The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame could gain two more angels when the annual ceremony returns to the city of Cleveland on May 2, 2020. On Tuesday morning it was announced that deceased all-time greats, Whitney Houston and the Notorious B.I.G. are among the nominees for the prestigious distinction.
Eligibility is unsurprisingly determined by an artist or band’s quality of music and being distinguished for dropping their first commercial recording a minimum of 25 years ago.
Inductees will be announced in January.
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan is also among the 2020 nominees (2012, 2018, 2019, 2020), which boasts a total of 16. Of them, nine are first time nominees.
The most heralded of them all, Whitney Houston, is largely considered one of the most impactful and talented R&B artists of her era. She is a true inspiration to various artists in the industry who continue to model their singing careers after her stunning example. Often dubbed the “greatest singer of her generation,” Houston earned six Grammy’s and an Emmy before she died in 2012.
The Notorious B.I.G., also a first-time nominee, is one of the most influential rappers in hip-hop. Also known as Biggie Smalls, he released only two albums (Ready To Die and Life After Death) before his life was cut short due to a drive-by shooting (1997) in Los Angeles.
