The Pop Music Hall of Fame in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania has recognized numerous deserving and long-delayed individuals. However, this institution seems unable to resist inducting second-tier figures like Duran Duran and Sheryl Crow as well.
This year’s nominees include ABBA, Michael Jackson and Billy Joel as well as such luminaries as Perry Como and Bobby Vinton who are surefire candidates.
It’s in Canonsburg
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania is widely known for its connection to American pop music. This Pennsylvania town was home to singers Perry Como and Bobby Vinton during their golden eras in the 1950s and 60s; as well as one of the largest custom muscle car companies at that time Yenko Chevrolet. Additionally several local businesses such as Sarris Candies and All-Clad Metalcrafters (a maker of bonded metal cookware). have achieved considerable success here.
The town prides itself as the “small town music capital”, and is currently working towards creating an America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame to recognize those artists that often go overlooked by rock and roll, jazz, country and other halls of fames. They expect it to open sometime within next year.
Current nominees for induction into the new hall of fame include The Beach Boys, Beatles and Elvis; many have already been honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; others being considered include Paul Anka, Glen Campbell, the Bee Gees and Carpenters as well as Chubby Checker from Dave Clark Five as well as Nat King Cole, Perry Como as well as Elton John from Monkees music era and Elton John himself from this list.
A feasibility study is currently under way to assess the size and location of a permanent Pop Music Hall of Fame. Our aim is to have it fully operational by 2014. A temporary pop music museum currently resides at Toy’s My Way Cafe which includes photo exhibits, interactive videos and displays of memorabilia.
Billboard magazine editors and nationally known DJs comprised the initial selection panel. Once an initial group is chosen, a committee will begin searching for an appropriate permanent site for the Hall of Fame – probably including concert venues or entertainment spaces – as part of this search. Canonsburg museum serves as a preview to what lies ahead.
It’s a boys’ club
The Beatles, Elvis, and Frank Sinatra may have been assured their places in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; however, this distinction wasn’t extended to them by the Pop Music Hall of Fame which only inducted one woman and some minorities (due to an overwhelmingly male governing body).
Men dominate the voting body, which comprises music industry members and musical experts. In 2019, only four nominating committee members and two voting members (out of 27 nominating committee members and 27 voting members total) were women; all others (including most board members) were men – creating an exclusionary hall that does not welcome female musicians, minorities, and contemporary artists.
ABBA, Michael Jackson and Billy Joel have all made first time nominees for this year’s induction into the Hall. A national panel comprised of musicians, disc jockeys and journalists selected them based on the breadth, depth and influence of their hits. Additionally, five “heritage” inductees were added into this year’s selection process including pioneer singers Les Paul and Mary Ford.
Permanent plans for the Hall of Fame are in the works, and it is scheduled to open its permanent home in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, which is the hometown of Perry Como and Bobby Vinton. It will occupy what used to be Toy’s My Way Cafe; which closed down in 2013.
This site, located near the town center, will showcase memorabilia as well as performance spaces. Organizers have received inquiries from officials in Branson, Missouri; Florida; and Las Vegas regarding setting up this hall; however they are hoping that Washington County remains its permanent location by 2023. They are considering places near Meadows Racetrack and Casino in North Strabane Township with plans for permanent residency by end of 2023. Designed to honor hitmakers that don’t fit neatly into country, rock or jazz halls of fame but rather celebrating their biggest hits over their careers like Rock and Roll Hall of Fame which celebrates origins rather than hitmakers today – pop Music Hall of Fame does so by honoring all-time hitmakers from past and present!
It’s a sham
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland has long been criticized as a fraud. Instead of honoring musicians who contributed to rock music’s development, it inducts artists not even considered rock musicians into its ranks – betraying its spirit of young rebellion at its heart and wasting taxpayer funds by including inductees such as LL Cool J and Eminem who have made no contributions whatsoever to its evolution.
Evidently, the Hall of Fame is an expensive business run by music execs who don’t wish to share the selection process with the general public. Jann Wenner’s friends often seem to influence this selection process – leading them to select Fleetwood Mac and James Taylor while Zombies and Monkees weren’t included.
Every year when the list of nominees for the Hall of Fame is revealed, an outcry ensues over its inclusion or lack thereof. Allegations of racism, sexism and gender bias have been leveled against it; though often their source cannot be pinpointed accurately; for example it might be deliberate snubs; other times they might simply have been unavoidable circumstances that prevented their inclusion.
One of the greatest grievances against the Hall of Fame is its exclusive selection of male artists for induction. Over recent years, several musicians and fans alike have complained of sexism and gender bias within its ranks.
No matter their validity, critiques of the Hall of Fame should still be discussed openly and critically. No matter their institutional problems, it’s vitally important to remember that rock music is an art form – beyond lyrics, melody and beats; music’s significance lies within its context and history; without these factors its true power and meaning will vanish completely.
People who allege the Hall of Fame is an inauthentic institution should remove their fanboy blinders and investigate its history. They should consider why their favorite bands weren’t admitted and learn more about how the Hall of Fame operates so that they can make an informed decision regarding them.
It’s a waste of time
Though the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exists to honor great rock artists, it has often accepted artists who do not fit within its genre – especially classic soul/R&B acts – which takes away from its integrity as a whole. Perhaps renaming it to something more suitable such as Music Hall of Fame would better reflect reality – this would also avoid including genres like hip hop that belong in different sections.
Over the years, there have been some serious snubs, such as the Foo Fighters who surprisingly never made it into the Hall. Their absence is unfortunate considering they are one of the finest modern rock bands. Their place should definitely be reserved in this revered institution.
Def Leppard deserves recognition in the Hall of Fame, having made an enormous impact in hard rock throughout their storied 80s career and producing many hit singles – yet are rarely included on historical lists that do not focus on hard rock; similarly, The Zombies were often excluded despite having many iconic songs that they contributed.
Bob Dylan has been left out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, possibly because they don’t think his music fits with its genre – something which would be an injustice considering Dylan has had such an immense influence over rock n roll music.
Other notable omissions included Carole King and Todd Rundgren – two iconic songwriters with excellent albums – who fell just short due to not being considered A-level classic rock acts. Joan Baez was another victim, although as an important folk artist and activist she could make a strong case for induction into the Hall.
Country singers have always been an unpredictable component of the Hall of Fame. Willie Nelson is an iconic musician whose influence can be felt across different genres of music; yet somehow he remains solely associated with country music. Gene Pitney and Isaac Hayes, two talented musicians with iconic songs that would fit right in to this category of artists are not represented there either.