Whitney, BIG lead field into Hall of Fame
Posthumous inductees Whitney Houston and The Notorious BIG will lead a new class into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, joined by Depeche Mode, the Doobie Brothers, Nine Inch Nails and T-Rex.
The gospel-trained Houston, whose soaring voice transformed the Dolly Parton cover I Will Always Love You into a gigantic hit, was one of four artists elected after being on the ballot for the first time. The Doobie Brothers, BIG and T-Rex were the others.
The annual induction ceremony will take place on 2 May at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, the city where the rock museum is located. The Saturday night show will be on HBO, televised live for the first time.
Houston, who succumbed to years of drug abuse in 2012, was an instant success after being signed to a record contract at age 19. Her 1985 debut had three number one singles: Saving All My Love for You, How Will I Know and The Greatest Love of All. She had seven consecutive singles top the charts, a first for any artist.
The daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and cousin of Dionne Warwick, she grew up in the business.
The imposing, Brooklyn-born rap artist Christopher Wallace took on the identities of The Notorious BIG and Biggie Smalls and was massively influential as rap became music's dominant style in the 1990s. With hits like Juicy and Big Poppa, he was the leader of an East Coast school of rap that found itself in a bitter rivalry with artists from the West Coast.
He was killed in an unsolved drive-by shooting in Los Angeles at age 24 in 1997. On the album Life After Death, with hits like Mo Money Mo Problems and Hypnotise, he became the first artist to earn multiple number one singles after his death.
Depeche Mode remains active, but their biggest influence came in the 1980s, when the group's post-punk, synthesiser-dominated music made the Brits a favourite of the Goth subculture. Hits included Personal Jesus, Just Can't Get Enough and Enjoy the Silence.
The group shares the honour of having one of their signature songs covered by country legend Johnny Cash with fellow inductees Nine Inch Nails. Cash recorded Personal Jesus and NIN's Hurt during his late-career resurgence.
With songs like Closer, NIN was a leader of the industrial rock movement in the 1990s. Like Green Day, a memorable performance in the mud at Woodstock 94 brought them a wider audience. Leader Trent Reznor has become a go-to soundtrack producer, in addition to his continued work with the band.
The Doobie Brothers weren't critical favourites, but they had some indelible rock hits in the 1970s, including Listen to the Music, Black Water and China Grove. They're embarking on a 50th anniversary tour this summer, bringing members Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee together for the first time in 25 years, and a Hall of Fame induction makes for perfect publicity.
British band T-Rex was known primarily for their 1970s hit Bang a Gong (Get it On), and to a lesser extent, Jeepster. The death of leader Marc Bolan in 1977 ended the band.
The two non-performing inductees may be able to bring some star power with them.
Music manager Irving Azoff has watched the finances for several bands, but is best known as the manager of the Eagles since 1974.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The gospel-trained Houston, whose soaring voice transformed the Dolly Parton cover I Will Always Love You into a gigantic hit, was one of four artists elected after being on the ballot for the first time. The Doobie Brothers, BIG and T-Rex were the others.
The annual induction ceremony will take place on 2 May at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, the city where the rock museum is located. The Saturday night show will be on HBO, televised live for the first time.
Houston, who succumbed to years of drug abuse in 2012, was an instant success after being signed to a record contract at age 19. Her 1985 debut had three number one singles: Saving All My Love for You, How Will I Know and The Greatest Love of All. She had seven consecutive singles top the charts, a first for any artist.
The daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston and cousin of Dionne Warwick, she grew up in the business.
The imposing, Brooklyn-born rap artist Christopher Wallace took on the identities of The Notorious BIG and Biggie Smalls and was massively influential as rap became music's dominant style in the 1990s. With hits like Juicy and Big Poppa, he was the leader of an East Coast school of rap that found itself in a bitter rivalry with artists from the West Coast.
He was killed in an unsolved drive-by shooting in Los Angeles at age 24 in 1997. On the album Life After Death, with hits like Mo Money Mo Problems and Hypnotise, he became the first artist to earn multiple number one singles after his death.
Depeche Mode remains active, but their biggest influence came in the 1980s, when the group's post-punk, synthesiser-dominated music made the Brits a favourite of the Goth subculture. Hits included Personal Jesus, Just Can't Get Enough and Enjoy the Silence.
The group shares the honour of having one of their signature songs covered by country legend Johnny Cash with fellow inductees Nine Inch Nails. Cash recorded Personal Jesus and NIN's Hurt during his late-career resurgence.
With songs like Closer, NIN was a leader of the industrial rock movement in the 1990s. Like Green Day, a memorable performance in the mud at Woodstock 94 brought them a wider audience. Leader Trent Reznor has become a go-to soundtrack producer, in addition to his continued work with the band.
The Doobie Brothers weren't critical favourites, but they had some indelible rock hits in the 1970s, including Listen to the Music, Black Water and China Grove. They're embarking on a 50th anniversary tour this summer, bringing members Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee together for the first time in 25 years, and a Hall of Fame induction makes for perfect publicity.
British band T-Rex was known primarily for their 1970s hit Bang a Gong (Get it On), and to a lesser extent, Jeepster. The death of leader Marc Bolan in 1977 ended the band.
The two non-performing inductees may be able to bring some star power with them.
Music manager Irving Azoff has watched the finances for several bands, but is best known as the manager of the Eagles since 1974.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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