Carpenters in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

[Rick Henry]

A few years back I started a campaign to get the Carpenters nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF). Some of you may remember this. Several people here chipped in and helped spread the word. We did pretty good with this and got something like 3,000 names or more. We even had a few detractors who spammed the petition.

Anyhow, since then my viewpoint on the Carpenters being in the RRHOF has changed somewhat.

I still feel that Carpenters do have a rightful place in the RRHOF as they have been a huge influence on popular music during the rock and roll era. Their music in many instances has been termed "soft rock" which seems to fit what they did. As their music contained many of the elements of rock music such as electric guitar, driving drum patterns and pulsating bass rhythms.

Where my viewpoint has changed is that I no longer feel that it is important for Carpenters to be part of the RRHOF. I mean in 2008 Madonna was inducted into the RRHOF, I completely lost all respect for the institution. Yes, she is extremely popular, but her music is anything but rock and I really don't think Madonna's music has been an influence on musicians. If anything she has been more of an influence on fashion, attitude and business savvy. Therefore, it was at that point I realized that the RRHOF was not about excellence in music as much as it is about trends and fads.

Although, I don't think that Carpenters will ever make it into the RRHOF, I think that Karen Carpenter herself may have a better shot at it. She is remarkably respected for her skills as a drummer. And she's respected by both male and female drummers from all musical genres. I have never heard anybody rip her drumming skills as they do the music of the Carpenters. It would be interested to see what happens if someone were to nominate Karen for the RRHOF.

What are you thoughts on this topic?

[cinscorp]

I still think they deserve it, no matter its apparent relevance anymore. Maybe just because I think it's a snub that they aren't. Considering the chart success they had, the number of records they sold, the influence they had on "future" artists, the respect they held from so many of their peers, they should be in it.

Despite Madonna's induction, look at The Righteous Brothers (rock?), The Flamingos (who?), The Moonglows (again who?), many of the Motown artists I wouldn't consider rock. They opened the doors for the Motown sound, soft rock, etc.

The Carpenters and/or Karen Carpenter deserve a place. But considering the "Hall" has still snubbed the likes of Phil Collins, Ann & Nancy Wilson/Heart, Linda Ronstadt, Dan Fogelberg, Rush, Judas Priest, Yes, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, The Cure, Depeche Mode...the list goes on...Maybe the prestige lies outside the Hall. All of those artists have had/had LONG careers. I mean, Parliament or The Animals? Seriously?

I remember signing an online petition. I didn't realize that was probably you who started that, Rick.

[Rick Henry]

Aug 18, 2009 19:15:26 GMT -5 cinscorp said:

I still think they deserve it, no matter its apparent relevance anymore. Maybe just because I think it's a snub that they aren't. Considering the chart success they had, the number of records they sold, the influence they had on "future" artists, the respect they held from so many of their peers, they should be in it.

Despite Madonna's induction, look at The Righteous Brothers (rock?), The Flamingos (who?), The Moonglows (again who?), many of the Motown artists I wouldn't consider rock. They opened the doors for the Motown sound, soft rock, etc.

The Carpenters and/or Karen Carpenter deserve a place. But considering the "Hall" has still snubbed the likes of Phil Collins, Ann & Nancy Wilson/Heart, Linda Ronstadt, Dan Fogelberg, Rush, Judas Priest, Yes, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, The Cure, Depeche Mode...the list goes on...Maybe the prestige lies outside the Hall. All of those artists have had/had LONG careers. I mean, Parliament or The Animals? Seriously?

I remember signing an online petition. I didn't realize that was probably you who started that, Rick.

Any of those you mentioned (which are not in the RRHOF) I feel deserve induction much more than Madonna. I mean Heart (especially in their early years) really came on the scene and made a mark for females in hard rock. Before Heart female hard rockers were very few and not only that they were an outstanding band both in their musicianship and vocal ability. Ann Wilson was/is one of the very best female vocalists in the history of popular music. Why Phil Collins isn't in the RRHOF also eludes me, of anybody he really deserves a nod. Same with the Moody Blues, they should have been in the RRHOF a long time ago. And Rush one of the most popular bands in the world and their influence has been major on many musicians throughout the decades. Neal Peart alone is almost always in the Top 5 of best drummers polls everywhere you look.Many times he is listed at #1. Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Fogelberg, even Ronstadt... if it were up to me they'd all be in the RRHOF before many of those who are currently in.

Anyhow, although I do feel Carpenters do have a rightful place in the RRHOF. I no longer feel it is necessary for them to be inducted. The fact that they have sold more than 100 million records to date is a better accomplishment... they're actually more like 150 million by now.

Maybe I will start a Quality Music Hall of Fame. I will assemble a panel who will review and vote on nominees and each year we will induct ten or so artists solo or bands into the QMHOF. This will be about the music. The quality and finesse of the musicianship. The vocal ability. It will not be about fashion or business savvy or who caused the biggest controversies... it will be all about the music.

[cinscorp]

I like that. You can certainly start with some of that list I mentioned and I could add many more to it! LOL.

[Rick Henry]

Aug 25, 2009 9:29:42 GMT -5 cinscorp said:

I like that. You can certainly start with some of that list I mentioned and I could add many more to it! LOL.

Yes, starting a QMHOF would certainly require a good amount of work and organizing... but I have done several large projects already such as recently I had my 2nd Annual Christian Music Site Battle of the bands. I had near 90 bands enter the contest with over 4,000 people participating in the internet event. Here's the links to that event:

Click here to see Ten Finalists:
blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=160884935&blogId=497742060

Click here to see the winner:
blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=160884935&blogId=500681210

I've also recently sponsored a car show here in my own home town in which near 400 people came by to see. This was a big undertaking. I secured the location for the show and got people to register their cars to put in the show. I got sponsors and vendors. The show wasn't as big a success as I wanted it to be, but it was a success non-the-less.

I have been thinking about putting together a Quality Music Hall of Fame or Quality Music Organization for quite some time actually. I envision this organization catering to all musical genres, but the entries will be only those that are truly musically and vocally outstanding. Fad and/or gimmick type artists will not make it into this HOF.