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Early Influences

Honoring the artists that pre-date the birth of rock & roll, but have had a profound impact on music's evolution and its iconic artists.
Background
2000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Billie Holiday
The "5" Royales
Class of 2015
The 5 Royales Onstage at the Induction Ceremony 2015
Louis Armstrong
Class of 1990
1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Louis Armstrong
Lead Belly
Class of 1988
1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Lead Belly
Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys
Class of 1999
Charles Brown
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
Willie Dixon
Class of 1994
Willie Dixon - Hero Image
Woody Guthrie
Class of 1988
1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Woody Guthrie
Billie Holiday
Class of 2000
2000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Billie Holiday
The Ink Spots
Class of 1989
Mahalia Jackson
Class of 1997
1997 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Mahalia Jackson
Wanda Jackson
Class of 2009
Wanda Jackson - Hero Image
Elmore James
Class of 1992
1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Elmore James
Robert Johnson
Class of 1986
1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Robert Johnson
Louis Jordan
Class of 1987
Louis Jordan
Freddie King
Class of 2012
Freddie King_quote
Professor Longhair
Class of 1992
1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Professor Longhair
Bill Monroe
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
The Orioles
Class of 1995
Les Paul
Class of 1988
Les Paul
Ma Rainey
Class of 1990
1990 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Ma Rainey
Jimmie Rodgers
Class of 1986
1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Jimmie Rodgers
Pete Seeger
Class of 1996
1996 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Pete Seeger
Bessie Smith
Class of 1989
The Soul Stirrers
Class of 1989
The Soul Stirrers - Hero Image
Sister Rosetta Tharpe
Class of 2018
T-Bone Walker
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
Hank Williams
Class of 1987
1987 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Hank Williams
Howlin' Wolf
Class of 1991
1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Howlin Wolf
Jimmy Yancey
Class of 1986
1986 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Jimmy Yancey

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