The O'Jays, Percy Sledge, Buddy Guy to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Jet, Jan 10, 2005

R&B singers the O'Jays, soul balladeer Percy Sledge and blues great Buddy Guy are among the musical legends to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the foundation's 20th annual induction ceremony in 2005, the organization has announced.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation will hold its induction ceremony March 14 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan.

The O'Jays had eight No. 1 R&B hits during the 1970s and '80s, including Love Train and Use To Be My Girl. Sledge will forever be associated with When a Man Loves a Woman, one of the songs that made him a figure in deep Southern Soul in the late 1960s.

Blues guitarist Guy will also join the organization's Class of 2005 as well as rock bands such as U2 and the Pretenders.

The artists beat an impressive list of nominees, including Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, which would have been the first rap group to be inducted; Centerfold singers the J. Geils Band, and the late country singer Conway Twitty.

Musicians, industry professionals and journalists vote on the nominations, which were announced in September. Artists are eligible to be inducted into the Rock Hall after at least 25 years have passed since their first record was released.