This year’s inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame have just been announced from Nashville by Bill Anderson. The 2013 inductees are Cowboy Jack Clement (Non-Performer), Bobby Bare (Veterans Era), and Kenny Rogers (Modern Era).
Songwriter and producer Jack Clement, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame since 1973, claims writer’s credit for some of country music’s most beloved classics. He supplied Johnny Cash with multiple hits, including the standard “Ballad of a Teenage Queen,” and has also had his songs recorded by the likes of Charley Pride, Dolly Parton, Jim Reeves, Hank Snow, and Ray Charles, among many other legendary artists.
Bobby Bare enjoyed a run of country hits throughout the sixties and seventies, including genre classics such as “Detroit City,” “500 Miles Away from Home,” “Four Strong Winds,” and “Marie Lavaux.” He hosted the program Bobby Bare and Friends on The Nashville Network from 1983 t0 1988, and in the late nineties, enjoyed a strong second act as a member of the country music supergroup Old Dogs with friends and fellow legends Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis, and Waylon Jennings.
Kenny Rogers is widely known for his beloved 1978 classic “The Gambler” – a Grammy and CMA-winning crossover smash that spawned a TV serial adaptation in which Rogers starred. His multifaceted career has also included success with his band The First Edition, as well as crossover success lasting on through the 1980s and hit duets with stars such as Kim Carnes, Sheena Easton, Dottie West, and Dolly Parton.
Congratulations to the 2013 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees from the Country Universe community. What’s your take on this year’s inductees, and who would you like to see follow them into the Hall in 2014?
Very happy to see all three make the Hall! If I ran the world, Dottie West would be the fourth inductee – She had a long and productive career in country music – Winning a Grammy for “Here Comes my Baby”, all the Coca-Cola ads, Helping Steve Wariner, Larry Gatlin and many others get a start, plus her ability to change and grow as country music evolved. There’s always next year – in the mean time, congrats to this year’s inductees.
Super excited for all of these inductees.
The list of obvious omissions just keeps getting shorter.
I’d really like to see the Judds get in next.
I second The Judds. Also pulling for Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, Crystal Gayle, and Tanya Tucker.
A little further down the line, I’m eager to see Patty Loveless inducted into the Hall of Fame, but I know there are several others in line ahead of her.
I think Patty’s HOF chances would improve if she would make some more music. I’m afraid she’s elected early retirement.
Based on Patty’s career to date, I think her eventual place in the Hall is secure. It will probably be a few years before she’s inducted, but even if she were to get run over by a bus tomorrow, I’m sure it would still happen eventually.
Great choices all around!
Outstanding set of selections
No love for Ronnie Milsap. Guess he wasn’t country enough because the man sure can sing. I saw him back in the 80’s at Westbury.
Oh, I forgot about Milsap. I could see him getting in at some point. I would guess that not being “country enough” probably won’t be a huge issue, since there are other pop-leaning artists already in the Hall of Fame, and Kenny Rogers isn’t really much more country than he is anyway.
…wise choices.
This is very good news. For the first time in a few years I can say I am excited about all of the inductees. It always amazed my that it took Kenny so long to get in. I do understand the argument about him being pop, but he was just as much country as Charlie Rich and many others. If you listen to his late 70’s recordings most of them sound very country (although a bit gimmicky). I also believe he brought alot of new fans into country. Thats something that I personally don’t think Taylor Swift is doing with her brand of country pop, but thats another story. Anyway, I do hope to see Ronnie Milsap, Crystal Gayle, & Dottie West in there soon.