In 1999, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame began inducting session musicians.
This was a long overdue award for these great artists. But the Hall still has
problems. They've failed to induct Band Members that have equal billing with
their leader. As for Producers, they do have a non-performer category, but I've
grown impatient with who they've failed to recognize in that category.
In keeping with the Rock Hall rules, I've only included acts that made
their first recordings 25 years ago. Also, YES I know a few of these have recorded
on their own. But, to me, they've done their greatest work behind the
scenes.
Session Musicians
Next to an act's name, I've listed some of the
people that they've worked with.
Al
Kooper - Keyboards (Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc)
MFSB (Philadelphia Records Band)
Meters (New Orleans
sessions)
Billy Preston
Band Members
How could they?
Buddy without the Crickets? Smokey without the Miracles? Yes, that's what they
did. Below you'll see a list of acts that should get inducted with their more
famous leader.
Crickets
E Street Band (Bruce
Springsteen)
Miracles
Blue Caps (Gene Vincent)
Belmonts
(Dion)
Midnighters (Hank Ballard)
Wailers (Bob Marley)
Producers, etc.
Thom Bell (Stylistics, Spinners, etc.)
Tom
Dowd (Engineer and Producer)
Sly & Robbie (Jamaican producers,
session musicians, recording artists)
Brian Eno (U2, David Bowie, Talking Heads, recording
Quincy Jones (Michael Jackson, etc., recording
artist)
Harry Smith (His gathering of songs on Anthology of American
Folk Music influenced Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and a host of others. He
belongs in the Hall)
Wolfman Jack
Art Rupe (Founded Specialty Records)
Songwriters
Otis Blackwell
(Don't Be Cruel, All Shook Up, Fever, Great Balls of Fire, etc)
Felice
and Boudleaux Bryant (Bye Bye Love, Love Hurts, Wake Up Little Susie, All I
Have To Do Is Dream, etc)
Burt Bacharach and Hal David (Don't Make Me
Over, Wishin and Hopin, Baby It's You, Only Love Can Break A Heart,
etc)
Norman
Whitfield (I Heard It Through The Grapevine, War, Ain't Too
Proud To Beg, I Wish It Would Rain, etc)
EARLY INFLUENCE
Wynonie Harris
Fats Waller
Charley Patton
For a complete list of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers click on
Inductees By
Name
My list of Performers that deserve a spot in the Hall are at
They Deserve To Be
Inducted
Who did I forget? Let Me Know by email at: seeno99@aol.com
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