It has been announced that the 2016 inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame will be revealed on Tuesday March 29. Hall of Fame member Brenda Lee will be hosting.
If past history is any indication, those who have been elected have been notified and there will be great speculation in the next several weeks on who has been elected. I have found it amazing that in the history of these announcements that there have been no leaks ahead of time. The closest we came was last year when Jim Ed Brown posted pictures of Maxine and Bonnie coming to Nashville, which just happened to be the day prior to the announcement. Also the year that Bobby Bare was elected there were strong indications ahead of time that he was one of those getting in. With today's Twitter and other instant message forums, it will be interesting to see what gets floated out there. Of course, I am sure many of you will be looking at the schedules of those who are thought to be finalists and see where they might, or might not be, on March 29. (Yes, I already checked and Alan Jackson and Ricky Skaggs, two of those talked about are open on that date).
There are dozens of artists, all legitimate candidates, who should be in the Hall of Fame and are not. Hopefully those deserving will be elected at some point in their lifetimes. Good luck to all of them and I hope that March 29 will be a day when dreams will come true, and they will for at least three individuals.
The hardest part about figuring out this Hall of Fame game is figuring out which category an artist belongs in. For example: Hank Williams, Jr. (Like him or not) has a Hall of Fame career. His career prior to 1975 was mediocre. If his life had ended with the now famous "mountain fall", it's doubtful, very doubtful he would be in the Hall of Fame. Let's face it, his Hall of Fame career came in the 1980s. So by all means, he should be on the same ballot as Ricky Skaggs, Randy Travis, The Judds, Steve Wariner, Keith Whitley, etc. But will he?
ReplyDeleteThen on the flip side you have artists such as Tanya Tucker, Crystal Gayle and Anne Murray, who all could technically be considered for the veterans ballot. But their careers, having started in the early 70s, commercially lasted into the early 1990s. And in Tayna's case even longer. Where do they belong? Looking at it from that point of view, the Modern ballot.
I think the category's are still not where they need to be. I am strongly against mass inductions, but if an extra category or two was added and 4 to 5 people, which includes the non-artists, musicians, and songwriters as they are now, I don't think It would take away from the meaningfulness of the award.
A Posthumous category is needed. Since the mass induction of 2001 only Floyd Cramer, DeFord Bailey, Pop Stoneman, Lew Dewitt (of the Statlers), Hank Cochran and Grady Martin have been voted in posthumously. That's six in fifteen years. And five of the six in the rotating category's. That's a poor record. There will be no hope for Dottie West, Johnnie & Jack, Archie Campbell, The Carter Sisters and possibly newer artists such as Keith Whitley, John Denver, Vern Gosdin and Eddie Rabbitt. The way I see it, if you want in the Hall of Fame, don't die.
So I do have my predictions for 2016. Just judging on who's been active during the year, I'm guessing Ray Stevens and Tayna Tucker or The Gatlins. Look at the increased Opry performances of those three brothers. Something is up. Same with Ray Stevens. To quote one of his songs, "he's everywhere". Tayna has also not been camera and stage shy this last year. As far as the non-performer, producer Fred Foster comes to mind. But at some point Sam Louvello of Hee Haw needs considered.
Final thoughts:
veteran: Ray Stevens
Modern; The Gatlins or Tanya Tucker.
David, some very good thoughts and comments, especially regarding those who have been voted in posthumously. While I am not sure what specific categories to add, I do think there needs to be something done, or instead of 1 getting in each year per category, vote in 2 or 3. There are certainly enough folks out there who deserve to be in the Hall. While common sense would tell you that Archie Campbell, Stringbean, Wilburn Brothers, to name a few, will never get elected based the fact that their careers took place so long ago, Mac Wiseman got in 2 years ago, so there is hope.
ReplyDeleteAs far as this year, I would also agree that Ray Stevens and Tanya Tucker might be the favorites. Not so sure about The Gatlins. I think they deserve to get in at some point, but much like Hank Williams, Jr., Larry seems to a lightening rod with some of his comments and can we say "Remington." The Hall does not like controversy.
I know there have been Facebook and petition campaigns for Dottie West (several years now), Ralph Stanley (but not the Stanley Brothers), Jack Greene, The Carter Sisters among others. I am not sure how effective those are with the voters, but I do know that Dottie's people did make an impression a few years ago. But in the end, she did not get in.
As we have said, there are so many deserving but so few spots.
I think the Hall of Fame is pretty wide open this year so who do you see going into the Hall this year?
ReplyDeleteI think for the modern category [Hank Jr.,Tanya Tucker,Alan Jackson,Randy Travis or Marty Stuart] For the Veteran category [Archie Campbell,June Carter Cash/Carter Sisters,Wilburn Brothers,Stanley Brothers,Dottie West,Lonzo & Oscar/Cousin Jody]For the Songwriter category [Dallas Frazier]A mass induction would be real ice so you can get rid of that backlog.
ReplyDeleteSome Guy named Bruce Alexander posted on his Facebook page saying that Dottie West is being inducted this year here`s what he said
ReplyDeleteMrs Dottie West was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame a few days ago She was from My home town McMinnville TN Rest in Peace Dottie we love you.......
Interesting how he worded it. "was inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame a few days ago." Well, the induction does not take place until October. He might have meant "elected." I don't know. I have no idea who Bruce is or is connection to Dottie other then he is from her hometown. I know there are a lot of people who feel she should be elected and I think in the veteran category she has as much a chance as anyone else.
DeleteIf it is true, that is what the Hall of Fame gets when they schedule an announcement two weeks away and expect absolutely everyone to keep quiet for that time.
If Dottie West has been elected, it's my guess 2016 will be a year there is a "tie" in the Veterans category. The CMA wants the publicity of the event. In those two artists categories they will want a living soul. But either way Dottie West is certainly overdue.
ReplyDeleteEither that David, or it will open the door for an Alan Jackson to get in this year. His election would give the CMA and the Hall the publicity it would be looking for. (not that I would agree with his election, at least not at this time.)
DeleteOf those contemporary artists from 1989 onward, don't rule out Brooks & Dunn being elected to the Hall prior to Alan Jackson. Kix Brooks plays a major role in the CMA. And it's possible Marty Stuart even being elected before Jackson. He's another one that's been active in CMA as well as just being a favorite among everyone. Just my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised this thread hasn't generated more comments this year. Since it will only be a few hours until we know who's in I'll leave my top three choices in each category without comment....but last year I went 3 for 3 (The Browns and the Oak Ridge Boys were my top pick in their categories and Grady Martin was my 3rd pick after Hank Garland and Pete Drake). Anyway, let's see how this pans out. VETERAN: The Wilburn Brothers, Dottie West, Maddox Brothers and Rose. MODERN: Ricky Skaggs, Crystal Gayle, The Judds. NON-PERFORMER: Buddy Killen, Fred Foster, Irving Waugh. Honorable Mention in the last category to Jim Halsey, Jimmy Bowen, Bob Ferguson, Ott Devine, T. Tommy Cutrer, Sam Lovullo, Vito Pellettieri, David Cobb, Harry Stone and Hoot Borden. If there's any justice, the bus drivers that got the stars to their shows and safely home again will be honored and nobody had more miles behind him than Granddaddy Hoot!
ReplyDeleteBarry, you have some great names there and all deserve election to the Hall. Just not sure it is going to happen for any of them this year. The Wilburn Brothers have been long over due, the Maddox Brothers and Rose have been forgotten over time. All of your modern era names deserve to be in. I had not thought much of the non-performer category this year, and thinking it over, Irving Waugh did so much for Nashville, not only for WSM and the Opry, but also for Opryland and the Gaylord Company. Nobody except us Grand Ole Opry historians remember who Vito was, but he might have had the biggest impact and influence on the Opry then anyone. Sam Lovullo would be a great choice, as would Bob Ferguson. But I think it will come down to Buddy Killen or Jimmy Bowen. I thought for a while that Tony Brown would be a good choice, but with his legal troubles, I am not sure that it will happen.
DeleteA comment on Dottie West's Facebook page kinda gives me the impression it may be Alan Jackson and Hank, Jr. My gut still thinks Ray Stevens is on the radar in whichever category.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I saw the same post and I wanted to offer a few thoughts. I am not sure who is behind that Dottie West Facebook page, but assuming for a minute that it is true, that Alan Jackson and Hank Williams, Jr. are the two getting in, I would think that just about kills any change of Dottie ever getting elected. If there is one thing that the CMA and Hall of Fame value, it is secrecy and having the announcement as a surprise. If I remember right, and David you might confirm this, Dottie's page ran the same post last year when she was not elected, but without naming any names.
DeleteNow as far as Alan Jackson and Hank Williams, Jr, if true. they would both be excellent selections to the Hall of Fame. For Hank, Jr., the case against him was that he was always a little too political for the Hall. But if you notice, this past year he has been pretty well behaved and just released a new CD. I did notice that his Facebook page hasn't posted anything for a week, so maybe there is a cone of silence from Hank.
I have mixed feelings about Alan Jackson. There is no doubt that after Garth Brooks, Alan was country music's biggest star from that era. Garth's election was an exception much like when Johnny Cash and Vince Gill got in. Yes, it was a little early for all 3, but they were all going to get in anyways, so why not just get it over with. But I think that with Alan, it will open the door to the others from that era and will leave out those from the late 1970s and 1980s. To me the big mystery is Randy Travis. Even back in his hit making days, he never won the big awards from the CMA and you would think with his career, he would get into the Hall.
Thinking it over, perhaps the best bet for Randy, Ricky Skaggs, Tanya Tucker, Crystal Gayle, Charlie Daniels and so many others will be when they become eligible for election in the veterans category, where they all might be treated more kindly.
Just found this on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LutherLewis/status/714606593497665536
ReplyDeleteLooks like Fred Foster is the inductee for Non-performer.
I've also noticed that The Gatlins are favoriting all the tweets the HoF has been posting about the announcement. Could it mean something? Maybe. Maybe not.
My last minute predictions for modern and veterans eras: Marty Stuart and Dottie West.
A.B.
Fred Foster and The Gatlins were on my list. I'm still thinking Ray Stevens for veterans.
ReplyDeleteAnd if Larry Gatlin is inducted prior to Dottie West......
ReplyDeleteWow
Hey Guys according to a tweet by someone on Twitter all of this year`s inductees are reported to be from NC so I am thinking Charlie Daniels and Randy Travis as the other inductees they are both from NC
ReplyDeleteWell, I went 0 for 3 this year (or 1 for 3 if I want to fudge it a little). No surprises....everyone was on at least 1 of my top 5 lists this year. Of course, my top picks in the veterans have all passed on (as have Buddy Killen and Irving Waugh in the non-performer) and it seems that if the CMA likes to throw a big party and they find it incredibly rude for the guest of honor to die before said party can be thrown. So, a living nominee will go in before a dead nominee almost every time (you CAN"T pass over people like Grady Martin or, in the future, Hank Garland). I think it would be nice for the CMA to add a category for non-living persons just to level the playing field. That way you can have your party and still honor people who really deserve it but just had the bad taste to pass on.
ReplyDelete