Quote:
Originally Posted by redbreegull
"rock and roll" didn't always exclusively mean what you seem to think it always has
do some research on where the term came from and how it was used in the late 40s and 50s. I think you'll find it was used broadly to refer to any number of genres which came from blues, country, rockabilly, folk, gospel, roots music turned commercial, and even jazz
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I'm certain most people appreciate that rock and roll owes its roots to multiple genres and that it didnt materialize out of thin air, but the stated purpose of the R&RHoF is to "celebrate the musicians who founded, changed and revolutionized rock & roll", so based on what you're saying, a non-"rock and roll" artist who would fit this description would be someone whose music either is rock and roll, or directly led to rock and roll. Most of the people listed whose relation to rock and roll is tenuous came along well after rock and roll was an established genre.
I know people who are racist or sexist frequently use some side issue to further their agenda, but the truth is I think it is insulting to Aretha Franklin and the others to essentially be made into "token blacks" on account of "rock and roll" being predominantly undertaken by white musicians, and the bad politics that stem from that.