The nominations to the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced Wednesday, and they include ’80s superstars Bon Jovi, The Cars, and Dire Straits. Also selected were the English rock group The Moody Blues — and the late jazz singer Nina Simone, who recorded more than 40 albums and was active in the civil rights movement.
Simone was the most surprising selection. While many felt the recognition was long overdue considering the influence the “I Put a Spell on You” musician has long been for many rock musicians, some questioned the decision, since Nina Simone (who passed away in 2003) was a jazz and soul singer.
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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has certainly made questionable inductions before. The rap group NWA and late rapper Tupac Shakur are both in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. While they may be worthy of recognition, it’s hard to explain why rap artists are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — especially when so many legendary rockers are still awaiting their chance to be inducted.
While the Simone decision certainly seems like a similar decision on the surface, it makes far more sense for a jazz musician to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame than a rap artist, as the beginnings of rock and roll are traced back to jazz and blues. Simone is considered an influence on countless modern-day rock musicians. Her career was recently highlighted in the popular documentary, “What Happened, Miss Simone?”
The news about other 2018 inductees was received with almost universal acclaim, especially Bon Jovi, who fans have long been pushing to have included. He even won the fan vote put on by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, earning over 1 million votes.
The rocker posted a video to his Twitter account, thanking his fans and acknowledging the inclusion has been a “long time coming.”
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The ceremony for the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will take place on April 14, 2018, at Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. HBO will broadcast the ceremony.
PopZette editor Zachary.Leeman can be reached at [email protected].
(photo credit, homepage image: Nina Simone op Schiphol, CC 0, by Nijs, Jac. de, Anefo; photo credit, article image: Nina Simone, CC BY-SA 3.0, by Roland Godefroy)
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