Dr. John among 2011 nominees for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction

[props4pops]

The nominations for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
2011 were announced today. The nominees are:

* Alice Cooper
* Beastie Boys
* Bon Jovi
* Chic
* Neil Diamond
* Donovan
* Dr. John
* J. Geils Band
* LL Cool J
* Darlene Love
* Laura Nyro
* Donna Summer
* Joe Tex
* Tom Waits
* Chuck Willis

Ballots will be sent to more than 500 voters, who will select artists
to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 26th Annual
Induction Ceremony. To be eligible for nomination into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame, an act must have released its first single or album
at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. The 2011 Nominees
had to release their first recording no later than 1985.

The 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in
December 2010 and the Induction Ceremony will take place on March 14,
2011 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame Induction Ceremony will be televised live on Fuse, Madison
Square Garden’s national music television network.

All inductees are ultimately represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, the nonprofit organization that
exists to educate its audiences on the global impact of the rock and
roll art form via the museum, as well as its education programs and
library and archives.


DR. JOHN

New Orleans own Dr. John has been recording for more than fifty years.
He is steeped in the rhythms and traditions of the city, and has spent
his career championing its music. As he told New Orleans R&B historian
Jeff Hannusch, “[New Orleans music] is part of whatever I’m about. The
importance of it is beyond anything I do.” Born Mac Rebennack, he
learned piano and guitar as a child. Schooled by Crescent City legends
like Papoose Nelson, James Booker and Cosimo Matassa, Rebennack began
recording in 1957; between 1956-1963, more than 50 of his songs were
recorded in New Orleans. In 1965, Rebennack moved to Los Angeles and
worked as a session player. Working with Harold Batiste, he created
the Dr. John the Night Tripper character, a tribute to New Orleans
musical and spiritual traditions that meshed perfectly with
psychedelia. His first album Gris-Gris, was a masterpiece, evoking
voodoo legends over a funky mix. In the first half of the 1970s, he
released a series of albums that mixed New Orleans classics with his
own original material, all driven by his remarkable piano playing and
great bands, most notably his collaboration with Allen Toussaint and
the Meters on “Right Place, Wrong Time,” a smash funk hit. He has
produced albums for Professor Longhair and Van Morrison, collaborated
with Doc Pomus on a group of songs recorded by B.B. King on There Must
Be a Better World Somewhere (1981), and released several acclaimed
solo piano records. In recent years he has become a spokesman for the
city and its musical history, all while continuing to record creative,
challenging music.

For more information on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
including in-depth bios, picture galleries and videos on each nominee
visit www.rockhall.com/inductees

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