For an artist, composer, musician. group or band to become eligible for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, they must have released a record 25 years or more before the year of induction and demonstrated musical excellence. Thousands of artists meet that criteria but, not all of them make it through the golden jukebox gates.
The way it works, a list of nominees is chosen by a committee of music historians. In the second round, an international committee of roughly 500 music experts narrow the list down with another round of voting. Fans are also invited to vote for the inductee and those votes are supposed to carry equal weight.
At the end of the day, a lucky group of deserving artists finally make it to the “Hall” and the whole process starts over the following year. It’s kinda complicated. Don’t you think? I guess it’s the best way to decide, all of the artists under consideration are among the greatest of all time.
Now to the good part! Below is a look at 19 Louisiana artists (in order by the year of induction) who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame:
1986
Fats Domino New Orleans, LA
1986
Jerry Lee Lewis Ferriday, LA
1988
Leadbelly Mooringsport, LA
1990
Louis Armstrong New Orleans, LA
1991
Dave Bartholomew Edgard, LA
1992
Professor Longhair Bogalusa, LA
1997
Mahalia Jackson New Orleans, LA
1998
Jelly Roll Morton New Orleans, LA
1998
Lloyd Price Kenner, LA
1998
Allen Toussaint New Orleans, LA
2000
Earl Palmer New Orleans, LA
2001
James Burton Minden, LA
2003
Floyd Cramer Campti, LA
2005
Buddy Guy Lettsworth, LA
2008
Little Walter Marksville, LA
2009
D.J. Fontana Shreveport, LA
2011
Dr. John New Orleans, LA
2012
Cosimo Matassa New Orleans, LA
