The 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: October 19th, 2024, Cleveland, OH
The annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony took place on Saturday, October 19th in the birthplace of rock and roll, Cleveland, OH. Sixteen performers and music industry professionals were inducted into the prestigious institution, establishing them as legends in the music world. Artists, songwriters, producers, managers, attorneys, executives, and more are inducted based on their tenure and impression on the music world and on culture as a whole. As Tom Morello, guitarist of 2023 inductee Rage Against the Machine, puts it in his induction speech for KISS’s 2014 entrance into the Hall: “the criteria are actually quite simple…impact, influence, and awesomeness.”
The show opened with a bang that the crowd could hardly believe. None other than the “Goddess of Pop,” Cher, was first on the roster, and actress Zendaya, clad in a gorgeous vintage Bob Mackey ensemble–the same designer Cher has worked with since the 70s–spoke on her behalf. Dua Lipa performed with Cher, setting the night up to be an unforgettable one.
Another highlight were the tributes to the late Jimmy Buffett, inducted this year in the musical excellence category alongside MC5, Dionne Warwick, Big Mama Thornton, and Norman Whitfield. Buffett’s cult following, his “Parrotheads,” showed up and showed out. My own parents, who have been fans since college, wore leis in his honor after years of attending his shows. His beachy, laid-back songs garnered a group of fans to move into the mindset that he called “Margaritaville.” A concept he developed while living and writing in Key West, his philosophies of fun and relaxation are what helped make him big. I asked my mom how she would put things:
“Jimmy's music & lyrics can lift your spirits like no other. After my first concert, I was hooked. His legacy will live on. I am a Parrothead for life. And despite his great success as a musician, he was also a businessman, humanitarian, and didn’t take himself too seriously. He promoted love and fun.”
Not only was the “Goddess of Pop” around, but the “Prince of Darkness” was also in the house. Ozzy Osbourne, who had been inducted as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006, came onto the stage on a bat throne, and I would not have expected anything less of his seating.
Jack Black spoke on his behalf before opening the stage up to a truly mind blowing lineup of performers: Billy Idol, Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Jelly Roll, and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) honored Osbourne, and that’s just naming a few. It was an honor alone to watch the performance, but even more special to see Ozzy’s impact on generations of musicians.
I felt myself on the verge of grateful tears many times throughout the night. Through this job, I have had the opportunity to hear panels and see performances from some legendary people in music, spend each day among instruments and clothing and artifacts that hold incredible significance, and have met some of my best friends. However, there was one inductee’s words that hit home the most. I wept through all of Suzanne de Passe’s speech. De Passe changed everything for women in music as one of the first major female executives, working for decades at the iconic Motown Records alongside the equally iconic Berry Gordy and a slew of legendary performers. She is accredited for seeing something in the Jackson 5, and was always known for her ear.
I was incredibly inspired listening to her speak about her career and her 4 female predecessors who have received the Rock Hall’s award for industry professionals, named after Ahmet Ertegun, one of the co-founders of Atlantic Records. She has proven that there is space for women in the music industry, a declaration that has paved the way for women before me, myself, and all women who come after me. And I will not take that for granted.