Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame: Inductees

National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame: 2013-2021

The Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame was established in 2010 and the first induction ceremony was held on August 17, 2013. Since then, it has become an annual event celebrating singers, songwriters, groups, producers, radio personalities, night club owners, and other individuals (and even places and companies) which have significantly contributed to the R&B field. The most recent induction ceremony was held virtually on August 11, 2021. See other Hall of Fames. A Al Abrams (2016) public relations Barbara Acklin (2017) singer/songwriter The Andantes (2014) vocal group Jazzi Anderson (2015) radio personality Louis Armstrong (2017) jazz singer and trumpeter Freddie Arrington (2013) master of ceremonies, Leo’s Casino Night Club B Lavern Baker (2020) singer Hank Ballard & The Midnighters (2015) vocal group Band of Gypsys (2019) group The Bar-Kays (2015) group JJ Barnes (2015) singer Ortheia Barnes-Kennerly (2015) singer Robert Bateman (2016) producer Marcus Belgrave (2018) musician Al Bell (2015) songwriter Jerry Bell (2013) singer Ken Bell (2018) radio personality Al Benson (2017) radio host, promoter, civil rights activist Bert’s Warehouse (2017) entertainment complex Robert “Bumps” Blackwell (2019) producer Bobby “Blue” Bland (2020) singer Janie Bradford (2015) songwriter Wade Briggs (Butterball Jr.) (2017) radio personality James Brown (2013) R&B singer Ruth Brown (2017) singer Jay Butler (2015) radio personality Jerry Butler (2015) singer/songwriter C Call and Post (2013) publication Cab Calloway (2020) singer Carl Carlton (2017) singer Gene Chandler (2014) singer Ray Charles (2015) R&B singer Chubby Checker (2014) singer The Chi-Lites (2013) vocal group Tony Clarke (2015) singer The Clovers (2013) vocal group Dennis Coffey (2017) studio musician Nat “King” Cole (2020) singer Natalie Cole (2021) singer Bootsy Collins (2016) funk musician The Contours (2015) vocal group L.C. Cooke (2015) singer Sam Cooke (2013/2015) Singer, songwriter, record label executive Henry Cosby (2019) Songwriter/Producer Larry Cotton (2013) Journalist Carolyn Crawford (2017) singer D Don Davis (2019) producer Melvin Davis (2015) singer Sammy Davis Jr. (2017) singer Dazz Band (2013) group Bert Dearing (2017) night club owner The Delfonics (2014) vocal group Detroit Emeralds (2015) vocal group Bo Diddley (2017) singer Fats Domino (2016) singer/songwriter The Dramatics (2013) vocal group The Drifters (2018) vocal group Ernie Durham (2017) radio personality The Dynamic Superiors (2013) vocal group E Billy Eckstine (2020) singer The Elgins (2018) vocal group Enchantment (2013) vocal group Ahmet Ertegun (2017) Record Label Executive Charles Evers (2017) Civil Rights Activist, politician F The Fabulous Peps (2015) vocal group The Falcons (2016) vocal group The Famous Flames (2020) backup group for James Brown The Fantastic Four (2014) vocal group Ella Fitzgerald (2020) singer Eddie Floyd (2016) singer/songwriter Foody (2017) radio personality The Four Tops (2013) vocal group Aretha Franklin (2015/2019) singer/songwriter Alan Freed (2017) radio personality The Funk Brothers (2014) session musicians Harvey Fuqua (2020) singer, producer G Marvin Gaye (2014) singer Jack “The Rapper” Gibson (2020) radio personality Fred Goree (2017) radio personality Dobie Gray (2021) singer Macy Gray (2014) singer Guy (2019) vocal group H Bill Haley (2017) Singer, Band Leader Donny Hathaway (2021) singer Isaac Hayes & Hot Butter Soul (2017) singer/group Jimi Hendrix (2016) rock guitarist The Hesitations (2013) vocal group Billie Holiday (2017) singer Brenda Holloway (2018) singer Eddie Holman (2016) singer/songwriter John Lee Hooker (2021) blues musician Whitney Houston (2014) singer H-Town (2019) vocal group Cathy Hughes (2016) entertainment mogul Ivy Jo Hunter (2018) songwriter, producer I The Impressions (2017) vocal group International Sweethearts of Rhythm (2016) group J Chuck Jackson (2015) singer Hal Jackson (2020) radio Joe Jackson (2014) promoter, manager Mahalia Jackson (2020) singer Michael Jackson (2014) singer Millie Jackson (2015) singer Etta James (2020) singer Little Willie John (2013, 2016) singer, songwriter Robert Johnson (2017) singer Louis Jordan (2017) bandleader, musician, singer K Eddie Kendricks (2019) singer Herb Kent (2016) radio personality B.B. King (2014) blues singer and guitarist Ben E. King (2021) singer Gladys Knight & The Pips (2017) vocal group L Lady Champagne (2019) singer Denise LaSalle (2015) singer Bettye LaVette (2016) singer/songwriter Laura Lee (2015) singer Harold Leonard (2021) radio personality Leo’s Casino (Cleveland) (2013) venue Gerald Levert (2013) singer Pat Lewis (2015) singer Little Anthony & The Imperials (2018) vocal group Little Richard (2015) singer Little Walter (2021) blues musician Miller London (2016) sales & marketing mogul M The Mad Lads (2015) vocal group Skip Mahoney & The Casuals (2017) vocal group The Manhattans (2017) vocal group Tim Marshall (2013) Radio host, educator Martha and the Vandellas (2013) vocal group The Marvelettes (2013) vocal group Mary Jane Girls (2019) vocal group Johnnie Mae Mathews (2015) singer, songwriter, producer Clay McMurray (2018) producer & engineer Big Jay McNeely (2020) jazz saxophonist Stephanie Mills (2020) singer The Miracles (2015) vocal group Lee Morgan (2020) jazz saxophonist Dorothy Moore (2015) singer Melba Moore (2015) singer Motown Records (2018) record company Sylvia Moy (2017) songwriter, producer N-O Norm N. Nite (2014) author, radio host The Ohio Players (2013) group The O'Jays (2013) vocal group Johnny Otis (2017) bandleader, musician, singer P-Q Charlie Parker (2020) jazz saxophonist Little Junior Parker (2015) singer Ray Parker Jr. (2019) singer Freda Payne (2017) singer Peaches & Herb (2018) vocal group Teddy Pendergrass (2021) singer Phil Perry (2019) singer Dewey Phillips (2021) radio personality Wilson Pickett (2016) singer/songwriter Michael J. Powell (2017) producer, musician Elvis Presley (2015) singer Lloyd Price (2019) singer Prince (2016) singer/songwriter R Lou Rawls (2021) singer Danny Ray (2021) singer Otis Redding (2013) singer Della Reese (2017) singer, actress Martha Reeves (2015) singer Sir Mack Rice (2016) singer, producer Jimmy Roach (2019) producer, songwriter Smokey Robinson (2016) singer/songwriter Sugar Chile Robinson (2016) child prodigy The Royal Jokers (2016) vocal group The Royal Theater (Baltimore) (2020) venue Ruby & The Romantics (2013) vocal group The Rude Boys (2019) vocal group David Ruffin (2013) singer Jimmy Ruffin (2015) singer Bobby Rush (2015) singer Mitch Ryder (2017) singer S Sam & Dave (2018) vocal group Little Jimmy Scott (2013) Jazz artist Rena Scott (2016) singer/songwriter Shades of Blue (2015) vocal group Nina Simone (2021) singer Donnie Simpson (2015) radio/TV host Percy Sledge (2021) singer Sly, Slick & Wicked (2013) vocal group Sounds of Unity and Love (S.O.U.L.) (2013) group The Spinners (2015) vocal group Edwin Starr (2013) singer Stax Records (2015) record company Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg (2017) radio host, minister Mickey Stevenson (2016) A&R director Billy Stewart (2021) singer Ed Sullivan (2020) TV personality Donna Summer (2021) singer The Supremes (2013) vocal group Sweet Inspirations (2014) vocal group T Johnnie Taylor (2015) singer Temptations Review Featuring Dennis Edwards (2015) vocal group The Temptations (2013) vocal group Sister Rosetta Tharpe (2020) singer Jeff & The Atlantics (2017) group Big Joe Turner (2021) singer Ike Turner (2015) Singer/Songwriter/Musician Spyder Turner (2015) singer The 20 Grand (2015) Night club, concert venue Henry Tyler (2015) radio personality The Tymes (2019) vocal group U-V The Undisputed Truth (2015) vocal group Upbeat (2013) TV show The Valadiers (2017) vocal group Luther Vandross (2021) singer The Velvelettes (2016) vocal group W-X-Y-Z Dionne Warwick (2016) singer/songwriter David Washington (2019) radio personality Gino Washington (2015) singer Henry Washington (2018) Promoter Keith Washington (2019) singer Muddy Waters (2015) Singer/Musician RJ Watkins (2015) radio personality Johnny Watson (2021) singer WDIA (2015) radio station Mary Wells (2017) singer Kim Weston (2013) singer Jerry Wexler (2017) record executive The Whispers (2014) vocal group Barry White (2021) singer Norman Whitfield (2021) songwriter, producer Nat D. Williams (2017) radio personality Jackie Wilson (2013) singer Stevie Wonder (2019) singer Richard "Popcorn" Wylie (2018) Producer, songwriter, Singer Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Hall of Fames” National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame (official site) Wikipedia (history and list of inductees) First posted 6/23/2019; last updated 8/11/2021.