Over the weekend, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its most recent class of inductees for 2024. Any artist garnering a spot in this prestigious group is clearly among the best in the world at what they do. There’s a who’s who of talented musicians who’ve already garnered admission into the Hall of Fame.
When it comes to the class of 2024, some names will not be all that surprising. However, there are a few which could lead to some eyebrows being raised. This isn’t based on talent — but rather on the genres these artists are traditionally known for. Here is the list of inductees for the class of 2024:
- Mary J. Blige
- Jimmy Buffett
- Cher
- Dave Matthews Band
- Foreigner
- Peter Frampton
- Kool & The Gang
- Alexis Korner
- John Mayall
- MC5
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Suzanne De Passe
- Big Mama Thornton
- A Tribe Called Quest
- Dionne Warwick
- Norman Whitfield
The genre of rock as we know it has evolved over decades. There are a multitude of sub-groups, sub-genres, and everything in between. Cher and Mary J. Bilge are perfect examples of this. Both are absolute giants within the industry and have been performing at an exceptionally high clip for decades.
You wouldn’t necessarily peg them as pure ‘rock’ singers — though this induction speaks glowingly about their impact on music, as well as the versatility with which they sing. The same thing can be said for A Tribe Called Quest. In the grander scheme of things, this also illustrates the ever-changing status of what we consider to be rock.
As we’ve seen with these inductions, the genre goes beyond folksy strumming of a guitar, head banging with poofy hair, volumes that lead to your ears bleeding, and garish outfits,