Today the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the 2013 inductees. There are four categories: Performers (singers, vocal groups, bands, and instrumentalists of all kinds), Non-Performers (people who primarily work behind the scenes in the music industry, including record label executives, songwriters, record producers, disc jockeys, concert promoters, and music journalists), Early Influences (artists from earlier eras, such as country, folk, and blues, whose music inspired and influenced rock and roll artists), and Side-men (musicians who have spent their career out of the spotlight, performing as backup musicians for major artists on recording sessions and in concert). Occasionally, they will add in a Lifetime Achievement Award. Artists are eligible for induction into the Hall twenty-five years after the release of their first record. The Hall of Fame also reviews the influence and significance of the artist’s contribution to the development and continuation of rock and roll.

2013 Performers

• Rush: rock band consisting of Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee, and Neil Peart.
• Heart: rock band consisting of Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, Ben Smith, Craig Bartock, Debbie Shair, and Kristian Attard.
• Randy Newman: singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist.
• Public Enemy: hip hop group consisting of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, and DJ Lord.
• Donna Summer: singer and songwriter
• Albert King: blues guitarist and singer

2013 Non-Performers (Ahmet Ertegun Award)

• Lou Adler: record producer, manager, director, and owner of the Roxy Theatre. He produced The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
• Quincy Jones: record producer, conductor, arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. He conducted and produced “We Are The World” back in 1985 and produced Michael Jackson’s Thriller album.

Those are some pretty influential folks! I hope to visit the R&R Hall of Fame in Cleveland one of these days… maybe I’ll need to add that to the bucket list!