Then why are there different categories for the Hall of Fame, such as the "Performer" category? Seems to me that would mean recognizing their work strictly as performers.

No, it's clearly procedural on the HOF's part. The only category that has nominations and direct ballot elections are for the Main Performer category, which means anyone who performed and gets a nomination. The songwriters, producers, Early Influences, sidemen, etc., are simply named directly to the Hall by the mysterious "secret sauce committee". But artists who get nominated by the committee are clearly having their entire resume looked at, not just their work as the credited artist on a record.

The Hall could've made all this much clearer from the start, but they've violated their own rules countless times, such as inducting Smokey Robinson alone, without the Miracles, in 1987, even though he alone, as a solo artist, wasn't eligible until 1997. Same with their nominating Tina Turner as a solo artist in the 80's, despite her first solo-credited record being in the mid-70's, though luckily she didn't make it in that way and finally made it along with Ike a few years later. When the Hall themselves can't follow their own guidelines it makes a mess of things unfortunately.

The first round of artists who released their first record in the 1960s is closed. There were 8 ballots turned in so a candidate needed 6 votes to be inducted. Even with that tough standard to meet we still inducted 13 of the 15 acts, and one other act missed by one vote. Five of the inductees were voted in unanimously.

Here we go:

INDUCTEES (votes)
Deep Purple (8)
Tommy James & the Shondells (8)
Kool and the Gang (8)
Monkees (8)
Paul Revere & the Raiders (8)
Chicago (7)
Moody Blues (7)
Spinners (7)
Yes (7)
Gene Chandler (6)
Linda Ronstadt (6)
Jr. Walker & the All-Stars (6)
Mary Wells (6)


NON-INDUCTEES (votes)
Jethro Tull (5)
Sonny & Cher (0)

With no votes Sonny & Cher will be dropped from the ballot.

INDUCTEES SO FAR

EARLY INFLUENCES:
Roy Brown
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
Wynonie Harris
Amos Milburn
Lucky Millinder
Mills Brothers
Charley Patton
Ravens

MAIN PERFORMERS:
Johnny Ace
Jesse Belvin
Jerry Butler
Gene Chandler
Chubby Checker
Chicago
Clovers
Deep Purple
Five Royales
Tommy James & the Shondells
Carole King
Kool and the Gang
Monkees
Moody Blues
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Cliff Richard
Linda Ronstadt
Huey "Piano" Smith
Spinners
Joe Tex
Jr. Walker & the All-Stars
Billy Ward and the Dominoes
Mary Wells
Yes

Moving on to the next era, artists who made their first record in the 1970s.

To be eligible for this category the artist has to have released his first record between 1970 and 1979 . Each voter is just going to vote YES or NO on each candidate. In order to be inducted the candidate has to get 2/3 of the vote. You can vote for all 15 candidates if you want to.

THIS ROUND WILL CLOSE ON SUNDAY FEB 24 at 10 PM EASTERN:

Here are the candidates:

Cars
Chic
Commodores
Def Leppard
Doobie Bothers
Electric Light Orchestra
Foreigner
Hall & Oates
Journey
KC and the Sunshine Band
Kiss
Kraftwerk
Rufus feat Chaka Khan
Stlyistics
War

I had Barry White listed at first, but I'm sure he had records in the 60s now that I think of it, I think maybe under a different name. Anyway we'll get him in the next round wherever he belongs. I just looked it up, his first record was 1963.

This round is tough for me. I need to do some close studying. Right now most of these acts seem to me to be borderline, but not quite in.

Okay, most of these are just barely in, and most of the ones I did not vote for are just barely out. I could see my mind changing next time around, let's see how the rest of you vote:

MY VOTES:

Commodores
Def Leppard
Doobie Bothers
Hall & Oates
Journey
Kiss
Stlyistics
War

I'm selecting:

Chic
Commodores
Def Leppard
Doobie Brothers
Electric Light Orchestra
Hall & Oates
Journey
Kiss
Kraftwerk
Stylistics
War

No to the rest, although Foreigner were on the borderline for me.

The only two acts on this ballot that I'm sure belong in the hall of fame are Hall & Oates and Kiss, and I'm not much of a Kiss fan, but their legacy is amazing between all the hit albums, the dedicated fans, the makeup schtick, and their worldwide poularity I think they have to be in. Hall & Oates had a ton of hits and are one of the best R&B oriented white acts ever IMO.

Cars
Chic
Commodores
Def Leppard
Hall & Oates
Journey
KC and the Sunshine Band
Kiss
Kraftwerk
War

How apt. Nah, I actually kinda like them.

I'll vote for everyone.

I'll vote for:

Cars
Chic
Hall & Oates
Kiss
Rufus feat Chaka Khan
Stylistics
War

Some weaker borderline candidates on that ballot, so I'll be stricter since people seem to just vote for everyone en masse for some inexplicable reason. I can't imagine a Hall Of Fame having such low standards that somebody like Foreigner would ever be seriously considered, let alone voted in.

Nine top ten singles, seven multi-platinum albums, huge tours, and a song (I Want To Know What Love Is) that was even a big gospel record by other artists. Why shouldn't they be considered?

Eh. Hits alone does not an immortal make.

Only a small portion of hall of famers are immortals.

You voted for Paul Revere and the Raiders, are they immortals?