Prince Joins Rock Royalty at Hall of Fame Induction
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Prince was crowned as musical royalty on Monday as he joined the late George Harrison among eight inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Also honored at the 19th annual induction were Texas boogie-woogie blues group ZZ Top, singer/songwriter Jackson Browne, English rock-jazz fusion band Traffic, rocker Bob Seger, R & B vocal group The Dells and Jann Wenner, co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine.
Prince kicked off the star-studded festivities with an electrifying performance of “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Sign ‘O’ The Times,” and “Kiss,” that brought the formally dressed audience in the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel to its feet.
He was introduced by Alicia Keys and OutKast.
“There are many kings. King Henry the 8th, King Solomon, King Tut, King James, King Kong,” said Grammy Award-winner Keys. “But there is only one Prince.”
“When I first started out in this music industry I was most concerned with freedom,” said Prince, whose 1984 “Purple Rain” sold 17 million copies. “I wish you all the best on this fascinating journey. It ain’t over.”
Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001 and was already enshrined as a member of the Beatles, became the third of the Fab Four to be inducted as a solo artist, following John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
After the break-up of the Beatles, Harrison showed his solo prowess with triple album “All Things Must Pass,” and demonstrated his humanitarian interests and talent as a producer by organizing the 1971 “Concert for Bangladesh.”
He was to be presented by Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, who were bandmates of his in the Traveling Wilburys, a super-group he helped form late in his career.
Traffic, comprised of Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason and the late Chris Wood, a great jam band known for songs like “Dear Mr. Fantasy” and “Feelin’ Alright,” were presented by Dave Matthews.
Bruce Springsteen was to introduce Jackson Browne, whose hits included “Running on Empty,” “Doctor My Eyes,” and “Take It Easy,” co-written with Glenn Frey of the Eagles.
Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards was presenting ZZ Top — Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, the one beardless member of the rollicking Texas trio whose fame was boosted by the hot rockin’ videos such as “Legs,” and “Sharp Dressed Man,” they turned out for MTV.
Seger, whose hard-driving hits include “Old Time Rock and Roll,” the soulful “Night Moves” and “Hollywood Nights,” was to be presented by fellow Detroit rocker, Kid Rock.
The Dells, who formed in a Chicago suburb in the 1950s, had their first hit, “Oh, What a Night,” in 1956 and have had at least one single make the pop charts in every decade since the 1950s — a feat matched only by the Isley Brothers.
Wenner, who rules Rolling Stone as its executive editor and publisher, was to be presented by the musical Stones’ famous frontman, Mick Jagger.
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