Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame "As It Should Be" - 1987, Part Three - The Inductees

Here are the fifteen artists I would have inducted in 1987, in alphabetical order:

B.B. King - One of the greatest blues performers of all-time, B.B. King was a tremendous influence on rock n roll and played a major role in the transition from straight blues to blues rock and R&B.

Bo Diddley - Another legendary blues performer who crossed over into the early days of rock n roll, Bo Diddley was a virtuoso guitarist who crafted some of the most significant and memorable guitar riffs. The riff to "Bo Diddley" itself has been used repeatedly throughout the decades by artists as diverse as ZZ Top and Bow Wow Wow.

Carl Perkins - A nearly forgotten legend of the early days of R&B, Carl Perkins paved the way for artists such as Elvis Presley (who famously covered his "Blue Suede Shoes") and other early R&B and rockabilly artists in the 50's and 60's. His profiles has improved well over time as more and more artists credit him for the influence his music had on them.

Ike And Tina Turner - Despite their rocky relationship, Ike And Tina Turner were one of the first great performing acts of rock n roll. Ike himself is credited with releasing the first rock n roll song in the 1950's and when he started recording with his wife Tina, the two created some of the most important songs of the 1960's and are best known for their cover of CCR's "Proud Mary".

Jackie Wilson - An important figure in the early days of R&B, Jackie Wilson released a string of hits in the late 50's and 60's that helped to create soul music.

John Lee Hooker - A legendary bluesman who has crafted some of rock's most memorable riffs and influenced many of the great guitarists of the classic rock era.

Marvin Gaye - Motown's brightest star, Marvin Gaye enjoyed one of the longest career of any artist in the label's stable, transitioning from the early style of songs like "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" to more soulful R&B like the all-time classic "What's Going On".

Otis Redding - His career was tragically cut short in it's early stages, but Redding managed to become one of the most popular and significant singers of the 60's.

Roy Orbison - Roy Orbison had one of the most amazing voices of any singer in the 20th century and combined this tool with some of the best lyrics and riffs of the early days of rock n roll. Any lead singer in the 60's and 70's aspired to be Orbison.

Sam Cooke - One of the biggest R&B stars of the 60's, Sam Cooke's inspirational music played an important role in musical and cultural events of the era.

Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - Smokey Robinson's amazing voice propelled this early R&B act to the top of the game with classic songs like "Tracks Of My Tears". Unlike the actual Hall Of Fame, I'm including The Miracles in this induction. The Hall has a seriously bad history when it comes to inducting singers while ignoring the bands that helped to make them great.

The Four Tops - The second-best male vocal group of the 60's, The Four Tops had a long string of hits in the mid-60's and through the 70's, the best of which include "River Deep, Mountain High" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)".

The Supremes - The most successful of the Motown artists, The Supremes were the greatest female vocal group in all of rock n roll history, cranking out hit after hit before the group eventually splintered under the weight of the collective egos of the band's divas, in particular lead singer Diana Ross, who went on to have an incredibly successful solo career of her own.

The Temptations - The best male vocal group of the 60's, The Temptations had a great deal of success during their Motown days and unlike most of their peers they managed to survive into the 70's as they transitioned their music into funkier styles. Any band that produced "My Girl", "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" and "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" can get into my Hall Of Fame on the strength of vocals alone.

Willie Nelson - Another singer that is technically a country music artist, Willie makes my Rock Hall because of his brilliant lyrics, soulful style and the influence that his music has had on several generations of singer-songwriters in all genres, including country.