NEW YORK (AP) — Sheryl Crow and Olivia Rodrigo kicked off the 2023 Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame induction ceremony Friday night time and Missy Elliott closed the present greater than 4 hours later with a roof-shaking set, because the corridor celebrated a powerful illustration of ladies and Black artists.
Chaka Khan, Kate Bush, “Soul Prepare” creator Don Cornelius, The Spinners and DJ Kool Herc had been additionally inducted in a celebration of funk, art-rock, R&B and hip-hop, which is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. Nation music was represented by Willie Nelson, punk had Rage In opposition to the Machine, the late George Michael repped pure pop and Hyperlink Wray outlined guitar heroes.
Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame inductees made their method down the pink carpet in New York Friday night time for the annual induction ceremony. Missy Elliott made historical past as the primary feminine rapper to be inducted into the Corridor. Different inductees included Sheryl Crow, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage In opposition to the Machine, Chaka Khan. (Nov. 3)
The ceremony’s sturdy illustration of Black and girls artists this 12 months got here not lengthy after the corridor eliminated Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner from its board of administrators. Wenner, who additionally co-founded the corridor, had mentioned that Black and feminine musicians “didn’t articulate on the degree” of the white musicians featured in his new e-book of interviews. He later apologized.
The brand new inductees’ expertise appeared to indicate how misguided Wenner’s preliminary stance was. Elton John’s songwriting accomplice, Bernie Taupin, drew cheers when he slyly mentioned he was honored to affix the 2023 class with such “profoundly articulate ladies” and “articulate Black artists.”’
Queen Latifah launched Missy Elliott, who grew to become the primary feminine hip-hop artist within the rock corridor, smashing the boundaries of trend and magnificence alongside the way in which. “Nothing sounded the identical after Missy got here onto the scene,” Latifah mentioned. “She is avant garde with out even attempting.”
(Photograph by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
Elliott then appeared onstage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Middle as if beamed from a spaceship and with smoke machines pumping, a kinetic gentle present and an enormous digital display screen working additional time, carried out “Get Ur Freak On,” “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” “Work It,” “Cross That Dutch” and “Lose Management.”
“Missy will put on you out!” Queen Latifah joked after the set. “This lady goes arduous for the artwork.” Elliott, in a shiny bucket hat, had her mom in attendance, the primary time she noticed her daughter carry out dwell.
Elliott famous hip-hop’s anniversary, 50 years after its birth in New York. “To be standing here, it means so much to me,” she said. Of her fellow inductees, she said: “I’m honored just to be in a room with you all.”
The show kicked off when Crow joined by Rodrigo — both in black — traded verses as they both played guitars. Stevie Nicks later joined Crow for a performance of “Strong Enough” and Peter Frampton came out to help sing “Everyday Is a Winding Road.”
Sheryl Crow performs with Olivia Rodrigo. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
“This is a little bit like getting an Oscar for a screenplay you have not finished writing,” Crow said. She thanked her parents for unconditional love “and piano lessons.” She called music a “universal gift.”
Laura Dern inducted Crow, calling her friend “a badass goddess.” Dern said the music business initially had no idea what to do with a Southern female guitar-playing singer-songwriter. But it soon learned. “She mapped out the chapters of our lives,” Dern said.
John came out of retirement to perform and toast Taupin. “He became my best friend and my lyricist,” John said. “He is without doubt one the finest lyric writers of all time.”
John joked that the two never had an argument over their 56 years together. “He was disgusted by my behavior, but that’s a given.” John also revealed that the two have just finished a new album.
The two men hugged at the podium and Taupin said he found in John when they met in 1967 someone “to inspire with their imagination and ignite your dreams.” John then sat at the piano to sing “Tiny Dancer.”
(Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
H.E.R., Sia and Common accompanied Khan for a medley of her funky hits that included “I Feel For You,” “Ain’t Nobody,” “Sweet Thing” and “I’m Every Woman,” the latter which brought nearly everyone to their feet.
At the podium, Khan graciously called up guitarist Tony Maiden, a member of the band Rufus, which featured Khan in her early career. “Without him and the band, I would not be here today,” Khan said.
Nelson’s part of the ceremony took a fair chunk of the night, with Dave Matthews playing an acoustic “Funny How Time Slips Away,” and the legend joining Chris Stapleton on “Whiskey River,” dueting with Crow for “Crazy” and then all three musicians combining with Nelson for a rollicking “On the Road Again,” which got a standing ovation.
Matthews said Nelson, 90, wrote his first song at 7 in 1940 and has put out over 70 albums. He ran through the legendary musician’s career, including Farm Aid, IRS troubles and Nelson’s preference for pot. “It’s people like Willie Nelson who give me hope for the world,” Matthews said.
Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, and Dave Matthews perform. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
When it was his turn, Nelson thanked his wife, Annie, for “keeping me out here, doing what I’m meant to do.” He added: “Thanks for appreciating my music.”
Andrew Ridgeley honored his partner in Wham!, the late George Michael. “His music was key to his compassion,” Ridgeley said. “George is one of the greatest singers of our time.”
Michael attracted an intriguing trio of performers in his honor: Miguel, Carrie Underwood and Adam Levine, who each performed one of his hits — “Careless Whisper,” “Faith” and “One More Try.”
Another posthumous inductee was “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius. A huge sign from his old TV dance show was lowered and the crowd danced happily. Snoop Dogg, Questlove and Lionel Richie in a video called the show a rite of passage and a pioneering show that elevated Black music and culture.
Big Boi inducted Kate Bush, telling the crowd he never knew what to expect from her music and comparing her insistence on producing her own work to being very hip-hop. “Who sounds like Kate Bush?” he asked. “If you were hearing Kate’s music for the first time, why wouldn’t you believe this was a current artist?”
St. Vincent took the stage to perform a solemn “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God),” the Bush song that bumped up her popularity after the TV show “Stranger Things” featured it. Bush didn’t make it to Friday’s ceremony.
(Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
LL Cool J presented inductee DJ Kool Herc, called the Father of Hip-Hop. “Arguably, no one made a bigger contribution to hip-hop culture than DJ Kool Herc,” LL Cool J said and then turned to the older artist: “You lit the fire and it’s still blazing.” A visibly moved Herc was unable to speak for a few moments before thanking his parents, James Brown, Marcus Garvey and Harry Belafonte, among others.
The Spinners, who became a hit-making machine with four No. 1 R&B hits in less than 18 months, were honored by a velvet-jacket-and-fedora-clad New Edition, who sang “I’ll Be Around,” “The Rubberband Man” and “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love.” John Edwards and Henry Fambrough represented the Philadelphia five-member group.
Also entering the hall as the class of 2023 were Rage Against the Machine and the late guitarist Link Wray. Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin honored Wray with a virtuoso performance of the late guitar god’s seminal “Rumble” with a double-necked guitar. The stage was later filled with singers including John, Crow and Brittany Howard belting out the Band’s song “The Weight,” in honor of the late Robbie Robertson.
Ice-T presented activist punk-rockers Rage Against the Machine — “rock rocks the boat,” he said — and guitarist Tom Morello urged the crowd to fight for a world “without compromise or apologies.”
Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction. Nominees were voted on by more than 1,000 artists, historians and music industry professionals.
ABC will air a special featuring performance highlights and standout moments on Jan. 1.
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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits