Linda Ronstadt, one of the most popular and versatile artists of the Rock & Roll era, has yet to hear from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
(No. 17 in a continuing series on artists who should be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but are not)
By Phill Marder
She has been called the “Queen of Rock.“
She has been called “The First Lady Of Rock.“
She has earned 11 Grammys, two Academy Of Country Music awards, an Emmy, an American Latino Media Arts award and she has received Tony and Golden Globe nominations.
She ranked No. 1 female singles seller in 1975 and 1977.
Combining albums and singles, she is one of the highest ranking artists in the history of recorded music.
All told, she has posted 38 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching the top 10 on 10 different occasions, No. 2 three times and the top spot once. On the Billboard top album charts, she has 36 entries, including 10 that reached the top 10 and three that hit No. 1.
She has reached the UK top 40 with five albums and three singles, including a No. 2 single in 1989.
Between 1969 and 1994 she has had 20 singles reach the Canadian top 40, including two that peaked at No. 2 and two that reached No. 1, and nine top 20 LPs, including the “Trio” album, which hit No. 4, and “Simple Dreams,” which topped the Canadian charts.
On the Country charts, she has had solo albums and a single reach No. 1 in addition to a No. 1 collaboration with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.
She is considered the first female solo artist popular enough to pack large concert arenas.
She was named top female artist of the 70s by Cash Box magazine.
She was the first female to have three consecutive platinum albums and her “Living In The USA” became the first album to ship double platinum. In addition, her “Canciones De Mi Padre” is the best selling non-English language album in United States history.
YET SHE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO GET EVEN A NOMINATION FROM THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME!!!
This has to be some kind of sick joke.
She is, of course, Linda Ronstadt.
Linda Ronstadt is a great singer. Pitch perfect, she lets the song be the avenue of pleasure, enhancing it not swamping it. Whitney Houston once bragged how she sang the *#$! out of “I Will Always Love You.” She did. That’s why Ronstadt’s version is so much better. She showed off the song, not how many notes she can hit.
There’s no better ballad singer than Linda Ronstadt and she has more than held her own on hard rocking material, from classic to punk. In addition, Ronstadt has been a major force in Country music and she also has recorded albums of standards, Mexican favorites, rock classics as lullabies, cajun and jazz offerings and Christmas favorites.
With that said, it’s a puzzle that Ronstadt has been ignored so far, though maybe her abandonment of Rock has a lot to do with it as she spread her wings to embrace recordings outside the world of Rock. It’s Ironic that artists who maintain the status quo are criticized for not growing musically, while those who do branch out are criticized for abandoning Rock.
Still, from 1967 when she first broke onto the scene with The Stone Poneys until 1983 when she began to branch out with Nelson Riddle, Ronstadt fairly dominated the charts with tasteful covers of everyone from Betty Everett to Billy Joe Royal. To further add to her credentials, Ronstadt sang backup on Neil Young’s two biggest hits, “Heart Of Gold” and “Old Man,” Andrew Gold’s No. 7 “Lonely Boy,” and Warren Zevon’s “Excitable Boy” and many others. And, in 1971, her touring band was Bernie Leadon, Glen Frey, Randy Meisner and Don Henley, who did fairly well as The Eagles after polishing their chops behind Ronstadt.
Perhaps Ronstadt has been shunned because she’s been outspoken on different topics. For instance, take this quote on the Ramones: “I couldn’t understand the words. I like power but it has to have some intelligence. This was so constricted I would call it hemorrhoid music.“
The Ramones are in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, by the way.
“I didn’t set out to be a star, said Ronstadt. “I don’t think of myself as a star. I set out to become a singer. I would have sung no matter what. I finally learned how to sing. It’s too bad I had to do all my learning in public.”
On critics, Ronstadt has said, “I’m tired of being victimized by people who are dedicated to a snappy phrase.”
Well, I’m not dedicated to a snappy phrase. I just like music. And, obviously, I’m not alone in my admiration for Ronstadt. It’s time for those responsible for who gets nominated and who gets inducted to start studying those who are eligible. The joke has worn very, very thin.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Phill. The fact that Ronstadt has not even been given the respect of a nomination is incredible. And when you consider that everyone around her — the Eagles, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac — have been inducted, her omission becomes even more glaring.
People have put forward the idea that it’s because Ronstadt didn’t write her own material (not entirely true, by the way; two of her songs have been covered by Trisha Yearwood and Sarah Brightman), but neither did Dusty Springfield, or Aretha Franklin or Elvis Presley to any greater extent than Linda did.
I would add to your cogent outline of her accomplishments the fact that her interpretations renewed and revived interest in the songs of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry and Roy Orbison, just to name a few, in a time when there were no “oldies” stations or even “classic rock” stations to bring them to a new audience.
Further, she was a champion of many influential songwriters, including Randy Newman, Warren Zevon and Neil Young. And when she sings a Jimmy Webb song, it remains sung.
Her influence has been wide, acknowledged by Sheryl Crow, k.d. lang, Trisha Yearwood, Caitlin Rose, and many others.
Finally, Linda Ronstadt is truly an American singer, a self-proclaimed product of American radio, who, in her youth, absorbed the myriad influences of the many types of music that was found on the AM dial: rock, soul, country, folk and filtered them through her own Mexican-American heritage and made them distinctly her own through the power of her amazing voice. Her eclecticism is our eclecticism, i.e., America’s melting pot.
Linda is by far the greatest singer of the past 40 years.
What a great post! Couldn’t agree with you more, except by now, the RnR Hof is a sham to me.
Besides everything else mentioned here, she has had a profound influence on as many as four generations of female singers, ranging from good pals like Nicolette Larson to more recent roots-rock women like Sheryl Crow, and rock-oriented country singers like Trisha Yearwood and Rosanne Cash. With this fanbase inside the business as large as it is, the lack of her name in the Hall of Fame is beyond disgusting (IMHO).
great article and I cannot agree more, it is laughable that Ronstadt has not even been nominated let alone been inducted. Ronstadts history speaks for itself and she is without a doubt one of the best in any genre of music and her contributions and body of work cannot be ignored.
Forget about all the usual arguments about her induction. Her hits were mostly covers (so what, the same can be said of several current inductees and the hits were only a fraction of her output). She abandoned rock by going on to sing standards (who isn’t doing that nowadays?), yada yada.
Between 1975 and 1980 if you were to ask the average person who represented females in rock music, most people would answer “Linda Ronstadt”. Not Donna Summer, that was Disco. Induct Linda NOW!!!!!
Dear Linda Ronstadt fans -
Thanks for all the great responses. However, it is somewhat embarrassing when the readers write better than I do !!
Phill
Phil- while I agree with some of the snubs you mention, I must remind that commercial success/hitmaking is not one of the main considerations for induction. Yes, a number of inductees had great commercial success, but it is not what got them considered- and eventually inducted- into the Rock Hall. So, talking about how many hits one has had or how many albums one has sold really has no bearing on the process. Look how long Neil Diamond had to wait, after all (22 years).
JimmyR -
I’m well aware commercial success is not one of the main considerations for induction. That’s my point. It should be. It’s supposed to be the Hall of Fame, not the Sanctuary for the Obscure. Why should someone such as Neil Diamond have to wait 22 days let alone 22 years?
Phill
Not sure what the voters have against her but clearly there are some powerful few (or 1) that pulls the strings. This is clearly personnal. Fortunately for Ms. Ronstadt she can give 2 sh#$s but unfortunate for the music industry as well as her fans.
JWS
It seems that the Rock Hall is leaning toward more current artists to attract younger fans to Cleveland. Linda Ronstadt dominated the landscape near the end of the road for radio, for record companies, and for mass listening audiences. It must be hard to attract new fans to the hall while maintaining a focus on lifetime contributions by artists – so few of them are performing now, radio doesn’t play them and they don’t get the exposure. Rock radio plays the same two or three songs by every artist, and that doesn’t display the scope of an artist like Ronstadt to the casual listener. The whole problem comes down to the Rock Hall not wanting to nominate people who won’t come to the ceremony, won’t put on a show, and aren’t going to attract new attendees. They want the flash. They don’t want Linda. Is it right? No, but it’s understandable.
It was 1989, if I remember correctly, when Chuck Berry was celebrating his 60th birthday with a Rock ‘n’ Roll concert. The live show was then released on CD and Videotape (there were not DVDs yet)…I am talking about “Hail Hail Rock ‘n’ roll”. Ronstadt was, together with another legend…Etta James, the Rock ‘n’ Roll diva invited to one of the most important R&R events in Rock’s history (in my opinion it was because I love the 50s and Chuck Berry). This should be enough to highlight how instrumental she was to spread R&R music during the 70s and 80s. Her most classical albums, the ones she released during the 70s, contain excellent examples of her R&R interpretations. Buddy Holly, Paul Anka, Elvis Presley and…of course the greatest of all, Chuck Berry are among the R&R musicians who formed her musical roots. Nowadays a lot of tasteless and commercial pop music is sold like it was “Rock”…and I think that many people don’t even know what Rock music means anymore. The Hall of Fame itself considers Rock ‘n’ Roll music the unbearable crap produced by Madonna (what Rock ‘n’ Roll has got to do with her???), Donna Summer, Abba and other Rock-unrelated-pseudo-musicians…so my question is:
Is that really worthy or important for a true Rock artist to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? They don’t seem to take seriously what they do…that institution has become just another way of promoting commercially any sort of staff. There are so many great artists who have been excluded for who know what reason. Rock and Roll music has a solid history which cannot be deleted or changed. The great artists, composers, singers and musicians who have contributed to Rock ‘n’ Roll during the last 55 years don’t need to be recognised by any arrogant institution. Rock artists don’t need to be nominated and go through this stupid game to secure a space. Rock ‘n’ Roll, the real one, is well documented by the music that its great artists have recorded for us. Linda Ronstadt is one of the most important female musicians in Rock history and we don’t need any Hall of Fame to prove that, listening to her records will be more than enough.
The judges at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame obviously know nothing about rock and roll. Why does anyone even care what these bozos think?
Any pop, rock, jazz, or country Hall of Fame that does not include Linda Ronstadt as a charter member is a joke and should be dismissed entirely. Her unique voice, her incomparable pitch, her sweet passion, and her deft interpretation of lyrics is a combination that is beyond compare. I was mesmerized by Linda Ronstadt in the 1960s and I saw her in concert in 1978. Nothing I have seen or heard in all the years since the 1960s remotely compares to what she, as an entertainer, has meant to me. I’m 70 now and every night I still go to YouTube to watch and listen to Linda Ronstadt perform my three favorite songs: “Blue Bayou;” “Long Long Time;” and “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore.” Often since the 1960s I have hoped to discover another “Linda Ronstadt” but I guess it’s time I give up on what has turned out to be an impossible venture. During a long life, Linda Ronstadt’s unequaled talent has made my life happier than it otherwise would have been. I guess it’s time I thanked her for that.
(Rich Haney)
Linda should have been chosen for a judge on American Idol. She represents a true American artist. She also should have been given the same for an appearance on the Grammy Awards …i.e. Barbra Sreisand…Aretha Franklin…she is in the top 20 of all time female artists. Her voice outshines them all.
I am a vocalist/composer, unknown, but Linda had a HUGE influence on me. I studied with her coach Judy Davis. Judy wanted me to move to Claremont when I was a kid, I smacked down my money on a room, and then the Oakland fires happened , unreal, decided not to!
Linda, got my attention after my ear got trained enough to realize that emulating, dear Stevies voice, was not the thing to do! Linda was the basis of all goals, musically and of course, passion for music as well. I can never thank her enough for her influence.
I went on to be coached for years by Whitney’s original music director, a gospel/soul legend himself, and thank good ness, “oversouling” was not part of the agenda!! How funny I found this link today, I did these this a.m. with a stupid dry computer mic, but you can hear the Linda Love!! for the Fans:
http://www.singsnap.com/karaoke/r/ba683c004
http://www.singsnap.com/karaoke/r/be961b5a4
I was reading online about the various artists who have been snubbed by the Hall. I think the article about The Moody Blues was something like the 18th in this series. Does anyone have a list of the other 17 articles and could they share it with me? Three of my all time favorite groups of the 60′s and 70′s should be in these articles – The Zombies, The Guess Who and Three Dog Night. If they are not I would be willing to write articles on their behalf. Any information would be appreciated.
Dear Bill -
Look at the top of this column & right above the headline you’ll see a pinkish box. Click on “Great Blogs Of Fire” & you’ll find every article in this series, including one on the Guess Who.
As far as you contributing, there are two problems. One, the groups you list may be on my list for upcoming articles. Two, you may be a better writer than me & I could get replaced.
But please feel free to contribute your thoughts on any previous articles or ones to come. As I said in this blog’s introduction, this blog welcomes all reader responses, pro or con.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LINDA! Heart Like A Wheel is still one of my favorite albums. Still listen to it.
She has a voice that can flag it down.I also like Hendrix is he in that sorry rrhf!
Lori -
Jimi Hendrix has been inducted. You can see a complete list of all inductees at the following link…
http://rockhall.com/inductees/
I agree… But this has been my complaint about that and other lists for awhile… But… they are letting people in who have far less accolades… and are questionable to be there in the first place than people more deserving. Like Linda!
You Rock Linda.
This Day In Rock
I don’t understand…is Mr. Marder saying that The Ramones should not be in the RRHOF? If so, is it just because Linda Rondstadt doesn’t think they’re “smart”? Or does he think they should have had to wait until after LR is in? Seems odd to write how little she values critical opinion, and those whose stock-in-trade is the “snappy phrase”, then, in the same article, take LR’s “snappy phrase” as gospel…
I have a couple of points: first, The Ramones, and other groups of the punk era, whom LR and Mr. Marder may not value, added way more to the history of Rock and Roll than Linda Ronstadt ever has. I do not dislike LR, in fact I love her voice. Her versions of When Will I Be Loved and Blue Bayou are, arguably, the definitive versions.But she was a stylist, and nothing more. A fabulous singer for sure, but if we’re going to compare her to the greatest stylists in Rock history (Elvis Presley being the most obvious example), she comes up a bit short in my opinion. I don’t want to spout on, though, about how Linda Rondstadt compares to other artists. I’d like to make my main point…
…and that is that Halls of Fame are some of the stupidest things ever created to commemorate anything, and that includes all sports. (Honestly, I wish Pete Rose would wake up and realize that he is not the real loser in the Baseball Hall of Fame’s shunning of him, it’s the BBHOF itself, and the fans of Cinncinnati and Philadelphia who’d like to see a bust of their hero standing in Cooperstown. If the Alltime hits leader is not in the hall of fame, that hall of fame is not worth much, IMHO). But it especially holds true for Rock and Roll. How can you quantify an artist’s true contribution to the music? Some artists have long careers, others make an equal contribution in a very short period. And the RRHOF exhibits no rhyme or reason to their selection process. It would seem to me Linda Rondstadt is the perfect candidate for induction to this particular HOF, where ridiculous, nearly MOR artists like The Eagles are inducted long before true innovators like The Stooges or the Sex Pistols. I mean, love ‘em or hate ‘em, The Eagles weren’t really anybody’s definition of true, innovative, dangerous Rock and Roll. I’m sure I could think of a hundred other such examples, but just to show that I am not biased toward punk acts: The Eagles stole their entire original musical course from Gram Parsons…and he’s not in. Does that make sense? And, yes, I would argue that, not only did he innovate “cosmic American music”, but he took it farther and better than The Eagles ever did. Ask Emmylou Harris what she thinks.
Anyway, my point is: Why not stop arguing over such a silly thing such as induction into the RRHOF? Listen to Linda Rondstadt or The Eagles, if that’s what you like. Stop letting a handful of grandstanding, self-promoting “cultural elitists” (in their minds, anyway) tell you who’s worthy and who’s not. Even just arguing over it justifies, in their minds, what they do. The fact that they hold the induction ceremonies at the Waldorf-Astoria, at a thousands-per-plate dinner, should have been your first clue what a joke it is. Your favorite artists work is self-rewarding. Musicians and athletes do their work on the field and in the studio and on stage. That’s their battleground, and their legacy is what is produced and stands as testament to their greatness. Not what a bunch of dickhead writers say about them long after their careers and/or vitality is long gone.
Dear Gregg -
I did not say the Ramones should not be in the Hall of Fame. I didn’t even imply such. If the Ramones were not already in the HOF, they may have been part of this series.
My point was that perhaps some people involved in the HOF don’t like Ronstadt because of some things she said about some of their favored and that some may hold a grudge against her. I’m assuming some of them favor the Ramones since they put them into the HOF and some are writers.
I didn’t take her comments as gospel, either. At no point did I indicate whether or not I even agree with them, let alone take them as gospel.
In your second paragraph you write I don’t value the Ramones and other groups of the punk era. I don’t recall writing that, or even writing anything that implies that. I value all music.
And I value all opinions…yours included.
Phill,
I believe you…I was truly asking what the intention was, and adding my two cents (sorry if I came across as hostile)…her comment did rub me the wrong way, though, and not just because I love The Ramones (and, as I said, I have room in my love of music for a Linda Rondstadt as well).
Linda Rondstadt is known for being outspoken and VERY opinionated about a great many issues (as you stated). The Ramones comments, however, were news to me, and I was just wondering if her opinion was endorsed by (you) the writer; I understand that just because you like LR, that doesn’t mean you necessarily agree with any or all of her views, but as we all know, that dividing line between those early 70s California artists and (their fans) and Punk/New Wave artists can seem (just seem) clearly defined, so I wondered if you shared her opinion on The Ramones (who, frankly, I can’t remember hearing many negative comments about, even from “old fart” rockers; it has seemed to me that even they mostly understood that The Ramones in particular were just trying to get back to the source…or they just saw them as harmless and not worth commenting on. I just think Linda fancies herself a little (or a lot) more sophisticated than the rest of us). But as far as punk in general, Jackson Browne and David Crosby, famously, did not “get it”. And it would seem that a fan of one type of music wouldn’t value the other; I don’t believe it is always that way, but it is common. I was just wondering where you were coming from. As far as LR, I stand by my comments; to insinuate (actually, she came out and said it) that the opinions of critics are invalid (as far as she’s concerned anyway?), and then give her own little sound bite on The Ramones seems a tad hypocritical.
But I do believe, as I said, that Linda Rondstadt would seem like one of the Hall’s perfect candidates. They value length of career (which may have a place in a sports HOF, but has nothing to do with music (and Rock and Roll in particular). But she’s had a long career, much commercial success; she has seemed bland at times in her career (downright adult contemporary, as a matter of fact). I mean, Jackson Browne, CSN, James Taylor, etc. seem to be favored by HOF voters over The Stooges, The Sex Pistols, etc. (in fact, The Clash went in before The Sex Pistols, even though there wasn’t even the idea of starting The Clash until Joe Strummer saw the Pistols. And, even though I love the Clash, The Sex Pistols were much more important…but The Clash had a significantly longer career, so…). So, anyway, I agree with you, that I don’t know what the HOF is thinking as far as Linda Rondstadt. And now I know that you were not agreeing with LR’s opinion on The Ramones…
Gregg
p.s. ***If you happen to read this: do yourself a favor and check out the “Troubadors: The Rise of the Singer-Songwriter” if you haven’t already. Sort of along the lines of what I was trying to say here, there’s a passage where James Taylor and Danny Kortchmar comment on Lester Bangs famous article “James Taylor: Marked For Death”. Lester, famously, loved groups like The Troggs, and those ’60s garage bands, and hated the mellow artists coming out of California. Long story short, JT seems to laugh it off, but Danny Kortchmar was visibly upset, 35+ years later; he said basically, that James Taylor would have thrashed Lester bangs…which I thought was a hilarious visual. What a humorless man Kortchmar is! Anyway, I got a kick out of it…
Thanks Gregg & very well put.
You say “And it would seem that a fan of one type of music wouldn’t value the other” and that is so true. I just don’t get it. People who like just one “kind” of music are missing so much good listening. I may be one of those “old fart rockers,” but believe me I’ve listened to and enjoyed everything from Glenn Miller to the Red Hot Chili Peppers (including the Troggs!).
Obviously, some things I like better than others, but I seem to have an affinity for almost anything musical. I’m not one of those “dickhead” writers pompous enough to judge the musical efforts of others…just a fan with a keyboard.
If it’s for her singing and talent, yes, she should be in the Hall of Fame! But, maybe people didn’t like the way she was kicked out Las Vegas for trying to campaign for the Democrats during a concert! Some of these entertainers forget the fact that people come to see them perform, not campaign or preach!
I’ve always loved Linda Ronstadt. She’s my all-time favorite female singer. I wish her fame was recognized by the R&R HOF.
What exactly are the requirements, if any, for induction? It’s a Hall of FAME, after all, and if Ronstadt doesn’t have “Fame”, then who does?
The R&R Hall’s 25-year rule would seem to contradict any rationale for “new young attendees.” Sorry, Mariah Carey isn’t eligible, but at the rate it’s going, she’ll be in Cleveland before LR.
Suppose a “Jazz Hall Of Fame” inducted Kenny G but eg Charlie Parker or Lester Young was snubbed. It obviously raises questions. I’ve never heard of *any* other HoF of any type that had such a blatant agenda as the R&R HoF.
A large part of the Elvis legacy is his widespread appeal and ability to crossover to listeners in other genres and different generations. Is there a female singer with a similar legacy? I say yes. Not Shania, not Patsy, not Ella, not Madonna. It’s the one and only Linda Ronstadt.
I THINK LINDA IS AMUSING,AMAZING AND A GREAT SINGER TO BAD SHE IS NOT RECONIZED IN ALL THOSE CATAGORIES.
Good question, Fred. The requirements are 25 years in the business and a bunch of important friends. Fame, evidently, has nothing to do with it.
I COULD’NT AGREE WITH YA’LL MORE.BUT AT LEAST JOAN GOT IN. 10/2000 THEY REALLY OUGHT TOO DO ANOTHER CENSUS ON LINDA THOUGH THEY MIGHT FIND MORE THAT THEY HAD OVERLOOKED BEFORE.
I really don’t understand why this lady isn’t in the HoF. I’ve been listening to her and bought her albums since the early 70′s and she belongs in there more than some of the inductees they already have in there. Just like the Moody Blues, they also belong in there. Maybe there ought to be another Rock Hall, one with the true hall of famers. I think these idiots who make the choosing would put PINK in there before Linda…….
Larry -
I’ll have to work on our editor. We could start a “Goldmine” Hall of Fame with actual criteria and fan participation. Sounds like fodder for a future “Great Blogs Of Fire” article, huh? What do you think?
@Phil: Maybe the reason Linda Ronstadt hasn’t been inducted into the RRHOF is….because she’s earned 11 Grammys, two Academy Of Country Music awards, an Emmy, an American Latino Media Arts award and she has received Tony and Golden Globe nominations, plus all of the other accolades and personal highs mentioned above?
With 11 Grammys to her credit alone (more than the Beatles, the Who, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, the Kinks, most of the Motown artists except for Stevie Wonder, the Ramones, the Platters, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Neil Young, Bobby Darin, Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Peter Gabriel, and most of all of the artist inducted into the RRHOF in it’s first nineteen years)…this is more than most artists get in a lifetime! I could go on and on with my list, but that would mean having to track down a whole mess of Rolling Stone issues, and I don’t really want to do that.
Suffice it to say that Linda has had enough awards for her lifetime, more than a ‘singer’ (stylist) like her who has barely written songs of her own even deserved then and now, for her to be inducted into the RRHOF just like that, and on your say-so.
As for creating Goldmine’s own RRHOF; it might work, but then it would probably be as snobbish as you claim the RRHOF’s staff are.
Neville, you seem to think that Linda doesn’t deserve her accolades because of the few songs she has written. All of her Grammy awards were for “vocalist”- she didn’t win any of them for “writing”— Truth be told, she lost several Grammies that she deserved. The year Bonnie Raitt became a star with “Nick of Time”– Linda’s “Cry Like a Rainstorm” was a much stronger album- and it did manage to eke out three lesser Grammy categories. I suppose NARAS at that time sort of took Linda’s vocal talents for granted, and felt it was time to honor the talented underdog– the underdog who ended up in the Hall of Fame. Too bad you think only writers deserve awards.
Well, the fact that Metallica and Alice Cooper, who have but a hit between them- and have contributed nothing of value to the discussion- are in the Hall and Ronstadt isn’t says all we need to say about the Hall. Based on what they’ve given the world, Bobby “Boris” Pickett belongs on the wall before Copper. And, unless I missed his induction, the weirdly underrated Johnny Rivers has yet to get the call. If it’s talent that keeps you out, Ronstadt will never get in.
Kevin -
Johnny Rivers has not been inducted, but was on my original Goldmine list 11 years ago. Keep reading, he’ll be coming up soon.
Linda is the Queen of the Rodeo. Her songs, her expression and her sexuality clearly is the singing of the White Goddess. ‘Different Drum’ while it was only one song was as meaningful to we Sixties children as the Mamas and the Papas. That song was a rennaisance of AM radio. No modern woman sings with her wild range and sad sincerity. Linda added an American sensuality to her shows that was as if Daisy Duke started a Rock band. She had the grace as she matured to find another voice which she did with her amazing researched Mexican Ballads and her rendering of Nelson Riddle. For Linda with her outspoken political views to be denied entry into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is to glorify a static lifeless museum and deny Rock in Roll itself.
I agree, she should be in the Hall. One reason she isn’t may be that she is not a writer, does not play an instrument (one can argue that the voice is an instrument, I suppose). She has been a major influence on countless singers over the past years. Put her in!
there are some questionable inductees THERE SHOULDMBE NO QUESTION HERE – SHE BELONGS – one then best and most versatile of all time
there are questionable inductees. SHE WOULD NOT BE ONE – the best voice and most versitile of all time
Very well put Sam your last sentence I’m too disgusted with people to find the right words.Dan might have forgot Linda played tamborine,some guitar,could pop out some timing on sticks,played some violin and probably can play some piano she has helped in production of her music and has written some I’m told .She also is bilingual or so. I guess it comes down too rock hall can’t be out done. I wish Linda would pop out a tune that would free kids from self destruction from the decite of others and champion them to move on with their lives to see better things their capable of. I really like Emmylou Harris also I think Arron Neville would be a fantastic singer for America the Beautiful I think it would be absolutely stunning.
Maybe it’s because of the way she was politically campaigning in Las Vegas and the casino fired her and told her not to come back! These entertainers should realize that we (the public) don’t really care about there political views! We only paid to hear their songs!
The best all around voice ever. Whitney and yes Barbara will have to take a backseat to Linda.
I continue to be so surprised by the fact that Linda is not inducted into the RRHF – especially after seeing the class of 2011. She clearly needs someone (hello, Don Henley, the Eagles???) to push for her to be nominated. It clearly will not happen on it’s own. Very sad although kudos to her because she probably doesn’t care!
Madonna and Run DMC are in, a talentless group of hacks like BonJovi get nominated (hopefully for the one and only time) and Linda Ronstadt is not even ever nominated. I think a major reason has to do with the fact that the morons who control the historically-recreated versions of “Fossil Rock Radio”, the ones who have found a niche playing the same 100 songs ad nauseum to mostly those who smoked or drank their brain cells to death in the 70s, long ago whitewashed Linda from their playlists. So, out of sight (or hearing), out of mind as far as they are concerned. No logical reason for it, other than whomever they have deemed to have been important make the cut, and the rest never happened. So hundreds of groups that made major impacts at the time are cast aside to force the likes of Aerosmith, Skynyrd and others into heightened levels of all-time fame by incessantly playing their abridged discographies – you get a song or two in rotation, unless you are Floyd or Zeppelin, then maybe 5. And people apparently listen to the same songs over and over for years, in some kind of Wayne’s World trance, and forget about everything else. So since Linda Ronstadt doesn’t fit this mold or into most formats, mostly because she dared to try other things, most Fossil Rock fans forget she was far bigger than most of the crap on “Classic Rock???” radio. Dumb, but no dumber than voting in Madonna, as talentless musically as my grandmother who also had nothing to do with rock and roll.
For Kevin – And don’t forget Screamin’ Jay Hawkins !!
For Rockin Bob – You’re right. I went to a Glenn Beck concert and walked out. The guy didn’t sing one song…just blabbered on about politics.
I was there near the begining, watching Linda perform at THE PALOMINO CLUB in the San Fernando Valley. For me her entitlement has nothing to do with the number of hit records she had. Ronstadt’s unique ability to totally absorb the emotions of ANY SONG she’s sung and project them into the microphone eclipses all others. The nuances she adds to her delivery is astonishing. Linda has no peers.
Bob Dorff
@Neville: it’s hard to have a rational discussion of Linda’s qualifications for the R&RHOF without knowing the criteria for admission.
Is writing (music and /or lyrics) ability one of the criteria? If so, are there any artists or bands already in the R&RHOF that did not write most of their songs?
Let’s have a real discussion here and save the sniping for Facebook.