Once again, Rock Hall of Fame misses the mark

Congratulations to officials at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum for again embarrassing themselves with the nominees for induction into the shrine.

Certainly, some of the nominees merit induction. Based on their bodies of work, Chicago and Janet Jackson should have been inducted years ago. Chicago had 30 Top 40 hits, three of which reached the top of the charts. Chicago’s chart toppers were “If You Leave Me Now” in 1976, “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” in 1982 and “Look Away” in 1988.

Jackson had 29 Top 40 hits, eight of which were No. 1 smashes. They were “When I think of You” in 1986, “Miss You Much” in 1989, “Escapade,” ”Black Cat” and “Love Will Never Do Without You” in 1990, “That’s the Way Love Goes” and “Again” in 1993 and “Together Again” in 1997.

After consulting with Carlton Fletcher, the Dick Clark of Southwest Georgia, it was decided that four other nominees merited strong consideration – The Cars, Deep Purple, Steve Miller Band and The Spinners.

An R&B group from Detroit, the Spinners had their first Top 40 hit with “That’s What Girls Are Made For” in 1961. They had 17 other Top 40 hits including their only No. 1 hit – “Then Came You” in 1971.

The Spinners are the only nominee who had a hit before the British Invasion.

The shame of this is that so many pre-Beatles stars continue to be ignored.

Was Paul Anka with 30 Top 40 hits and one No. 1 record nominated?

No.

Was Frankie Avalon with 13 Top 40 hits and a pair of No. 1s nominated?

No.

Was Chubby “Mr. Twist” Checker with 23 Top 40 hits and three chart toppers nominated?

No.

Was Connie Francis with 35 Top 40 hits and three No. 1s nominated?

No.

Was Johnny Maestro, who had Top 10 hits as lead singer with The Crests and Brooklyn Bridge, nominated?

No.

Was Johnny Mathis with 20 Top 40 hits and two chart toppers nominated?

No.

Was Bobby Rydell with 19 Top 40 hits and a pair of No. 1s nominated

No.

Was Neil Sedaka with 21 top 40 hits and three that reached No. 1 nominated?

No.

Even post-Beatles performers Bon Jovi and Whitney Houston continue to be ignored by the nominating committee. Bon Jovi had four No. 1 hits among his 19 Top 40 hits. Houston had nine No. 1 hits among her 30 Top 40 songs.

Also receiving nomination this year were Chic, Cheap Trick, JB’s, Chaka Khan, Los Lobos, Nine Inch Nails, NBA, The Smiths and Yes.

Some of these groups never had ONE Top 40 hit.

The shame of these gross oversights is that all of the pre-Beatles stars mentioned helped form the history of rock ‘n’ roll.

Do you think rock ‘n’ roll would be the same without the contributions of Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon, Chubby Checker, Connie Francis, Johnny Maestro, Johnny Mathis, Bobby Rydell and Neil Sedaka?

The answer is a resounding no.

So why are their accomplishments continually ignored?

I wish I had an answer.

Certainly their bodies of work merit induction, especially when you consider some of the performers who have been enshrined.

These pre-Beatles performers helped save the genre when negative things were threating its existence. During that period in the late 1950s was when Jerry Lee Lewis opted to marry his 13-year-old cousin, Elvis Presley was completing his military obligation, the payola scandal broke affecting many key DJs, superstars Buddy

Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper were killed in an airplane crash in Iowa in February 1959.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum never will be a true Hall of Fame until it starts to recognize the genre’s early superstars.

By ignoring those rock stars would be the same as the Baseball Hall of Fame ignoring what Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Cy Young did for Major League Baseball.

It just would not be a real Hall of Fame.

And the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame never will be recognized as a real Hall of Fame until the early artists get the recognition they earned.

This week in rock history — The Beach Boys’ “Be True To Your School” was released on Nov. 2, 1964. The record, which included the University of Wisconsin fight song, peaked at No. 6. … Sun Records released “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis on Nov. 3 1957. It was his biggest hit, reaching No. 2. The single sold more than 5 million copies.

Johnny Horton, 33, who had a No. 1 hit with “Battle of New Orleans,” died on Nov. 5, 1960, when his Cadillac was hit by a truck in Milano, Texas. Horton had just played his last show at the Skyline in Austin, Texas, where Hank Williams had played his last show. … Jimmy Dean’s “Big, Bad John” became the 100th No. 1 single of the Rock and Roll era on Nov. 5, 1961. It was his only chart topper. … Ivory Joe Hunter died of lung cancer at 60 on Nov. 8, 1973. Hunter was best known for his R&B hits, “Since I Lost You Baby,” “I Almost Lost My Mind” and “I Need You So.”

Barry Levine is an entertainment writer for The Albany Herald. He can be reached at [email protected].