Athos
Dec 18, 2017, 09:02 PM
Simone, a brilliant musician and singer, was elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The woman never sang a rock and roll song in her life. She began as a singer of standards heavily flavored by jazz, went on to folk and protest songs but never rock and roll.
Considering that the Cleveland Hall of Fame has almost totally ignored the pioneering black vocal groups of the early and mid-fifties, one wonders what the hell they're smoking. They seem to think rock and roll began with the Beatles.
Someone should tell them that the Hall is in Cleveland for one reason only - it was the original home radio base of the man who first gave the new music its name. Alan Freed, while not coining the phrase, called it Rock 'n' Roll. He was the single individual most responsible for bringing black vocal groups to the attention of the mainstream (white) teenage audience.
Ms. Simone, a giant in other musical venues, would likely reject the honor.
Considering that the Cleveland Hall of Fame has almost totally ignored the pioneering black vocal groups of the early and mid-fifties, one wonders what the hell they're smoking. They seem to think rock and roll began with the Beatles.
Someone should tell them that the Hall is in Cleveland for one reason only - it was the original home radio base of the man who first gave the new music its name. Alan Freed, while not coining the phrase, called it Rock 'n' Roll. He was the single individual most responsible for bringing black vocal groups to the attention of the mainstream (white) teenage audience.
Ms. Simone, a giant in other musical venues, would likely reject the honor.