Houston inducted into Rock Hall
In a normal year, the newly inducted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class would have hit the stage and performed the well known songs thatmade them famous.
Not in 2020. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s all-star groupwas inducted Saturday night in a taped HBO special that told the stories of Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G. and the Doobie Brothers’ rise to fame, and how acts like Nine Inch Nails, T. Rex and Depeche Mode heavily impacted the music industry and generations after them.
As she inducted Houston into the Rock Hall, Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys gave a heartfelt speech about one of the best singers in pop history.
“We all knowwhat a miraculous singer Whitney was, perhaps the greatest voice of all time. We all know how her unprecedented success brought Black women into the absolute highest reaches of the music industry’s pantheon,” said Keys, who wrote a song for Houston’s last album. “We all knowthat her music will live forever— that music, that everlasting voice is her final generous gift to us. And she will now be one of the brightest lights ever to shine in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
Houston, who died in 2012 at age 48, released her debut album in 1985 and recently became the first Black artist to have three diamond-certified albums.
The Notorious B.I.G. was shot to death in 1997 at age 24 and in a few years became one of the top voices in rap and pop. Hewas inducted by close friend and collaborator Diddy.
“Nobody has come close to the way Biggie sounds, to theway he raps, to the frequency that he hits. Tonight, we are inducting the greatest rapper of all time,” Diddy said.
B.I.G., Houston, T. Rex and the Doobie Brothers were inducted after being on the ballot for the first time.
The Doobie Brothers’ inclusion makes 2020 historic for the band— it’s also their 50th anniversary. The group, knownfor hits like “Listen to the Music” and “Black Water,” were supposed to celebrate this year with a tour featuring singer-songwriter Michael McDonald— who sang with the band starting in 1975 before beginning his own solo career— but it was postponed because of the pandemic.
The Rock Hall’s annual induction ceremony was originally supposed to take place in May in Cleveland, the city where the rock museumis located.
Harris book surge:
Books by and about Kamala Harris proved to be a popular purchase following the election. The vice president-elect was the subject or author of four books on Amazon’s top 10 Sunday.
They included her own children’s book “Superheroes Are Everywhere,” her memoir “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey,” a children’s book by her niece, Meena Harris, called “Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea” and Nikki Grimes’ illustrated “Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice.”
Harris made history as the first Blackwoman to become vice president. The California senator, whois also the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency, will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.
Nov.9 birthdays:
Actor Charlie Robinson is 75. Actor Lou Ferrigno is 69. Rapper Pepa is 56. Singer Nick Lachey is 47. Country singer Chris Lane is 36. Actor Nikki Blonsky is 32.