released the up-tempo instrumental “Kool & the Gang.” They subsequently released two live albums showcasing their ability to produce brilliantly crafted songs and blistering jams over an infectious beat. Their big break came in 1973 with the album Wild and Peaceful, which leaned deep into funky grooves, horn arrangements, and chanted vocals on the songs “Funky Stuff,” “Jungle Boogie,” and “Hollywood Swinging” – three instant dance floor classics. They slid easily into the growing disco scene, with their “Open Sesame” featured on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.

In the 1980s, Kool & the Gang added lead vocalist James “J.T.” Taylor and released two massive hits, the bumping “Ladies Night” and the smooth “Too Hot.” With this, they accomplished something rare in the music industry – maintaining the fans who loved their funky roots, while reaching an entirely new audience tuned into their growing pop sensibilities. In 1980, they blew the roof off with the international hit “Celebration” and produced nineteen charting singles during the decade.

Ozzy Osbourne is rock’s beloved Prince of Darkness, a key architect of heavy metal, and one of the most successful solo artists of all time. Ozzy’s voice is instantly recognizable – haunting, powerful, raw, sincere – and capable of conveying a wide array of emotions. As a live performer, he is a force of nature, with onstage charisma and showmanship unlike any other. Ozzy brings theatricality to his electrifying performances, captivating audiences with his magnetic energy and rightly earning the title Godfather of Heavy Metal.

First rising to fame as the frontman of Black Sabbath, Ozzy delivered unforgettable rock classics, including “Paranoid” and “Iron Man.” His contributions were essential to the band’s success, with his distinctive voice synonymous with their sound. After parting ways with Sabbath in 1979, Ozzy formed the Blizzard of Ozz, notably featuring Randy Rhoads, now acknowledged as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Releasing albums that forever changed metal in the 1980s, including Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, Ozzy became an international superstar, selling seventy million albums and filling 2,600 arenas in concerts around the world.

As a solo artist, Ozzy has continually surrounded himself with incredible musicians and developed young talent, including guitar heroes like Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, and Zakk Wylde. In the 1990s, Ozzy and his wife/manager Sharon Osbourne established Ozzfest, one of the most successful music festivals ever, and in the 2000s, their family became stars on the hit MTV reality show The Osbournes. While now retired from touring, Ozzy remains musically active well into his seventies, still releasing new albums and collaborating with artists, including Eric Clapton, Elton John, Slash, Travis Scott, and Post Malone.

Countless artists from many genres have credited Ozzy as a major influence, including Metallica, Lita Ford, Rage Against the Machine, and Busta Rhymes. With his longevity, impact, and iconic persona, Ozzy Osbourne is a phenomenon unlike any other.

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He released the following statement Monday:

Thank You Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Voters & Fans for the induction. My solo career, has been a much larger part of my overall music career as a whole, so this feels more special. Not bad for a guy who was fired from his last band.

Inductees include: Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Phife Dawg, Q-Tip, Jarobi White

A Tribe Called Quest forever shifted the hip-hop landscape and expanded the creative possibilities for music. Their freedom of expression, ingenuity, and minimalist brilliance continue to inspire generations of artists and fans.

One of the most artistic, eclectic, and perceptive rap groups of the 1990s, A Tribe Called Quest nurtured a new alternative hip-hop sub-genre with a caste-free cross-pollination of hip-hop, jazz, and alternative rock. The pioneering group abandoned the aggressive machismo and hard-hitting sounds of James Brown that were prevalent in the era, delving instead into the more laid-back samples of the jazz-rap revolution. Their music was meant to create a metaphysical space for the listener, where one could retreat and confront the social issues facing the African American community with peace rather than rage and violence. This cerebral approach exemplified an intermingling of cultures and sound to yield beauty and understanding.

Formed in high school in Queens, New York, in 1985, A Tribe Called Quest featured Q-Tip serving as the producer-leader, Phife Dawg as the MC, Jarobi White as the spirited everyman, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad as the DJ and coproducer. Within four years, the group released three albums, now recognized as among the best: People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End Theory, and Midnight Marauders. “It was listening to N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton that inspired us to make The Low End Theory,” said Q-Tip. “Years later, I spoke to Dr. Dre, and he told me that hearing The Low End Theory inspired him to make The Chronic.”

The group became the nucleus of a New York collective known as the Native Tongues, a musical movement deeply rooted in Afrocentrism and positive, open-minded messages welcoming diverse identities and conceptions of Blackness. They created underground waves that continue to ripple throughout hip-hop, influencing artists like Pharrell Williams, Tyler, the Creator, and Quest Love in their approaches to social commentary, the use of Black musical traditions, and the visual culture of the African diaspora.

Alexis Korner was a pioneering musician in the world of British blues, R&B, and rock and roll. His multicultural upbringing laid the foundation for his eclectic musical taste and his profound understanding of various genres and styles. Born in Paris in 1928, he moved to London as a teenager where he first listened to Jimmy Yancey’s “Slow and Easy Blues,” a song that had an immediate and powerful emotional impact on him, resulting in his desire to devote his total self to music. In 1947, he began broadcasting on the British Forces Network from Hamburg where he listened to artists like Lead Belly and purchased his first guitar, and upon his return to London he became an active performer.

In the early 1950s, Korner joined several skiffle groups, performing a mixture of folk songs and new material along with musicians like Cyril Davies and Lonnie Donnegan. In the mid 1950s, he was at the forefront of the British blues scene, introducing audiences to the raw, emotive power of American blues. Korner and Davies formed Blues Incorporated and started a residency at both the Ealing Club and the Marquee Club. These shows became the place to be, with Korner helping to shape the sound of the burgeoning British rock scene and serving as a mentor and guide to future rock legends including Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce. As Keith Richards said, “Without Alexis Korner there would have been no Rolling Stones.” The 1961 Blues Incorporated album, R&B from the Marquee, is considered one of the first British blues recordings, establishing the genre's presence in the UK, and learning Korner the moniker, “the founding father of British blues.”

Korner was also a prolific recording artist, releasing a series of influential solo albums and recording with several bands including C.C.S. and Rocket 88. As a passionate advocate for racial equality, he used his platform to promote racial integration. Although he may not have achieved the commercial success of his protégés, he had a major impact on rock & roll through his pioneering spirit, innovative approach to blending musical styles, and unwavering commitment to fostering talent. Alexis Korner was the rare combination of a musician, a critic, a broadcaster, a promoter, and a musical mentor.

Sizzle: “Without Alexis Korner there would have been no Rolling Stones.” – Keith Richards

Why: Alexis Korner shaped the sound of the British rock scene of the early 1960s, serving as a mentor to rock and roll legends such as Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Jack Bruce. He had a major impact on rock and roll through his pioneering spirit, innovative approach to blending musical styles, and unwavering commitment to fostering talent.

Influences: Lead Belly, Jimmy Yancey, Big Bill Broonzy.

Legacies: The Rolling Stones, Cream, Led Zeppelin.

John Mayall is the godfather of British blues. As a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and bandleader, Mayall was a pioneer of blues in England during the 1960s. Celebrated for the many iconic musicians he recruited for his band the Bluesbreakers – including guitarists Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Mick Taylor; bassists Jack Bruce and John McVie; and drummers Mick Fleetwood and Aynsley Dunbar – Mayall displayed a talent for mentoring gifted young musicians and bringing out the best in them. With a rugged individuality and distinctive voice and style, Mayall has continually experimented with and stretched the blues, exerting a major influence on rock music.

Born in Cheshire, England, Mayall developed an early love for American jazz and blues, teaching himself to play the piano, guitar, and harmonica. In the early 1960s, Mayall’s friend Alexis Korner convinced him to move to London, where he began putting together musicians to form the Bluesbreakers. When Clapton left the Yardbirds in 1965, Mayall quickly hired him, and the excitement and virtuosity of the Bluesbreakers’ live shows inspired the famous “Clapton Is God” graffiti on a wall in London. The band’s debut album Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton soon became a best-selling classic and cemented Clapton's reputation as a one of the greatest guitarists ever. After Clapton left the band to form Cream with bassist Bruce, Mayall recruited Green as his replacement, and when Green later left with McVie and Fleetwood to form the first incarnation of Fleetwood Mac, Mayall brought in Taylor, who remained in the Bluesbreakers for about a year before joining the Rolling Stones.

After relocating to Los Angeles in 1969, Mayall continued leading bands and releasing albums throughout the 1970s, becoming renowned for his jazz/rock/blues innovations. Since then, he has continued releasing dozens of albums and touring throughout the United States and Europe – always employing ace guitarists, from Walter Trout to Buddy Whittington to Carolyn Wonderland. Appointed an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 and inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2016, Mayall has recorded and collaborated with a diverse array of musicians, including Joe Walsh, Steve Van Zandt, Alex Lifeson, Billy Gibbons, Otis Rush, Billy Preston, and Marcus King. Throughout his career, Mayall has continued evolving, making visionary recordings that have expanded the reach of the blues without ever watering them down. Now in his nineties, John Mayall continues to inspire musicians and fans with a lifetime’s worth of unforgettable and influential music.

Sizzle: The Godfather of British Blues.

Why: Continually expanding the reach of the blues without ever watering them down, John Mayall has had a major influence on rock music. He is the Godfather of British Blues.

Influences: Lead Belly, Meade Lux Lewis, Sonny Boy Williamson.

Legacies: Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Joe Walsh.

Larger-than-life, opinionated, and a vocal powerhouse and multi-instrumentalist with rock & roll swagger, Big Mama Thornton bridged the gap between the blues and rock & roll with her brilliant vocal performances on songs like “Hound Dog” and “Ball N’ Chain.”

Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton was discovered at 14, soon after her mother’s death, while cleaning spittoons in Montgomery, Alabama. She spent several years performing across the Southern United States on the Chitlin’ Circuit, where she was dubbed the “New Bessie Smith.” In 1952, Thornton recorded her biggest hit, “Hound Dog.” Inspired by her six-foot large frame, razor scarred face, and the deep, gritty texture of her voice, songwriters Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller immediately wanted to write a song for her. The ensuing growl, gravel, and howl of Thornton’s performance changed the rock & roll landscape forever. Thornton’s “Hound Dog,” with its lyrical double entrendres, was one of the first recorded overtly sexual songs told from the female perspective, and it went on to sell over two million singles and hold the No. 1 spot on the Billboard R&B chart for seven weeks – three years before Elvis Presley put his mark on it. Thornton also wrote “Ball and Chain,” which Janis Joplin and Big Brother and the Holding Company made famous in 1968.

Thornton’s live performances were legendary. Standing just as tall – if not towering over – the men with whom she shared the stage, Thornton not only sang harder than her male contemporaries, she reportedly also outperformed and outdrank them nightly. As for her female contemporaries – Thornton not only refused to conform to traditional femininity – she simply overpowered them, seeming to sing and groan from the depths of the collective grief of the African American experience (“Go Down Moses”). Thornton was also an accomplished harmonica player (“Down-Home Shake-Down”), and when not singing or wailing on the blues harp, she would hop behind the drumkit or work her way around the stage, jamming on each instrument. Promoters quickly learned she was a headliner – you didn’t bring anyone on after “Big Mama.” Sidemen, both black and white, were honored to back her up, and she was a respected colleague of Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, and many others.

Influences: Bessie Smith, Memphis Minnie, Big Maceo Merriweather.

Legacies: Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin.

Sizzle: Larger-than-life, opinionated, sexually ambiguous queer pioneer, vocal powerhouse and multi-instrumentalist with rock & roll swagger: Big Mama Thornton

Why: Big Mama Thornton bridged the gap between the blues and rock & roll with her brilliant vocal performances on songs like “Hound Dog” and “Ball N’ Chain.”

Jimmy Buffett’s “Gulf & Western” music has surfed the soundwaves with island escapism since 1973. Born into a long line of sailors, it was only natural that Buffett would be drawn to nautical themes, Caribbean rhythms and instrumentation, and the carefree life of a tropical troubadour. Introduced to Key West in the early 1970s by friend and Texas music icon Jerry Jeff Walker, Buffett moved to the Keys and began writing sunny songs that made everyone want to join him. His lyrics reflected his life – as a world traveler, pilot, and sailor, he wrote about his plane being shot at by Jamaican police (“Jamaica Mistaica”), getting lost in the Sahara Desert (“Buffet Hotel”), and smugglers he had known around the Florida Gulf Coast (“A Pirate Looks at 40”). Buffett’s tropical folk-rock sound is best exemplified by the songs he dubbed “The Big 8,” which included hits such as “Why Don’t We Get Drunk,” “Come Monday,” “Margaritaville,” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

In 1975, Buffett formed the Coral Reefer Band, which would back him for his entire career. In 1985, then-band member Timothy Schmidt is credited with coining the nickname “Parrothead” for Buffett’s devoted fans, both as an homage to the “Deadhead” moniker used for Grateful Dead fans and a reference to the brightly-colored Hawaiian-style beach attire of Buffett’s audiences. The same year, Buffett began to grow his Parrothead lifestyle empire, which eventually included restaurant chains, bars, hotels, casinos, retirement communities, beverages, home goods, apparel, accessories, books, and even a musical.

The 2000s brought Buffett much acclaim. “Margaritaville” was included in the “Songs of the Century,” a list of 365 songs of historical significance selected by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. He won the Country Music Association Awards’ Vocal Event of the Year for his 2003 duet with Alan Jackson, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” and in 2010, he was named the tenth biggest touring artist of the decade, with 4.5 million ticket sales over the previous 10 years.

Buffett’s influence can be heard in the mischievous humor and tropical vibes of hits from some of today’s country greats, including Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Zac Brown, Luke Bryan, and Dierks Bentley.

Influences: Jerry Jeff Walker, Johnny Cash, Gordon Lightfoot.

Legacies: Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Zac Brown.

Sizzle: Jimmy Buffett’s “Gulf & Western” music has surfed the soundwaves with island escapism since 1973.

Why: Coming from a long line of sailors, Jimmy Buffett was drawn to nautical themes, Caribbean rhythms and instrumentation, and the carefree life of a tropical troubadour – he wrote sunny songs that made everyone want to join him.

Inductees include: Michael Davis, Wayne Kramer, Fred Smith, Dennis Thompson, Rob Tyner

“Brothers and sisters, the time has come for each and every one of you to decide whether you are gonna be the problem or whether you are gonna be the solution.” For the Motor City 5, there was never any doubt that the band’s unapologetic driving rock anthems would be anything but the solution – the fast-rocking truths, raw and revealing about a culture in turmoil.

Draped in red, white, and blue, the MC5 were a high-watt onslaught of musicians: guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith, bassist Michael Davis, drummer Dennis Thompson, and brain-shattering lead singer Rob Tyner. The Motor City 5 kicked out the jams and politicized every bystander in sight. Their powerful sound was a unique combination of R&B, psychedelia, and garage rock with dominant political messages. Invited by Abbie Hoffman to play to the masses of young protestors outside the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, MC5 were the only band brazen enough to play onstage. They became the soundtrack to a cultural tipping point, played over scenes of tear gas and police brutality.

With proud anti-establishment credentials, the MC5 prefigured much of American punk rock and even influenced heavy metal. After releasing Kick Out the Jams, the band broke new ground with their second album, Back in the USA, produced by then-rock critic Jon Landau. The record combined Chuck Berry riffs with lyrics that remain prophetic to this day. Just listen to “High School” to hear the pop-punk sound later perfected by the Ramones. Each album’s relentless qualities drive listeners to the brink of sensory overload while remaining rooted in melody and groove.

In 2018, founder Wayne Kramer was back on the road with a supergroup of musicians playing thought-provoking music during another period of political unrest. The MC50 featured members of Faith No More, Fugazi, Soundgarden, and Zen Guerilla, encapsulating the continued broad influence and spirit of the original Motor City 5.

Why: The Motor City 5 kicked out the jams and politicized every bystander in sight.  The Motor City 5 were an unapologetic garage band that influenced countless punk and heavy metal bands.

Sizzle: The soundtrack to a cultural tipping point.

Influence: Chuck Berry, The Who, Sun Ra.

Legacy: The Ramones, Sleater-Kinney, Rage Against the Machine.

Dionne Warwick is one of the towering figures of popular music. Raised in a family of gospel singers, she received extensive formal vocal training as a young girl. A trip for her sixteenth birthday to see Lena Horne perform at the Waldorf Astoria would prove to be a career-defining moment. Reflecting on this experience in 1996, Warwick recalled, “It was probably the greatest influence on me.” Soon after her debut in 1962, Warwick made an indelible impact by joining forces with iconic songwriting team Burt Bachrach and Hal David. Warwick’s vocal stylings exquisitely complemented the songwriters’ unique and idiosyncratic compositions, her voice as sophisticated as their staccato arrangements and time changes. Her vocal delivery was a defining sound of 1960s cool, with an effortless delivery and soulful tone. Songs like “Walk On By” and “I Say a Little Prayer for You” transported the listener to a different place.

In 1974, Warwick teamed up with the Spinners on the number one smash hit “Then Came You,” a song that perfectly encapsulated the sound of disco in the mid-1970s. 1979 saw another huge hit with the Barry Manilow-produced “I’ll Never Love This Way Again,” earning Warwick her third Best Female Pop Performance Grammy. In the 1980s and 1990s, she sang duets with Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, and Johnny Mathis, among others; the biggest of these – the 1987 number one hit “That’s What Friends Are For” – featured Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight.

More accolades and Grammys followed – six in total, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Warwick continues to tour and became a Twitter sensation in 2021. Witty exchanges with Chance the Rapper spawned a collaboration between the two, an inspiring duet entitled “Nothing’s Impossible,” and in 2023 a documentary on Warwick’s life and career, Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, further cemented her legacy. Dionne Warwick’s innovation in song interpretation, combined with a seemingly flawless ability to stay relevant, have made her a mainstay in popular music history.

Why: Her vocal delivery was a defining sound of 1960s cool, with an effortless delivery and soulful tone.

Sizzle:  Cool, sassy, and sophisticated.

Influence:  Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald.

Legacy:  Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Beyonce.

Norman Whitfield helped define the Motown sound in the 1960s and 1970s. A prolific songwriter and producer, Whitfield’s “Psychedelic Soul” fused soul, rock and funk with complex arrangements, socially conscious lyrics, and iconic anthems. 

As a teenager, Whitfield began his career in Motown’s quality control department, but his keen ear soon earned him a slot on the label’s roster of songwriters. In 1963, he scored his first Top 10 hit with Marvin Gaye’s “Pride & Joy.” More hits would soon follow with the Marvelettes (“Too Many Fish in the Sea”) and the Velvelettes (“Needle in a Haystack”), but Whitfield’s biggest break came in 1966 when he became the Temptations main producer – a spot he would hold for nearly a decade. His early collaborations with the Temptations yielded some of the group’s most recognizable hits, including “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “(I Know) I’m Losing You” and “Just My Imagination.” As the 1960s marched on, Whitfield’s songwriting and production expanded into psychedelic palettes wrapped in social justice – songs like “Ball of Confusion,” “Cloud Nine,” and Edwin Starr’s “War” simultaneously reflected and affected society’s constant changes. Whitfield had a front row seat to Motown’s transition from early 1960s pop hitmakers to reflecting the tumultuous cultural and political climate of the late-60s/early-70s. Whitfield’s songs paved the way for Motown’s era of significant social commentary – many of these songs remain as relevant today as they were a half-century ago.

Whitfield’s was known for using innovative, extended instrumental arrangements – most notably heard on the Temptations “Papa Was a Rollin' Stone” and Gladys Knight & the Pips’ “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”. By breaking down antiquated expectations of the three-minute pop song, Whitfield single-handedly expanded the Motown sound, inspiring countless future generations of musicians and producers.

In the 1970s, Whitfield formed his own record label – Whitfield Records – where he would work with artists such as the Undisputed Truth (“Smiling Faces Somewhere”) and Rose Royce (“Car Wash” and “Wishing on a Star”). Whitfield passed away in 2008. In recent years, Whitfield has been honored by the GRAMMYs and the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to rock and roll music.

Influences: Holland-Dozier-Holland, Berry Gordy Jr, Phil Spector.

Legacies: Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Missy Elliott.

Sizzle: Norman Whitfield helped define the Motown sound in the 1960s and 1970s.

Why: A prolific songwriter and producer, Whitfield’s “Psychedelic Soul” fused soul, rock and funk with complex arrangements, socially conscious lyrics, and iconic anthems.  By breaking down antiquated expectations of the three-minute pop song, Whitfield single-handedly expanded the Motown sound, inspiring countless future generations of musicians and producers.

With nearly six decades in the entertainment field, trailblazer Suzanne de Passe paved the way for women in the music business as one of the first leading female executives. From de Passe’s extraordinary 20 years with Motown to her successful tenure heading de Passe Entertainment, she has used her passion, persistence, and vision to triumph in a male-dominated industry.

Born in Harlem, New York, Suzanne de Passe began her career as the talent coordinator at NYC nightspot the Cheetah Club. Her friendship with Supremes member Cindy Birdsong led to a job as creative assistant to Motown founder Berry Gordy. De Passe’s first coup came in 1968, when she helped sign the Jackson 5 to the label. “I didn’t have any practical skills,” de Passe said, “but I had a big mouth, a lot of input, and a lot of opinions. If I have any claim to fame in terms of the Jackson story, it was that I didn’t take no for an answer. I persisted. [Berry] finally saw them, and the rest is history.” While leading Motown’s records division, De Passe went on to sign The Commodores, Rick James, Teena Marie, and DeBarge to the label.

De Passe co-wrote the screenplay for the 1972 Billie Holiday biopic Lady Sings the Blues, starring Diana Ross. Her work was nominated for an Academy Award, and to date de Passe is the only woman of color to receive the Oscar nod for Best Original Screenplay. Rising through the ranks to become president of Motown in 1981, de Passe was key in taking the company to television. She produced and co-wrote the landmark Emmy Award-winning anniversary special Motown: Yesterday, Today, Forever, which featured a Supremes reunion and introduced Michael Jackson’s moonwalk to the world.

After leaving Motown in 1992, Suzanne de Passe developed her own production company and produced successful series like Sister, Sister and Showtime at the Apollo, and miniseries including The Temptations and The Jacksons: An American Dream. With her incredible career, and mentorship of young artists and executives, Suzanne de Passe has changed the music industry for the better.

Sizzle: Motown’s groundbreaking boss lady.

Why: Suzanne de Passe paved the way for women in the music business as one of the first leading female executives.

Influences: Berry Gordy, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson.

Legacies: Jackson 5, Lionel Richie, Rick James.

To be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

"An artist’s musical impact and influence on other artists, length and depth of career and body of work as well as innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration," according to Rock Hall officials.

An international body of more than 1,000 artists, historians and members of the music industry receive ballots each year to determine the inductees.

Cleveland most recently hosted the induction ceremony back in October 2021 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. That class included the following inductees:

• Foo Fighters
• The Go-Go’s
• JAY-Z
• Carole King
• Todd Rundgren
• Tina Turner
• Clarence Avant
• LL Cool J
• Billy Preston
• Randy Rhoads
• Kraftwerk
• Gil Scott-Heron
• Charley Patton

RELATED: ICYMI: Relive our coverage of the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland

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