Why should Buffett be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

[Bob Roberts]

I need your help guys! I've got a good friend who has a paper due Wednesday and I promised I'd help her. Her is the jist of the assignment....

Choose someone who you feel has made a significant contribution to the history of rock, but has NOT yet been inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of fame. Then, argue for why they should be in the Hall of Fame.

She's chosen Buffett and needs some help gathering sources and opinions. Any help in the next day or 2 is greatly appreciated! Thanks fellow PHs!

[Nighthawk]

I do not know if I would put him in the Rock and Roll..... Possibly country since thats where he started, and well a lot of his music falls back on country

[Lightning Bolt]

sorry, but I agree.

He's got more in common with Marie, than he does with Donny

[capnbobby]

I'll give you three reasons:

1. longevity: Buffett's first album, "Down to Earth," came out in 1970. Forty years later, his tours are still one of the highest grossing tours in the music industry.

2. effect on his fans: Through his music, Jimmy has created a lifestyle that many aspire to. There are people who packed up and moved to Florida, in part, due to Buffett's music.

3. effect on other musicians: Buffett has influenced other artists from Kenny Chesney to Zac Brown. Even Bob Dylan recently referenced Buffett's music.

If you research this a little bit and work with this a little bit, you might come up with something good.

Best of luck.

Fins Up!

capnbobby

[Cincy'sOwnDrunk]

First of all, he could go in both Halls (country and Rock)

I agree with this last post.

1. Longevity - although his album and singles history is not the greatest, he has charted fairly well over a very period of time.

2. Parrothead Nation - Noone has the kind of following that Buffett has. His tours have been among the top 10 grossing tours year after year for the last 20 years. Parrothead nation is only comparable to the KISS Army as far as merchandising. Throw in the Cafe's, books, dvds, etc. and there is really no comparisons.

3. Trop Rock original - basically created an entire genre of music (notice that it's not called Trop Country, BTW). Although this genre has not yet become an extremely popular fad in general, it has spurred a few big acts (such as Chesney and Zac Brown) and even more hits from artist not categorized as such (Alan Jackson).

4. Versatility - his music has a broad range of styles from rock to country to tropical to big band, etc. Very few artists are as varied in their style of music. In fact, Elton John is the only one that comes to mind really.

Touring history alone should put him in the hall. His "fan club" also is the most unique group in existence.

[flyboy55]

I think Jimmy qualifies for the reasons given in the previous posts.

If the likes of James Taylor, Bob Marley, The Mamas and the Papas, Simon and Garfunkel and Dion, to name a few, can be in the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" then why not Buffett? I think he'd probably make a better fit in the R&R Hall of Fame than in the Country Music one.

A strike against him might be the lack of hit records over the last four decades (as he himself jokes about in a few of his songs), but he has been at least as successful as many of the artists already inducted and probably more influential than some.

For example, aside from a few memorable songs during a brief career almost 30 years ago, what did the band Blondie do to qualify?

No doubt like most of these things the process is somewhat political and dominated by industry types.

[TropicalTroubador]

First of all, he could go in both Halls (country and Rock)


3. Trop Rock original - basically created an entire genre of music (notice that it's not called Trop Country, BTW). Although this genre has not yet become an extremely popular fad in general, it has spurred a few big acts (such as Chesney and Zac Brown) and even more hits from artist not categorized as such (Alan Jackson).



Touring history alone should put him in the hall. His "fan club" also is the most unique group in existence.

Personally, I think "Trop Rock" is probably misleading in a number of ways, but I didn't coin the phrase. I'm leaning toward trying out "Tropicana" - "tropical Americana" - as perhaps more accurate in a lot of ways. But I'll still use "Trop Rock," because it's become a familiar term to a lot of folks.

Other than that, yeah, those are good reasons for either hall of fame.

[FinnsU.P.]

I didn't know Blondie was in the R & R Hall of Fame! Sheesh.......
I know it's really to late to respond to this, but I need to say "entertainment value." Jimmys readily admits that he isn't the best singer or guitar player, but he can pull off one helluva entertaining show!

[HurricaneSeason]

First of all, he could go in both Halls (country and Rock) Noone has the kind of following that Buffett has.

You mean Peter Noone? What other Noone is there? Peter Noone is the only Noone I've ever heard about.

[HurricaneSeason]

I'll give you three reasons:
1. longevity: Buffett's first album, "Down to Earth," came out in 1970. Forty years later, his tours are still one of the highest grossing tours in the music industry.capnbobby

Not really. Only if you want to count being in the mid 20s rank wise as 'highest grossing tours'. Still, they do quite well no matter what. And almost nobody knows or seems to care about his first album to begin with, more so for his second album.

2. effect on his fans: Through his music, Jimmy has created a lifestyle that many aspire to. There are people who packed up and moved to Florida, in part, due to Buffett's music.capnbobby

Not sure if this would matter to the RNRHOF since it's in CLEVELAND! Ha ha.

3. effect on other musicians: Buffett has influenced other artists from Kenny Chesney to Zac Brown. Even Bob Dylan recently referenced Buffett's music.capnbobby

That's doubtful in terms of seriousness or outright influence. There are a gazillion other artists out there that are referenced by many other acts as being listed as some kind of influence or that they like to listen to. Doesn't mean they deserve to be in the hall. And influencing Cheeseney? Yikes.

[HurricaneSeason]

If the likes of James Taylor, Bob Marley, The Mamas and the Papas, Simon and Garfunkel and Dion, to name a few, can be in the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" then why not Buffett?

Culture, dude. They had a huge impact on culture. The shaping of the times. A barometer of what was going on. Etc. Jimmy has not done that in any way other than unto his own creation - his fan base.

...what did the band Blondie do to qualify?

See above. Not as much, sure, but there was a definite movement with Blondie that laid the ground for bands that were "different" to do things. Of course, I do know people that INSIST that Blondie invented rap "music".

[Hockey Mon]

I didn't know Blondie was in the R & R Hall of Fame! Sheesh.......
I know it's really to late to respond to this, but I need to say "entertainment value." Jimmys readily admits that he isn't the best singer or guitar player, but he can pull off one helluva entertaining show!

Gene Simmons of KISS has said the same thing (about themselves).

If the likes of James Taylor, Bob Marley, The Mamas and the Papas, Simon and Garfunkel and Dion, to name a few, can be in the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" then why not Buffett?

Culture, dude. They had a huge impact on culture. The shaping of the times. A barometer of what was going on. Etc. Jimmy has not done that in any way other than unto his own creation - his fan base.

And he make swell margarita mix.

Does he belong? I don't know. But if Buffett makes it before Rush, I will think the whole think is totally a joke (more so than I already do). No offense to Jimmy, but going strickly on music, Rush has put out close to the same number of studio albums and has certainly influenced many musicians throughout the years. And are they a bigger draw? Probably not. But their fan base is pretty devoted.

[HurricaneSeason]

Keep in mind I'm simply pointing out reasons, or even lack thereof, of why JB wouldn't make it. I would find it highly entertaining, delightful and amusing if he did though. I, like many others here, just don't see it happening is all.

[HD18JBGuy]

Probably because he doesn't fall into the following criteria as identified by the Rock and Roll HOF. While he covers a lot of Rock & Roll, I am not quite sure how Jimmy Buffett has influenced the R&R music genre in any way. He is nowhere in the same league as The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Elvis, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, etc. in terms of their influence on R&R. In fact, I can't think of how he has influenced R&R at all. Country or Trop Rock? Sure. He has had a lot of infuence; but not R&R.

Perhaps a visit to the museum might put things into perspective as to why he is not part of it.

Below are some of the criteria as established by the RRHOF:

"Election of Inductees:

Leaders in the music industry joined together in 1983 to establish the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. One of the Foundation’s many functions is to recognize the contributions of those who have had a significant impact on the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock and roll by inducting them into the Hall of Fame.

The Categories:

Performers:

Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. Criteria include the influence and significance of the artists’ contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.

The Foundation’s nominating committee, composed of rock and roll historians, selects nominees each year in the Performer category. Ballots are then sent to an international voting body of more than 500 rock experts. Those performers who receive the highest number of votes - and more than 50 percent of the vote - are inducted. The Foundation generally inducts five to seven performers each year."

[HD18JBGuy]

Does he belong? I don't know. But if Buffett makes it before Rush, I will think the whole think is totally a joke (more so than I already do). No offense to Jimmy, but going strickly on music, Rush has put out close to the same number of studio albums and has certainly influenced many musicians throughout the years. And are they a bigger draw? Probably not. But their fan base is pretty devoted.

No kidding, and they are infinitely more talented. People might not like their music, or GL's girlie-man voice, but they are some of the most creative and talented musicians and song-writers around.

[SharkOnLand]

Run-DMC is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It obviously doesn't take Rock and Roll contributions to get in.

[RinglingRingling]

at this point in time, and given that it took 10 years too long for Seger to make it into the Hall, it's almost cooler to be outside than in. Especially if it means you have to kiss Jan Weiner's furry, wrinkled, pretention-filled butt to get inducted.

[AnInnocentMan]

Run-DMC is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It obviously doesn't take Rock and Roll contributions to get in.

Yeah, and didn't Abba make it in this year? Nothing against Abba, but those "rock and roll" standards seem to be pretty low!

[JollyMon66]

Run-DMC is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It obviously doesn't take Rock and Roll contributions to get in.

Yeah, and didn't Abba make it in this year? Nothing against Abba, but those "rock and roll" standards seem to be pretty low!

"Pretty Low Standards"? ABBA made it possible for us to buy those shinny shirts and learn stupid dances in gym class. Aren't you being a bit harsh on them?

[AnInnocentMan]

Run-DMC is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It obviously doesn't take Rock and Roll contributions to get in.

Yeah, and didn't Abba make it in this year? Nothing against Abba, but those "rock and roll" standards seem to be pretty low!

"Pretty Low Standards"? ABBA made it possible for us to buy those shinny shirts and learn stupid dances in gym class. Aren't you being a bit harsh on them?

No, no! You've got me all wrong! I like ABBA a lot, but "rock and roll"? I'm not so sure. It just seems to me that as time goes on, they continue to interpret the "rock and roll" more and more loosely. JMO though.