Michael Jackson, ABBA and Billy Joel are among 15 pop acts selected for 2017 induction into America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame. Michael Jackson, in his first year of eligibility, topped the public on-line vote. The new inductees were announced Thursday.
Also newly-elected into the Hall of Fame by public vote are the Dave Clark Five, Earth Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson Five, Diana Ross and Rod Stewart. In the “Legends” category, The Hall of Fam…e nomination board chose Pat Boone, Fats Domino, the Drifters, Connie Francis and Bobby Vee in recognition of their influence on pop music.
Inductees had to have a charted song prior to 1980 to be considered and were selected from 20 nominees chosen by a national music industry panel based on the breadth, depth and influence of the artists’ recordings.
The artists join Paul Anka, the Association, the Beach Boys, the Bee Gees, the Beatles, Tony Bennett, Glen Campbell, Carpenters, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Chubby Checker, Chicago, Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Bobby Darin, Neil Diamond, Dion, The Eagles, The Everly Brothers, the Four Seasons, the Grass Roots, Buddy Holly, Elton John, Tom Jones, Carole King, Brenda Lee, the Lettermen, Barry Manilow, Dean Martin, Johnny Mathis, Paul McCartney, the Monkees, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison, Patti Page, the Platters, Elvis Presley, Paul Revere& the Raiders, the Righteous Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Sedaka, Simon & Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, the Supremes, the Temptations, Three Dog Night, Johnny Tillotson, Bobby Vinton, Andy Williams and Stevie Wonder in America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame.
In previous years, the Hall of Fame nomination board has chosen Les Paul and Mary Ford (2015) and Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers (2106) as Pop Music Hall of Fame “Legends” for their influence on pop music.
America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame board is currently working with local and state officials to construct a permanent facility. Current plans are for a large, multi-use performance venue as well as both permanent and rotating exhibits. America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame is based in Canonsburg, the home of Perry Como, Bobby Vinton and the Four Coins, who together placed nearly 200 songs on the Billboard charts. Canonsburg is just south of Pittsburgh, Pa.
