The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has released its list of inductees for 2024. Some inductees were a long time coming, while others were more obvious choices. Read on through for some of the names that made it onto this year’s list,
Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige is a groundbreaking artist in the realm of contemporary R&B and soul. With a career spanning over three decades, Blige has redefined the genre with her powerful voice, raw lyrics, and captivating performances. She emerged in the early 1990s as a trailblazer, blending soulful melodies with hip-hop beats, and by doing so, influenced a new wave of musical expression. Several of her hits topped the charts, and her collaborative work with other artists in the industry paved the way for hip-hop collaborations for the decades that followed.
Cher
We’re actually shocked Cher was inducted into the Hall of Fame earlier. With a career spanning seven decades, Cher has become an icon of female empowerment, beginning her career with her then-husband Sonny Bono in the Sonny & Cher duo but going on to blaze her own success as a solo performer. She not only topped the music industry, but found success in Hollywood, earning an Academy Award for her role in Moonstruck (1987). She has showcased her versatility as an artist over her entire career, earning her the title of the Goddess of Pop.
Foreigner
Foreigner has been topping charts with their hits for decades. Some of their greatest songs, including “Cold As Ice,” “Feels Like the First Time,” “Hot Blooded,” and “Juke Box Hero,” remain some of the most well-known songs of the rock genre, while “I Want to Know What Love Is” continued to hold its spot as one of the Top 25 performed songs from the ASCAP catalog. It is unsurprising that the combination of Lou Gramm and Mick Jones would produce some of the finest songwriting the industry has ever seen, and they have rightfully already been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame back in 2013.
Ozzy Osbourne
While it was Black Sabbath, who had already been inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 2006, that gave Ozzy Osbourne his start with fame, he went on to become his own rock and roll legend. Known to the world as the Prince of Darkness, he has become one of the most successful solo artists of all time. The man even created his own music festival, Ozzfest, which quickly became one of the most successful festivals of all time. He has only recently quit touring due to his declining health but was actively performing on stage into his 70s. Despite this, he continues to create new music and collaborate with other artists.
A Tribe Called Quest
After two previous nominations, A Tribe Called Quest has finally been inducted into the Hall of Fame. They thrived in the jazz-rap genre, and their music promoted addressing social issues in the African American community through peace rather than violence. It comes as no shock, then, that their music has inspired countless artists, including the likes of Dr. Dre, Quest Love, and Pharrell Williams. While their induction was a long time coming, it is well deserved.
Jimmy Buffett
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Jimmy Buffett passed away on September 1, 2023, but the legacy he left behind in the music industry will last forever. Despite not even being nominated this year, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, earning his spot in the non-voted category “Musical Excellence.” His unique sound of “Gulf & Western” music has come to define the spirit of Key West, where Buffett moved to following a visit in the early 1970s. He turned his “tropical escapism” lifestyle into several business ventures, including restaurants, hotels, casinos, and more, and while he may no longer be with us, his impact on the industry will be long-remembered.
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