The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, located in Cleveland, is dedicated to the celebration and memory of rock music. Each year, the museum introduces and nominates a new class of artists who have left an impact on the genre. Here are those nominees for 2024.
Mary J. Blige
Grammy-award-winning hip-hop and soul singer Mary J. Blige is among the incoming nominations. Signing with MCA Records at 18 years old, she has pushed the bounds of R&B music and helped pave the way for women in the music industry.
Mariah Carey
Best remembered for her yearly chart topper “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey is formidable, to say the least. Her long-running career and incredible vocal range make her an icon in pop and R&B and earn her a spot on the list of the Hall of Fame’s potential inductees.
Cher
Cher’s career extends well over 50 years now, starting as one half of the duo Sonny & Cher before launching an ultra-successful solo career. She has made strides for solo women in music while working as an actress and maintaining her status as a cultural icon.
Dave Matthews Band
The Dave Matthews Band rose to prominence through its use of an interesting blend of sounds and a non-stop, relentless tour schedule. The band began its journey in 1991 and became a prominent figure in rock music and environmental activism, named UN Environmental Goodwill Ambassador in 2019.
Eric B. & Rakim
The duo emerged from New York with the rise of hip-hop in the 1980s and 1990s. Their success is largely attributed to their poetic lyrics, unique beats and turn-table skills, cementing their status as icons of early rap music.
Foreigner
The British-American rock band Foreigner has been active since 1976, with a rotating set of members aside from renowned musician Mick Jones. In their 48-year run, they have released some of the most iconic rock anthems of all time, including “Juke Box Hero” and “I Want to Know What Love is.”
Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton is among the most prominent musicians of the 1970s and 1980s, with a music career stretching back to when he was just 16. At 73 years old, he is still writing and performing, thus illustrating both his commitment to music and his long-standing career.
Jane’s Addiction
Toward the end of southern California’s metal scene, Jane’s Addiction embarked on its musical journey. They combine sounds of metal, punk and funk to create an alternative rock sound successful in the mainstream.
Kool & The Gang
Funk, soul, disco and R&B come together in the sound of Kool & The Gang. The group, formed in 1964, is one of the most well-known and heavily sampled artists ever, particularly with their 1980 hit “Celebration.”
Lenny Kravitz
Exuding swagger, acclaimed musician Lenny Kravitz has been a household name for years now. After spending some time in Los Angeles to get his big break, Kravitz’s first album was released in 1989, and he has consistently released music every few years since, with a new album set to come out this year.
Oasis
Oasis started like many rock bands: playing in small pubs in Manchester. The band found international success with the release of well-known hits like “Champagne Supernova,” “Don’t Look Back In Anger” and the often-memed “Wonderwall,” cementing their status as rock stars.
Sinéad O’Connor
Irish songstress and unabashed activist Sinéad O’Connor was no stranger to controversy. But, amid her protests of commercialism, the church and politics, she stands the test of time through her wildly successful music career.
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne was also no stranger to scandal, with wild on-stage shenanigans and a heavy metal sound earning him the moniker “Prince of Darkness.” Whether it was in his solo career or during his time in Black Sabbath, his impact on heavy metal and rock music as a whole is undeniable.
Sade
Since 1982, Sade has been blending soul, jazz and R&B to create a timeless sound. Their music has inspired many artists, such as Beyoncé and Drake, which stands as a testament to the mark that the British group left on music both when they started and now.
A Tribe Called Quest
The group’s members were just out of high school when they started making music, and A Tribe Called Quest has left a major impact on hip-hop. When the genre was still in its earliest days, the group was churning out records left and right and kept that stamina up for years. Though their time together was short, their impact was huge.
Voting lasts until April 26 and can be accessed here.
