Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - 2018

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held on April 14, 2018 in Cleveland.  Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twenty-five years after their first recording.

Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey and was formed in 1983.  Their genres include hard rock, glam metal, arena rock and pop rock.  Members include Jon Bon Jovi (leaad singer and namesake), David Bryan (pianist and keyboardist), Tico Torres (drummer), Phil X (lead guitarist), and Hugh McDonald (bassist). Alec John Such and Richie Sambora will play with the band at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

They have released 13 studio albums, plus six compilations and three live albums.  The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.  They have been inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and were also honored with the Award of Merit at the American Awards in 2004.  In 2009 Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora were inducted into the Sonwriters Hall of Fame.

The Cars are an American rock band that originated in Boston, Massachusetts in 1976.  The band included Ric Ocasek (singer, rhythm guitarist, and songwriter), Benjamin Orr (bassist), Elliot Easton (lead guitarist), Greg Hawkes (keyboardist, and David Robinson (drummer).  The band merged 1970s guitar-oriented rock with the new synthesizer-oriented pop (combo of new wave and classic rock).

They were named "Best New Artist" in the 1978 Rolling Stone Readers' Poll and won "Video of the Year" for "You Might Think" at the first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984.  The Cars have sold over 23 million albums in the United States.

Dire Straits were a British rock band that mixed with blues and a dash of country.  They were formed in Deptford, London, England in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals0, John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Pick Withers (drums and percussion).

Their first hit single was "Sultans of Swing."  According to the Guiness Book of British Hit Albums, Dire Straits have spent over 1,100 weeks on the UK albums chart.  They have won four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards - winning Best British Group twice, and two MTV Video Music Awards.

The Moody Blues are an English rock band formed in Birmingham, England in 1964.  Their members included Mike Pinder, Graeme Edge, Justin Hyward, Ray Thomas, and John Lodge.  Their genres include progressive rock, art rock, psychedelic rock, pop rock, symphonic rock, proto-prog and R&B.  They were established as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock with Days of Future Passed in 1967.

The band became internationally known with singles including "Go Now," "Nights in White Satin," "Tuesday Afternoon," and "Question."  They have been awarded 18 platinum and gold discs and have sold 70 million albums worldwide.

Nina Simone was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21, 1933 in Tryon, North Carolina and died on April 21, 2003 in Carry-le-Rouet, Bouches-du-Rhone, France.  She was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and activist in the Civil Rights Movement.  Her music genres included R&B, jazz, blues, folk, soul, classical, and gospel.  She attended the Julliard School of Music in New York and was awarded her an honorary degree.

Simone recorded more than 40 albums, mostly between 1958 and 1974.  She had a hit in the United States in 1958 with "I Loves You, Porgy."