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Early Influences

The Early Influence Award shall be given to a performing artist or group whose music and performance style have directly influenced and helped inspire and evolve rock & roll and music that has impacted youth culture.

Background

2000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Billie Holiday

Louis Armstrong

Class of 1990

1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Louis Armstrong

Harry Belafonte

Class of 2022

Harry Belafonte

Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys

Class of 1999

Class of 1999

Charlie Christian

Class of 1990

1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Charlie Christian

Nat "King" Cole

Class of 2000

2000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Nat King Cole

Elizabeth Cotten

Class of 2022

Elizabeth Cotten

Class of 1994

Willie Dixon - Hero Image

Class of 2023

DJ Kool Herc Hero Image

Class of 1988

1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Woody Guthrie

Class of 2000

2000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Billie Holiday

Class of 1991

1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Howlin Wolf

Class of 1989

Mahalia Jackson

Class of 1997

1997 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Mahalia Jackson

Class of 2009

Wanda Jackson - Hero Image

Class of 1992

1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Elmore James

Class of 1986

1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Robert Johnson

Class of 1987

Louis Jordan

Class of 2012

Freddie King_quote

Class of 2021

Kraftwerk official bio photo

Class of 1988

1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Lead Belly

Class of 2023

Link Wray Hero Image

Professor Longhair

Class of 1992

1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Professor Longhair

Class of 1997

1997 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Monroe

Jelly Roll Morton

Class of 1998

1998 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Jelly Roll Morton

Class of 1995

Class of 2021

Charley Patton

Class of 1988

Les Paul

Class of 1990

1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Ma Rainey

Class of 1986

1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Jimmie Rodgers

The "5" Royales

Class of 2015

The 5 Royales Onstage at the Induction Ceremony 2015

Gil Scott-Heron

Class of 2021

Gil Scott-Heron

Class of 1996

1996 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Pete Seeger

Class of 1989

The Soul Stirrers

Class of 1989

The Soul Stirrers - Hero Image

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Class of 2018

Class of 1987

1987 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee T Bone Walker

Dinah Washington

Class of 1993

1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Dinah Washington

Class of 1987

1987 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Hank Williams

Class of 1986

1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Jimmy Yancey

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