Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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


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:


First posted 6/23/2019; last updated 8/11/2021.

3 comments:

  1. here is the class of 2020 to be added to the list

    LaVern Baker-Singer 2020
    Thomas “Beans” Bowles-Motown Bandleader/Musician 2020
    Nat King Cole-Bandleader/Singer 2020
    Cab Calloway-Bandleader/Dancer/Singer 2020
    Billy Eckstine-Singer 2020
    Ella Fitzgerald-Jazz Singer 2020
    Harvey Fuqua-Motown Songwriter/Record Producer/Singer 2020
    Jack “The Rapper” Gibson-Radio Personality 2020
    Mahalia Jackson-Gospel Singer 2020
    Etta James-R&B Singer 2020
    Hal Jackson-Radio Personality 2020
    Big Jay McNeely-Rhythm & Blues Saxophonist 2020
    Lee Morgan-Jazz Trumpeter 2020
    Charlie Parker-Jazz Saxophonist 2020
    Sister Rosetta Tharpe-Singer/Guitarist 2020
    The Royal Theater-Baltimore, MD 2020
    The Famous Flames-Group 2020
    Ed Sullivan-TV Host 2020

    ReplyDelete
  2. LaVern Baker-Singer 2020
    Thomas “Beans” Bowles-Motown Bandleader/Musician 2020
    Nat King Cole-Bandleader/Singer 2020
    Cab Calloway-Bandleader/Dancer/Singer 2020
    Billy Eckstine-Singer 2020
    Ella Fitzgerald-Jazz Singer 2020
    Harvey Fuqua-Motown Songwriter/Record Producer/Singer 2020
    Jack “The Rapper” Gibson-Radio Personality 2020
    Mahalia Jackson-Gospel Singer 2020
    Etta James-R&B Singer 2020
    Hal Jackson-Radio Personality 2020
    Big Jay McNeely-Rhythm & Blues Saxophonist 2020
    Lee Morgan-Jazz Trumpeter 2020
    Charlie Parker-Jazz Saxophonist 2020
    Sister Rosetta Tharpe-Singer/Guitarist 2020
    The Royal Theater-Baltimore, MD 2020
    The Famous Flames-Group 2020
    Ed Sullivan-TV Host 2020

    ReplyDelete
  3. The members of JAMES BROWN'S Original Singing Group, THE FAMOUS FLAMEs, just got inducted into the 2020 Class. They were inducted into THE ROCK and ROLL HALL of FAME in 2012.

    ReplyDelete