The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

CLASS OF 1986

PERFORMERS

CHUCK BERRY

● ROCK AND ROLL ● R&B ●

CHARLES EDWARD ANDERSON BERRY
Born: 18 October 1926
Died: 18 March 2017

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 1 - Platinum: 2 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

Maybellene (1955) - with His Combo

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #102 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Roll Over Beethoven (1956) - with His Combo

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (1956) - with His Combo

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Rock and Roll Music (1957)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Johnny B. Goode (1958)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #33 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Run Rudolph Run (1958)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Promised Land (1964)

- ranked #342 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

My Ding-a-Ling (1972)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1986

PERFORMERS

JAMES BROWN

● FUNK ● R&B ● SOUL ● ROCK AND ROLL ●

JAMES JOSEPH BROWN
Born: 3 May 1933
Died: 25 December 2006

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 2 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

Please, Please, Please (1956) - with the 'Famous Flames'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - Part 1 (1965) - with the 'Famous Flames'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #34 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

I Got You (I Feel Good) (1965) - with the 'Famous Flames'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

It's a Man's Man's Man's World (1966) - with the 'Famous Flames'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Cold Sweat - Part 1 (1967) - with the 'Famous Flames'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud (1968)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #393 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Get Up, I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine (1970)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #196 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Get On the Good Foot (1972)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Doing It to Death (1974) - with Fred Wesley & the J.B.'s

- certified Gold by the RIAA

The Payback (1974)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1986

PERFORMERS

RAY CHARLES

● R&B ● SOUL ● BLUES ● GOSPEL ● COUNTRY ●

● JAZZ ● ROCK AND ROLL ●

RAY CHARLES ROBINSON
Born: 23 September 1930
Died: 10 June 2004

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 2 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 2  Multi-Platinum: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

I've Got a Woman (1954) - with his Band

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Hallelujah I Love Her So (1956)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

What'd I Say - Part 1 (1959) - with his Orchestra

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #80 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Georgia On My Mind (1960)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #283 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Hit the Road Jack (1961) - with his Orchestra

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

I Can't Stop Loving You (1962)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

America the Beautiful (1972)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Here We Go Again (2005) - with Norah Jones

- certified Gold by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1986

PERFORMERS

SAM COOKE

● SOUL ● R&B ● GOSPEL ●

SAMUEL COOK
Born: 22 January 1931
Died: 11 December 1964

KEY SONGS

You Send Me (1957) - with the 'Bumps Blackwell Orchestra'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Wonderful World (1960)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Bring It On Home to Me (1962)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

A Change is Gonna Come (1964)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #3 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

CLASS OF 1986

PERFORMERS

FATS DOMINO

● ROCK AND ROLL ● BOOGIE-WOOGIE ● NEW ORLEANS R&B ●

ANTOINE DOMINIQUE DOMINO, JR
Born: 26 February 1928
Died: 24 October 2017

KEY SONGS

The Fat Man (1949)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Ain't That a Shame (1955)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Blueberry Hill (1956)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #147 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

I'm Walkin' (1957)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Walking to New Orleans (1960)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1986

PERFORMERS

THE EVERLY BROTHERS

Don Everly - Phil Everly

● COUNTRY ROCK ● ROCK AND ROLL ● COUNTRY ●

ISAAC DONALD EVERLY
Born: 1 February 1937
Died: 21 August 2021

PHILLIP JASON EVERLY
Born: 19 January 1939
Died: 3 January 2014

KEY SONGS

Bye Bye Love (1957)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Wake Up Little Susie (1957)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

All I Have to Do is Dream (1958)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #323 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

CLASS OF 1986

AHMET ERTEGUN AWARD

ALAN FREED

DISC JOCKEY

ALBERT JAMES FREED
Born: 15 December 1921
Died: 20 January 1965

HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT HE COINED THE TERM 'ROCK AND ROLL'

CLASS OF 1986

AHMET ERTEGUN AWARD

JOHN HAMMOND

RECORD PRODUCER / TALENT SCOUT

JOHN HENRY HAMMOND II
Born: 15 December 1910
Died: 10 July 1987

- = SOME OF HIS DISCOVERIES = - 

● BENNY GOODMAN ● ROBERT JOHNSON ● BILLIE HOLIDAY ●

● BESSIE SMITH ● BOB DYLAN ● COUNT BASIE ● CHARLIE CHRISTIAN ●

● ARETHA FRANKLIN ● PETE SEEGER ●  BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ●

CLASS OF 1986

PERFORMERS

BUDDY HOLLY

● ROCK AND ROLL ● ROCKABILLY ● POP ● COUNTRY ●

CHARLES HARDIN HOLLEY
Born: 7 September 1936
Died: 3 February 1959

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

That'll Be the Day (1957) - with 'The Crickets'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #124 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Peggy Sue (1957)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #370 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

CLASS OF 1986

PERFORMERS

JERRY LEE LEWIS

● ROCK AND ROLL ● ROCKABILLY ● COUNTRY ●

● GOSPEL ● HONKY TONK ● BLUES ●

JERRY LEE LEWIS
Born: 29 September 1935

KEY SONGS

Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On (1957)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Great Balls of Fire (1957)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #242 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

CLASS OF 1986

EARLY INFLUENCES

ROBERT JOHNSON

● BLUES ● DELTA BLUES ●

ROBERT LEROY JOHNSON
Born: 8 May 1911
Died: 16 August 1938

KEY SONGS

Cross Road Blues (1937)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #481 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Sweet Home Chicago (1937)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Hell Hound on My Trail (1937)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Love in Vain Blues (1939)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

CLASS OF 1986

AHMET ERTEGUN AWARD

SAM PHILLIPS

RECORD PRODUCER

SAMUEL CORNELIUS PHILLIPS
Born: 5 January 1923
Died: 30 July 2003

FOUNDED SUN RECORDS

First single release:

Drivin' Slow (1952)

Johnny London

FOUNDED PHILLIPS INTERNATIONAL RECORDS

First single release:

Raunchy (1957)

Bill Justis

CLASS OF 1986

PERFORMERS

ELVIS PRESLEY

● ROCK AND ROLL ● POP ● ROCKABILLY ● COUNTRY ●

● GOSPEL ● R&B ● BLUES ●

ELVIS AARON PRESLEY
Born: 8 January 1935
Died: 16 August 1977

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 26 - Platinum: 20 - Multi-Platinum: 8 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 6 - Platinum: 5 - Multi-Platinum: 4 - Diamond: 1 ◄

♦ Elvis' Christmas Album (1957) ♦

- = SOUNDTRACK ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 6 - Platinum: 2 - Multi-Platinum: 1 ◄

- = LIVE ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 6 - Platinum: 2 - Multi-Platinum: 3 ◄

KEY SONGS

That's All Right (1954) - with Scotty and Bill

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Good Rockin' Tonight (1954) - with Scotty and Bill

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Mystery Train (1955) - with Scotty and Bill

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Heartbreak Hotel (1956)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #347 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

I Want You, I Need You, I Love You (1956)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Don't Be Cruel (1956)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Hound Dog (1956)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Love Me Tender (1956)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

Too Much (1957) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

All Shook Up (1957) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear (1957) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

Jailhouse Rock (1957)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #216 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

Don't (1958) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Wear My Ring Around Your Neck (1958) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Hard Headed Woman (1958) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

I Got Stung (1958) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

(Now and Then There's) A Fool Such As I (1959) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

A Big Hunk o' Love (1959) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Stuck on You (1960) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

It's Now or Never (1960) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Are You Lonesome Tonight? (1960) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

Surrender (1961) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

I Feel So Bad (1961)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame (1961)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Can't Help Falling in Love (1961) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Good Luck Charm (1962) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

She's Not You (1962) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Return to Sender (1962) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

One Broken Heart for Sale (1963) - with 'The Mello Men'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

(You're the) Devil in Disguise (1963) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Bossa Nova Baby (1963) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Kissin' Cousins (1964) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Viva Las Vegas (1964) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Ain't that Loving You, Baby? (1964)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Crying in the Chapel (1965) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

I'm Yours (1965)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Puppet on a String (1965) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Blue Christmas (1965) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Tell Me Why (1965) - with 'The Jordanaires'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Frankie and Johnny (1966)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

If I Can Dream (1968)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

In the Ghetto (1969)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Clean Up Your Back Yard (1969)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Suspicious Minds (1969)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #70 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Don't Cry, Daddy (1969)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Kentucky Rain (1970)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

The Wonder of You (1970)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

I've Lost You (1970)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

You Don't Have to Say you Love Me (1970)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

I Really Don't Want to Know (1970)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Burning Love (1972)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Separate Ways (1972)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Way Down (1977)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

My Way [live] (1977)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

A Little Less Conversation (2002) - Junkie XL Remix

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1986

PERFORMERS

LITTLE RICHARD

● ROCK AND ROLL ● R&B ● GOSPEL ● SOUL ●

RICHARD WAYNE PENNIMAN
Born: 5 December 1932
Died: 9 May 2020

KEY SONGS

Tutti Frutti (1955) - with His Band

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #35 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Long Tall Sally (1956) - with His Band

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Lucille (1957) - with His Band

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Good Golly, Miss Molly (1958)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #92 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

CLASS OF 1986

EARLY INFLUENCES

JIMMIE RODGERS

● COUNTRY ● BLUES ● FOLK ●

JAMES CHARLES RODGERS
Born: 8 September 1897
Died: 26 May 1933

KEY SONGS

Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas) (1928)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

In the Jailhouse Now (1928)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Blue Yodel No. 9 (Standing on the Corner) (1931)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1986

EARLY INFLUENCES

JIMMY YANCEY

● BOOGIE-WOOGIE ●

JAMES EDWARDS YANCEY
Born: 20 February c.1895
Died: 17 September 1951

KEY SONGS

Midnight Stomp (1954)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

CLASS OF 1987

AHMET ERTEGUN AWARD

LEONARD CHESS

RECORD PRODUCER

LEJZOR SZMUEL CZYŻ
Born: 12 March 1917
Died: 16 October 1969

CO-FOUNDED CHESS RECORDS

First single release:

My Foolish Heart (1950)

Gene Ammons and His Sextet

CO-FOUNDED CHECKER RECORDS

First single release:

Slow Caboose (1952)

Sax Mallard and His Orchestra

CO-FOUNDED ARGO RECORDS

First single release:

Let Me Be the First One to Know (1955)

Savannah Churchill with Eddie Wilcox and his Orchestra

CHANGED 'ARGO' TO 'CADET' TO AVOID CONFUSION

First single release:

But I Do (1965)

Clarence 'Frogman' Henry

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

THE COASTERS

Carl Gardiner - Cornell Gunter - Billy Guy - Will "Dub Jones

● R&B ● ROCK AND ROLL ●

CARL EDWARD GARDINER
Born: 29 April 1928
Died: 12 June 2011

CORNELIUS E. GUNTER
Born: 14 November 1936
Died: 26 February 1990

FRANK PHILLIPS, JR.
Born: 20 June 1936
Died: 5 November 2002

WILL J. JONES
Born: 14 May 1928
Died: 16 January 2000

KEY SONGS

Young Blood (1957)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Yakety Yak (1958)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

EDDIE COCHRAN

● ROCK AND ROLL ● ROCKABILLY ● COUNTRY ● R&B ●

RAY EDWARD COCHRAN
Born: 3 October 1938
Died: 17 April 1960

KEY SONGS

Summertime Blues (1958)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #432 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

C'mon Everybody (1958)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

BO DIDDLEY

● R&B ● ROCK AND ROLL ●

ELLAS OTHA BATES
Born: 30 December 1928
Died: 2 June 2008

KEY SONGS

Bo Diddley (1955)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #277 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

I'm a Man (1958)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Who Do You Love? (1956)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Say Man (1959)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

CLASS OF 1987

AHMET ERTEGUN AWARD

AHMET ERTEGUN

RECORD PRODUCER

AHMET ERTEGÜN
Born: 31 July 1923
Died: 14 December 2006

CO-FOUNDED ATLANTIC RECORDS

First single release:

That Old Black Magic (1948)

Tiny Grimes Quartet

ESTABLISHED THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

ARETHA FRANKLIN

● SOUL ● R&B ● GOSPEL ● JAZZ ● POP ●

ARETHA LOUISE FRANKLIN
Born: 25 March 1942
Died: 16 August 2018

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 15 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 7 - Platinum: 1 ◄

- = SOUNDTRACK ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

- = LIVE ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 - Multi-Platinum: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) (1967)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Respect (1967)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #1 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Baby I Love You (1967)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (1967)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #90 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Chain of Fools (1967)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #306 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone (1968)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Think (1968)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

I Say a Little Prayer (1968)

- ranked #117 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

See Saw (1968)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

(Don't Play That Song) You Lied (1970)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Bridge Over Troubled Water (1971)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Spanish Harlem (1971)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Rock Steady (1971)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Day Dreaming (1972)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) (1973)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

A Rose Is Still a Rose (1998)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

MARVIN GAYE

● R&B ● SOUL ● PSYCHEDELIC SOUL ● GOSPEL ●

● FUNK ● JAZZ ● PROGRESSIVE SOUL ●

MARVIN PENTZ GAY JR.
Born: 2 April 1939
Died: 1 April 1984

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 1 - Platinum: 2 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 - Multi-Platinum: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

Ain't No Mountain High Enough (1967) - with Tammi Terrell

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

I Heard It Through the Grapevine (1968)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #119 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

What's Going On (1971)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #6 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (1971)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Let's Get It On (1973)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #264 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Sexual Healing (1982)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #198 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Let's Get It On (2005) - MPG Groove Mix

- certified Gold by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

BILL HALEY

● ROCK AND ROLL ● COUNTRY ● RICKABILLY ●

WILLIAM JOHN CLIFTON HALEY
Born: 6 July 1925
Died: 9 February 1981

KEY SONGS

Rock Around the Clock (1954) - with 'His Comets'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1987

EARLY INFLUENCES

LOUIS JORDAN

● R&B ● SWING ● JUMP BLUES ● BOOGIE-WOOGIE ●

LOUIS THOMAS JORDAN
Born: 8 July 1908
Died: 4 February 1975

KEY SONGS

Caldonia Boogie (1945) - with 'His Tympany Five'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Choo Choo Ch-Boogie (1946) - with 'His Tympany Five'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Let the Good Times Roll (1946) - with 'His Tympany Five'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens (1946) - with 'His Tympany Five'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Saturday Night Fish Fry (1949) - with 'His Tympany Five'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

B.B. KING

● ELECTRIC BLUES ● R&B ● ROCK AND ROLL ● SOUL ● GOSPEL ●

RILEY B. KING
Born: 16 September 1925
Died: 14 May 2015

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 - Multi-Platinum: 1 ◄

- = LIVE ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

Three O'Clock Blues (1951)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Everyday I Have the Blues (1955) - with 'His Orchestra'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Sweet Little Angel (1956) - with 'His Orchestra'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

The Thrill is Gone (1969)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1987

AHMET ERTEGUN AWARD

JERRY LEIBER & MIKE STOLLER

SONGWRITERS/RECORD PRODUCERS

JEROME LEIBER
Born: 5 January 1923
Died: 30 July 2003

MIKE STOLLER
Born: 13 March 1933

First chart hit as writers:

Hard Times (1952)

Charles Brown

R&B: #7

- = WROTE TOP TEN HITS FOR = -

● THE CHEERS ● THE COASTERS ● ELVIS PRESLEY ● THE DRIFTERS ●

● BEN E. KING ● THE KINGSTON TRIO ● MICHAEL McDONALD ●

● WARREN G AND NATE DOGG ● SEAN KINGSTON ●

CO-FOUNDED SPARK RECORDS

First single release:

Come a Little Bit Closer (1954)

Willy & Ruth

CO-FOUNDED DAISY RECORDS

First single release:

Big Bad World (1963)

Cathy Saint

CO-FOUNDED TIGER RECORDS

First single release:

The Bossa Nova (My Heart Said) (1963)

Tuppie & the Clovers

CO-FOUNDED RED BIRD RECORDS

First single release:

Chapel of Love (1964)

The Dixie Cups

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

CLYDE McPHATTER

● ROCK AND ROLL ● R&B ● SOUL ● POP ●

CLYDE LENSLEY McPHATTER
Born: 15 November 1932
Died: 13 June 1972

KEY SONGS

Sixty Minute Man (1951) - with 'The Dominoes'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Money Honey (1953) - with 'The Drifters'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

RICKY NELSON

● ROCKABILLY● ROCK AND ROLL ● POP ● COUNTRY ●

ERIC HILLIARD NELSON
Born: 8 May 1940
Died: 31 December 1985

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 2 ◄

KEY SONGS

Travelin' Man (1961)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Hello Mary Lou (1961)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Garden Party (1972) - with the 'Stone Canyon Band'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

ROY ORBISON

● ROCK ● POP ● COUNTRY ● ROCKABILLY ● ROCK AND ROLL ●

ROY KELTON ORBISON
Born: 23 April 1936
Died: 6 December 1988

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 - Platinum: 1 - Multi-Platinum: 1 ◄

- = LIVE ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel) (1960) - with 'Bob Moore's
Orchestra & Chorus'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Crying (1961) - with 'Bob Moore's Orchestra & Chorus'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #461 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Oh, Pretty Woman (1964) - with the 'Candy Men'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

CARL PERKINS

● ROCKABILLY ● ROCK AND ROLL ● COUNTRY ●

CARL LEE PERKINS
Born: 9 April 1932
Died: 19 January 1998

KEY SONGS

Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Matchbox (1957)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

SMOKEY ROBINSON

● R&B ● SOUL ● POP ●

WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Born: 19 February 1940

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 2 ◄

KEY SONGS

Shop Around (1960) - with 'The Miracles'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

You've Really Got a Hold on Me (1962) - with 'The Miracles'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Going to a Go-Go (1965) - with 'The Miracles'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

The Tracks of My Tears (1965) - with 'The Miracles'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #54 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

The Tears of a Clown (1970) - with 'The Miracles'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #313 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Being with You (1981)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

BIG JOE TURNER

● JUMP BLUES ● BLUES ● R&B ●

JOSEPH VERNON TURNER JR.
Born: 18 May 1911
Died: 24 November 1985

KEY SONGS

Roll 'Em Pete (1938) - with Pete Johnson

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Shake, Rattle and Roll (1954) - with his 'Blue Kings'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1987

EARLY INFLUENCES

T-BONE WALKER

● BLUES ● ELECTRIC BLUES ● TEXAN BLUES ●

● JUMP BLUES ● WEST COAST BLUES ●

AARON THIBEAUX WALKER
Born: 28 May 1910
Died: 16 March 1975

KEY SONGS

Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad) (1947)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

MUDDY WATERS

● BLUES ● CHICAGO BLUES ● DELTA BLUES ●

McKINLEY MORGANFIELD
Born: 4 April 1913
Died: 30 April 1983

KEY SONGS

I Feel Like Going Home (1948)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Rollin' Stone (1950)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man (1954)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Manish Boy (Mannish Boy) (1955)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #425 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Got My Mojo Working (1957)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1987

AHMET ERTEGUN AWARD

JERRY WEXLER

JOURNALIST/RECORD PRODUCER

GERALD WEXLER
Born: 10 January 1917
Died: 15 August 2008

COINED THE TERM 'RHYTHM & BLUES'

AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO 'RACE RECORDS'

CLASS OF 1987

EARLY INFLUENCES

HANK WILLIAMS

● COUNTRY ● WESTERN ● HONKY-TONK ●

● ROCKABILLY ● FOLK ● BLUES ● GOSPEL ●

HIRAM WILLIAMS
Born: 17 September 1923
Died: 1 January 1953

KEY SONGS

Honky Tonkin' (1947) - with 'his Drifting Cowboys'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Move It on Over (1947) - with 'his Drifting Cowboys'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Lovesick Blues (1949) - with 'his Drifting Cowboys'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (1949) - with 'his Drifting Cowboys'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #165 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Hey Good Lookin' (1951) - with 'his Drifting Cowboys'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Jambalaya on the Bayou (1952) - with 'his Drifting Cowboys'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Your Cheatin' Heart (1953) - with 'his Drifting Cowboys'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #237 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

CLASS OF 1987

PERFORMERS

JACKIE WILSON

● R&B ● SOUL ● POP ● ROCK AND ROLL ● DOO-WOP ●

JACK LEROY WILSON JR.
Born: 9 June 1934
Died: 21 January 1984

KEY SONGS

Lonely Teardrops (1958)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher (1967)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1988

PERFORMERS

THE BEACH BOYS

Mike Love- Carl Wilson - Al Jardine

Brian Wilson - Dennis Wilson

● ROCK ● POP ● SURF ● PSYCHEDELIA ●

MICHAEL EDWARD LOVE
Born: 15 March 1941

DENNIS CARL WILSON
Born: 3 December 1944
Died: 28 December 1983

ALAN CHARLES JARDINE
Born: 3 September 1942

BRIAN DOUGLAS WILSON
Born: 20 June 1942

CARL DEAN WILSON
Born: 21 December 1946
Died: 6 February 1998

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 1 - Platinum: 2 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 8 - Platinum: 3 ◄

- = LIVE ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 3 ◄

KEY SONGS

Surfin' USA (1963)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

In My Room (1963)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

I Get Around (1964)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Don't Worry Baby (1964)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

California Girls (1965)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Wouldn't It Be Nice (1966)

- ranked #297 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

God Only Knows (1966)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #11 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Good Vibrations (1966)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #53 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Kokomo (1988)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1988

PERFORMERS

THE BEATLES

John Lennon - Paul McCartney - George Harrison - Ringo Starr

● ROCK ● POP ●

JOHN WINSTON LENNON
Born: 9 October 1940
Died: 8 December 1980

JAMES PAUL McCARTNEY
Born: 18 June 1942

GEORGE HARRISON
Born: 25 February 1943
Died: 29 November 2001

RICHARD STARKEY
Born: 7 July 1940

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 19 - Platinum: 5 - Multi-Platinum: 4 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 - Platinum: 5 - Multi-Platinum: 11 - Diamond: 3 ◄

♦ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) ♦

♦ The Beatles [The White Album] (1968) ♦

♦ Abbey Road (1969) ♦

- = LIVE ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 - Multi-Platinum: 1 ◄

- = DIAMOND COMPILATION ALBUMS = -

♦ 1962-1966 [The Red Album] (1973) ♦

♦ 1967-1970 [The Blue Album] (1973) ♦

♦ 1 (2000) ♦

KEY SONGS

Love Me Do (1962)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

I Want to Hold Your Hand (1963)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #15 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Please Please Me (1963)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Twist and Shout (1964)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

She Loves You (1963)

- ranked #135 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Can't Buy Me Love (1964)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Do You Want to Know a Secret (1964)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

A Hard Day's Night (1964)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

I Feel Fine (1964)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Eight Days a Week (1965)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Help! (1965)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #447 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Yesterday (1965)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #72 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

We Can Work It Out (1965)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

In My Life (1965)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #98 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Norwegian Wood (1965)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Nowhere Man (1966)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Paperback Writer (1966)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Yellow Submarine (1966)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Eleanor Rigby (1966)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #243 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Got to Get You into My Life (1966)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Penny Lane (1967)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #280 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Strawberry Fields Forever (1967)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #7 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

A Day in the Life (1967)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #24 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

All You Need is Love (1967)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Hello Goodbye (1967)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Lady Madonna (1968)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Hey Jude (1968)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #89 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

Get Back (1969) - with Billy Preston

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

The Ballad of John & Yoko (1969)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Something (1969)

- ranked #110 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

Let It Be (1970)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #121 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Multi-Platinum by the RIAA

The Long and Winding Road (1970)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Free as a Bird (1995)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Real Love (1996)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1988

PERFORMERS

THE DRIFTERS

Clyde McPhatter - Gerhart Thrasher - Johnny Moore - Bill Pinkney

Charlie Thomas - Ben E. King - Rudy Lewis

● R&B ● DOO-WOP ● SOUL ● POP ●

CLYDE LENSLEY McPHATTER
Born: 15 November 1932
Died: 13 June 1972

GERHART THRASHER
Born: 3 December 1928
Died: November 1977

JOHN DANIEL MOORE
Born: 15 December 1934
Died: 30 December 1998

WILLIE PINKNEY
Born: 15 August 1925
Died: 4 July 2007

CHARLES THOMAS
Born: 7 April 1937

BENJAMIN EARL NELSON
Born: 28 September 1938
Died: 30 April 2015

RUDY LEWIS
Born: 23 August 1936
Died: 20 May 1964

KEY SONGS

Money Honey (1953)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

There Goes My Baby (1959)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Save the Last Dance for Me (1960)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Up On the Roof (1962)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #375 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

On Broadway (1963)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Under the Boardwalk (1964)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1988

PERFORMERS

BOB DYLAN

● FOLK ● BLUES ● ROCK ● GOSPEL ● COUNTRY ●

● TRADITIONAL POP ● JAZZ ●

ROBERT ALLEN ZIMMERMAN
Born: 24 May 1941

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 12 - Platinum: 9 - Multi-Platinum: 4 ◄

- = LIVE ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 5 - Platinum: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

Blowin' in the Wind (1963)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #100 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

The Times They Are a-Changin' (1965)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Like a Rolling Stone (1965)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #4 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Subterranean Homesick Blues (1965)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #187 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Mr. Tambourine Man (1965)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #164 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Desolation Row (1965)

- ranked #83 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Visions of Johanna (1966)

- ranked #317 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

Tangled Up in Blue (1975)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #67 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

CLASS OF 1988

AHMET ERTEGUN AWARD

BERRY GORDY

RECORD PRODUCER

BERRY GORDY III
Born: 28 November 1929

FOUNDED TAMLA RECORDS

First single release:

Come to Me (1959)

Marv Johnson

CHANGED NAME TO MOTOWN RECORDS

First single release:

Bad Girl (1959)

The Miracles

FOUNDED MIRACLE RECORDS

First single release:

Don't Feel Sorry for Me (1961)

Jimmy Ruffin

CHANGED NAME TO GORDY RECORDS

First single release:

Dream Come True (1962)

The Temptations

CLASS OF 1988

EARLY INFLUENCES

WOODY GUTHRIE

● AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC ● PROTEST MUSIC ●

● COUNTRY ● TALKING BLUES ●

WOODROW WILSON GUTHRIE
Born: 14 July 1912
Died: 3 October 1967

KEY SONGS

Pretty Boy Floyd (1940)*

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Pastures of Plenty (1941)*

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

This Land is Your Land (1944)*

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #229 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

*earliest recording dates

CLASS OF 1988

EARLY INFLUENCES

LEAD BELLY

● FOLK BLUES ● FOLK ● GOSPEL ● SONGSTER ●

HUDDIE WILLIAM LEDBETTER
Born: 23 January 1888
Died: 6 December 1949

KEY SONGS

Goodnight, Irene (1936)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

The Midnight Special (1940)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Rock Island Line (1942)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1988

EARLY INFLUENCES

LES PAUL

● JAZZ ● BLUES ● COUNTRY ● ROCK AND ROLL ● ACOUSTIC MUSIC ●

LESTER WILLIAM POLSFUSS
Born: 9 January 1915
Died: 12 August 2009

KEY SONGS

How High the Moon (1951) - with Mary Ford

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With you) (1953) - with Mary Ford

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

"THE LOG" c.1939

CLASS OF 1989

EARLY INFLUENCES

BESSIE SMITH

● CLASSIC BLUES ● JAZZ ●

BESSIE SMITH
Born: 15 April 1894
Died: 26 September 1937

KEY SONGS

Downhearted Blues (1923)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

St. Louis Blues (1925)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Empty Bed Blues (1928)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

CLASS OF 1988

PERFORMERS

THE SUPREMES

Florence Ballard - Diana Ross - Mary Wilson

● R&B ● SOUL ● POP ● DOO-WOP ● DISCO ●

FLORENCE GLENDA BALLARD
Born: 30 June 1943
Died 22 February 1976

DIANA ROSS
Born: 26 March 1944

MARY WILSON
Born: 6 March 1944
Died 8 February 2021

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 2 - Platinum: 2 ◄

- = STUDIO ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

- = SOUNDTRACK ALBUMS = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

Where Did Our Love Go? (1964)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

Baby Love (1964)

- ranked #499 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

Stop! In the Name of Love (1965)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- ranked #254 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

- certified Gold by the RIAA

You Can't Hurry Love (1966)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

You Keep Me Hangin' On (1966)

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

- ranked #234 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Songs'

I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (1968) - with 'The Temptations'

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

Someday We'll Be Together (1969)

- certified Platinum by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1989

PERFORMERS

DION

● ROCK ● POP ● R&B ● BLUES ●

DION FRANCIS DeMUCCI
Born: 18 July 1939

RIAA CERTIFICATIONS

- = SINGLES = -

► Gold: 1 ◄

KEY SONGS

I Wonder Why (1958) - with 'The Belmonts'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'

A Teenager in Love (1959) - with 'The Belmonts'

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Runaround Sue (1961)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

Abraham, Martin & John (1968)

- certified Gold by the RIAA

CLASS OF 1989

EARLY INFLUENCES

THE INK SPOTS

Hoppy Jones - Deek Watson - Jerry Daniels

Charles Fuqua - Billy Kenny

● VOCAL JAZZ ● DOO-WOP ●

ORVILLE JONES
Born: 17 February 1905
Died: 18 October 1944

IVORY JONES
Born: 18 July 1909
Died: 4 November 1969

JERRY DANIELS
Born: 14 December 1915
Died: 7 December 1995

CHARLES FUQUA
Born: 20 0ctober 1910
Died: 21 December 1971

BILLY KENNY
Born: 12 June 1914
Died: 23 March 1978

KEY SONGS

If I Didn't Care (1939)

- selected for 'The 660 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll'

- selected for the 'Grammy Hall of Fame'