Grandmaster Flash
and the Furious Five have been inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame, the organization announced today (Jan. 8). Also
inducted with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were R.E.M., The Ronettes,
Patti Smith and Van Halen. The five inductees will be honored during a ceremony
at the Waldor-Astoria in New York on March 12. “We
couldn’t be more proud to honor this unique, diverse group of rockers, rappers,
singers and poets. This is what rock and roll is all about,” Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame Foundation President and C.E.O., Joel Peresman said in a statement.
The
evening will also pay tribute to the late Ahmet Etregun, who was Chairman of the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ertegun founded founded Atlantic Records and influenced
the careers of Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin,
Ray Charles and countless others. The
2007 inductees were chosen by 600 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.
Artists are eligible for inclusion 25-years after their first recording is released.
Each
artist will be commemorated in the museum and artifacts and a multimedia film
presentation that highlights each artists’ career will also be showcased in the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is based in Cleveland, Ohio.
