This week, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame announced the nominees for the class of 2021, which included Foo Fighters, Carole King, Jay-Z, The Go-Go’s, Iron Maiden, Fela Kuti, Dionne Warwick, Mary J. Blige, Kate Bush, Devo, Chaka Khan, LL Cool J, New York Dolls, Rage Against The Machine, Todd Rundgren and Tina Turner. Each of the nominees follows the legacies of the pioneering musicians that laid the foundation for rock ‘n’ roll, many of whom are Rock Hall inductees in the Early Influences category.
In celebration of Black History Month, this edition of Saturday Stream presents a Spotify Playlist consisting of Black musicians who have entered the Rock And Roll Hall Fame with the Early Influence distinction. The groundbreaking performers are the roots of nearly every form of popular music being made today. Many overcame racism, sexism and other injustices in order to create their art and share it with the world.
Like the rest of the Rock Hall, there are certainly arguments to be made that others deserve recognition as Early Influences, including several Black musicians who too often have been overlooked. Despite that, the Black musicians who are currently identified by the Rock Hall as a pioneering Early Influence create an undeniable bedrock of artists who continue to impact the sounds we hear today.
The 1986 inaugural induction class honored legendary blues guitarist Robert Johnson and boogie-woogie pianist Jimmy Yancy. Saxophonist Louis Jordan and blues guitarist T-Bone Walker were recognized the following year and renowned folk singer-songwriter Lead Belly was inducted in 1988.
A number of vocalists were recognized in 1989 including jazz singers The Ink Spots, blues singer Bessie Smith and the gospel group The Soul Stirrers featuring Sam Cooke. The 1990 class of Early Influences brought in beloved jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, pioneering blues vocalist Ma Rainey and jazz guitarist Charlie Christian. Influential blues singer Howlin’ Wolf entered the Hall the following year, while blues guitarist Elmore James and iconic New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair were inducted in 1992.
Subsequent years saw the Early Influences designation bestowed upon jazz vocalist Dinah Washington (1993), Chicago blues musician and producer Willie Dixon (1994), doo-wop vocal group The Orioles (1995), gospel vocalist Mahalia Jackson (1997), New Orleans jazz pianist Jelly Roll Morton (1998), blues pianist Charles Brown (1999), jazz singer Nat King Cole (2000) and blues vocalist Billie Holiday (2000).
Blues guitarist Freddie King joined the Early Influences league in 2012. Notable R&B group The Orioles were part of the 2015 class of inductees. In 2018, rock ‘n’ roll trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe became the most recent member of the Early Influences members of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
Each of the above named influential Black musicians is represented within the Spotify Playlist below. The artists are arranged in order of Rock Hall induction from Robert Johnson and Jimmy Yancy through Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Stream here:
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