You Deserve An Award, For The Role That You Play

[May 2012: I'm putting this back up on top, again this year, in the wake of Donna Summer's passing. Donna Summer isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Still. It's appalling, as it is for many other prominent and distinguished female artists. Or, as Elton John put it yesterday:

"I'm so sad. This woman was the queen of disco and so much more. Her records sound as good today as they ever did.

"That she has never been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a total disgrace, especially when I see the second-rate talent that has been inducted. She is a great friend to me and to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and I will miss her greatly."

Elton's entitled to his hyperbole (I don't know about "second rate" referring to any of those who've been inducted), but he's right - it's a disgrace that Donna Summer, and many other women, have been left out of anything claiming to be a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here's hoping that sheer embarrassment will finally catch up to the Hall, and force their hand.]

 

[Update 2012: It's been about exactly four years since I wrote this post, and most of it remains as true as when I wrote it. It remains an embarrassment, four years later, that only a handful of women have been added to the Hall of Fame, though "not inducting enough women" is only part of their problems. I wandered this way as I was writing something about Chaka Khan... who also has not made it into the Hall of Fame, alone or with Rufus.

And that's just appalling.]

One of the less noticed news stories of last week was the latest round of "inductions" into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's a little surprising, and a little telling, that even with Madonna's induction into The Hall, the event received really only passing coverage (I only caught it, after the fact, at Towleroad.

I'm going to include Madonna's remarks at her induction, because as a long time fan, I have to say she surprised yet again: though she was her usual feisty, challenging self, she was also genuinely touched at the honor, and her words are undeniably heartfelt:

But what got me thinking, and indeed got me to write this post, is that J in Baltimore wrote me the day after and said how annoyed he was that Donna Summer isn't in the Hall of Fame.  I was surprised; I said I thought she was.  As it turns out, I was wrong, but only when I checked the list of inductees did I realize just how oddly lopsided the proceedings have been.  Below, a list of the women who have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  All of them. In order of their induction (beginning with Ms. Franklin, in the Hall's second year). And while it's a little long to ask you to read past it for the rest of my thoughts, I'm confident you will when you realize... it's not long enough. Not nearly enough.

Aretha Franklin
Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard (as The Supremes)
Bessie Smith (as an “Early Influence”)
Carole King (as part of the “non-performer” writing team with Gerry Goffin)
Ma Rainey (Early Influence)
La Vern Baker
Tina Turner (as part of Ike and Tina Turner)
Etta James
Ruth Brown
Dinah Washington (Early Influence)
Martha Reeves, Rosalyn Ashford, Betty Kelly, Lois Reeves and Annette Sterling (as Martha and the Vandellas)
Janis Joplin
Shirley Reeves, Micki Harris, Doris Kenner-Jackson, and Beverly Lee (as the Shirelles)
Grace Slick (as part of Jefferson Airplane)
Gladys Knight (and the Pips)
Joni Mitchell
Mahalia Jackson (Early Influence)
Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliott (as the Mamas, along with the Papas)
Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks (as part of Fleetwood Mac)
Dusty Springfield
Mavis, Cleotha, and Yvonne Staples (as part of The Staples Singers)
Bonnie Raitt
Billie Holiday (Early Influence)
Brenda Lee
Chrissie Hynde (with the Pretenders)
Debbie Harry (as part of Blondie)
Patti Smith
Ronnie Spector, Nedra Talley, and Estelle Bennett (as the Ronettes)
Madonna

[Updated, as of 2012: Wanda Jackson (2009, Early Influence), Annafrid and Agnetha with ABBA (2010), Ellie Greenwich (and Jeff Barry as songwriters, 2010), Cynthia Weil (and Barry Mann as songwriters, 2010), Darlene Love (2011, inducted by Bette Midler, who isn't), and Laura Nyro (2012)] 

Now, you could start by thinking about all the people who aren't on the list... but just for a moment, consider who's here: does this list make any sense? If you were picking pivotal women in the history of the Rock era, would you start here? I'm not dismissing these worthy women, but only to point out the odd biases of those involved in selecting inductees, which clearly aim towards classic Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, while overlooking a great deal of straight-ahead pop (and having, red faced, to admit that some pop acts clearly need recognition). In any case, the wonder - to me - is not that Madonna made it in... but that she wasn't overlooked for years, and added, sheepishly, as an embarrassing afterthought years after the fact.

I don't have a suggestion here - I think protests, angry letters, boycotts are involved.... that sort of thing, but really, since figuring this out, I've just been gasping. At the way a bunch of male critics and music writers get to define a genre. Of the way we enshrine all male bands and ignore female singers. Of the way what defines rock and roll is allowed to be male driven... because that's just what we are.  Of the top of my head, I think I know 15 women who need to be added.  But I'd like to leave it to you, dear readers: which women should be on this list?

And who in the hell thinks leaving them off of it is acceptable?

[Update, 2012 (though I put it in comments, too): Pat Benatar, Heart (Ann and Nancy Wilson), The Go-Gos, Chaka Khan/Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Patti Labelle and Labelle (Patti, Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx), and probably Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles (so Cindy Birdsong could get in, apart from being a Supreme), The Marvalettes, Mary Welles, Tina Turner (as a solo act), Bette Midler, Cher (and Sonny), Carole King (as a performer), Carly Simon (and James Taylor), Joan Baez, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts... and I could go on. A lot.]

Comments

[Redstar]

Oy, I'm terrible with music. How do they induct all the menz? What are the categories? Etc.

Donna Summer - YES!! Obviously, Carly Simon needs to be added immediately. Nina Simone. I know you think Mariah Carey. Where is Whitney? Does Barbra even remotely count as rock-n-roll? I guess that's why I'm curious about the categories...she's obviously not rock, but she sure is talented.

Jill Scott should eventually be in there, though she's young yet.

Cyndi Lauper?

Who do you think??

Annie Lennox.

[weboy]

15 or so I can think of, off the top of my head (who I think are all eligible):

Pat Benetar
Heart (Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson)
Donna Summer
The Marvalettes
Mary Wells
Patsy Cline (Early Influence, or not)
Linda Ronstadt
Diana Ross (as a solo artist)
Tina Turner (as a solo artist)
The Platters (Zola Taylor)
Janis Ian
Carole King (as a performer)
Carly Simon (and James Taylor, for that matter)
The Go-Gos
Patti Labelle
Labelle (Nona Hendryx, Patti, and Sarah Dash)

That's just off the top of my head. There are others, probably slightly more obscure, who also met=rit consideration.

[jinbaltimore]

Even Tina Turner isn't there? Cmon!

[Jennifer]

I claim no musical knowledge either so I wonder why, if it is called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, are there any jazz musicians entered, however, since jazz is the ONE genre of music I am enamored of, I won't ask too many questions on that score (no pun intended, of course). If you do open it up to jazz and induct Ruth Brown and Etta james (both of whom I love!) where are Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Billie Holliday?
What about American women who could only be successful in Europe such as Josephine Baker?

[Redstar]

I didn't realize you could nominate people again for diff. categories. Agree with all of these noms here too!!!

[Lisa]

How about Natalie Merchant! And seriously Annie Lenox isn't on that list either??!! Even Melissa Etheridge.

[Laura]

You have to have been in the biz for 25 years to be considered for induction. So, while many on the neglected list are eligible, it will be a few more years for Annie, Melissa and Natalie to be eligible.