The Rock Hall of Fame's "Class of 1999" may not be a large one, but it certainly is a talented group. The regulations for inductions are:
- The artist must have released his/her/their first influentiel hit 25 years ago
- The inductees are determined based on their both their musical significance and their influence on rock and roll
- Early Influence inductees' music predates rock and roll (1930's, 40's) but was still significant to it's development.
Once those are met, 1000 rockologists vote in a secret ballot on the 15 (usually) selceted artists. Those who recieve most of the votes or more than 50 % and inducted. Usually 5 or 6 are inducted. The early influences and non-performers are elected by the nomination comittee.
And now, without further ado, I present to you the 1999 inductees:
- Performers:
- Billy Joel: The story of Billy Joel's success is an inspiration to all working class people. His father, an immigrant Jew who escaped from the Daschau concentration camp, brought his family to a small town in New York , Levittown. His son, William "Billy" Martin Joel grew discontent with the surburban life his father had imposed on him, and revolted by becoming increasingly antisocial, joining a gang and getting in trouble with the law. He was looking for an outlet for his confused emotions, and luckily for him, found it in music. Having taken classical piano lessons as a child, Billy always prefered rock and boogie-woogie. He formed his first band, the Echoes, in high school. Billy was refused his diploma because of numerous absences, and ran away from home. He once again got in trouble with the law and spent a night in jail. The effect htis had on him was tremendous: his whole outlook on life changed. He overcame many refusals and record flops, including a string of various bands and albums that went nowhere. Finally, in 1974, he released Piano Man, which sold over a million copies. His next big success was the release of his album The Stranger, which went multi-platinum and yielded 5 hits, including the Grammy winning "Just the Way You Are" in 1977. His following releases all went platinum: 52nd Street (1979), Glass Houses (1980), Songs in the Attic (1981), Nylon Curtain (1982), and An Innocent Man (1983). Also successful were The Bridge (1986), Storm Front (1989), and River of Dreams (1993).
- Curtis Mayfield was born July 3rd, 1942 in Chicago. He, like many others in that region at that time, enjoyed blues, gospel and soul. He formed his first group, the Alfatones at the age of twelve. He moved to the north side of Chicago and joined his fried Jerry Butler's group, The Impressions in 1956. He moved to New York in 1961, and released "Gypsy Woman", along with many other soul songs. He went solo in '71, and released several more soul songs, as well as the grammy winning album Superfly.
The copyright of the article Rock and Roll Hall of Fame '99 Inductees in History of Rock is owned by . Permission to republish Rock and Roll Hall of Fame '99 Inductees in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
