Sometimes this has been played out around legal disputes - Paul McCartney skipped the Beatles' 1988 induction because of business disagreements with George Harrison and Ringo Starr. In seeking to honor crucial figures in contemporary music, the Hall of Fame occasionally has been forced to deal with the nonmusical aspects of the artists' careers. Two deceased blues artists - bottleneck guitarist Elmore James and pianist Professor Longhair - will be inducted as 'early influences.' Guitar pioneer Leo Fender, songwriter Doc Pomus and promoter Bill Graham, all of whom died last year, will be inducted in the nonperformer category.
Tonight, the seventh annual induction dinner for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will be held at the Waldorf Astoria Ballroom in Manhattan, honoring Booker T and the MG's, Bobby 'Blue' Bland, the Isley Brothers, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Yardbirds, Johnny Cash, and Sam and Dave.
