Inductees

(2013 - 2024)

The National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame was established in 2010 and the first induction ceremony was held on August 17, 2013. Since then, it has become an annual event celebrating singers, songwriters, groups, producers, radio personalities, night club owners, and other individuals (and even places and companies) which have significantly contributed to the R&B field. The most recent induction ceremony was held virtually on August 11, 2021.

A
  • Aaliyah (2023) singer
  • Al Abrams (2016) public relations
  • Barbara Acklin (2017) singer/songwriter
  • Gerald Alston (2023) singer
  • The Andantes (2014) vocal group
  • Ruby Andrews (2023) musician
  • Jazzi Anderson (2015) radio personality
  • Louis Armstrong (2017) jazz singer and trumpeter
  • Freddie Arrington (2013) master of ceremonies, Leo’s Casino Night Club
  • King Arthur (2023) radio personality
B
  • Lavern Baker (2020) singer
  • Hank Ballard & The Midnighters (2015) vocal group
  • Band of Gypsys (2019) group
  • The Bar-Kays (2015) group
  • JJ Barnes (2015) singer
  • Ortheia Barnes-Kennerly (2015) singer
  • Robert Bateman (2016) producer
  • Marcus Belgrave (2018) musician
  • Al Bell (2015) songwriter
  • Jerry Bell (2013) singer
  • Ken Bell (2018) radio personality
  • William Bell (2024) singer
  • Regina Belle (2024) musician
  • Al Benson (2017) radio host, promoter, civil rights activist
  • Brook Benton (2023) singer
  • Frankie Beverly (2024) singer, songwriter, record producer
  • Bert's Warehouse (2017) entertainment complex
  • Robert “Bumps” Blackwell (2019) producer
  • Jerry Blavat (2022) Radio Host
  • Bobby “Blue” Bland (2020) singer
  • Boddie Productions Co. (2024) record company
  • Janie Bradford (2015) songwriter
  • Wade Briggs (Butterball Jr.) (2017) radio personality
  • James Brown (2013) R&B singer
  • Ruth Brown (2017) singer
  • Jay Butler (2015) radio personality
  • Jerry Butler (2015) singer/songwriter
C
  • Call and Post (2013) publication
  • Cab Calloway (2020) singer
  • G.C. Cameron (2023) singer
  • Carl Carlton (2017) singer
  • Gene Chandler (2014) singer
  • Ray Charles (2015) R&B singer
  • Chubby Checker (2014) singer
  • The Chi-Lites (2013) vocal group
  • Tony Clarke (2015) singer
  • The Clovers (2013) vocal group
  • Dennis Coffey (2017) studio musician
  • Nat “King” Cole (2020) singer
  • Natalie Cole (2021) singer
  • Bootsy Collins (2016) funk musician
  • The Contours (2015) vocal group
  • L.C. Cooke (2015) singer
  • Sam Cooke (2013/2015) Singer, songwriter, record label executive
  • Henry Cosby (2019) Songwriter/Producer
  • Larry Cotton (2013) Journalist
  • Carolyn Crawford (2017) singer
D
  • Don Davis (2019) producer
  • Melvin Davis (2015) singer
  • Sammy Davis Jr. (2017) singer
  • Dazz Band (2013) group
  • Bert Dearing (2017) night club owner
  • The Debonaires (2023) vocal group
  • The Delfonics (2014) vocal group
  • The Dells (2022) vocal group
  • Detroit Emeralds (2015) vocal group
  • Bo Diddley (2017) singer
  • Fats Domino (2016) singer/songwriter
  • The Dramatics (2013) vocal group
  • The Drifters (2018) vocal group
  • Jermaine Dupri (2023) music executive/producer
  • Ernie Durham (2017) radio personality
  • The Dynamic Superiors (2013) vocal group
E
  • Billy Eckstine (2020) singer
  • Dale Edwards (2024) radio & music executive
  • The Elgins (2018) vocal group
  • Enchantment (2013) vocal group
  • Ahmet Ertegun (2017) Record Label Executive
  • Charles Evers (2017) Civil Rights Activist, politician
F
  • The Fabulous Peps (2015) vocal group
  • The Falcons (2016) vocal group
  • The Famous Flames (2020) backup group for James Brown
  • The Fantastic Four (2014) vocal group
  • Ella Fitzgerald (2020) singer
  • Eddie Floyd (2016 & 2022) singer/songwriter
  • Foody (2017) radio personality
  • The Four Tops (2013) vocal group
  • Gwen Foxx (2023) radio personality
  • Aretha Franklin (2015/2019) singer/songwriter
  • Alan Freed (2017) radio personality
  • The Funk Brothers (2014) session musicians
  • Harvey Fuqua (2020) singer, producer
G
  • Marvin Gaye (2014) singer
  • Jack “The Rapper” Gibson (2020) radio personality
  • Ginuwine (2024) singer/songwriter
  • Fred Goree (2017) radio personality
  • Dobie Gray (2021) singer
  • Macy Gray (2014) singer
  • Guy (2019) vocal group
H
  • Bill Haley (2017) Singer, Band Leader
  • Hall & Oates (2023) vocal group
  • Donny Hathaway (2021) singer
  • Isaac Hayes & Hot Butter Soul (2017) singer/group
  • Ken Hawkins (2024) radio personality
  • Jimi Hendrix (2016) rock guitarist
  • The Hesitations (2013) vocal group
  • Billie Holiday (2017) singer
  • Brenda Holloway (2018) singer
  • Eddie Holman (2016) singer/songwriter
  • John Lee Hooker (2021 & 2022) blues musician/songwriter
  • Whitney Houston (2014) singer
  • H-Town (2019) vocal group
  • Cathy Hughes (2016) entertainment mogul
  • Ivy Jo Hunter (2018) songwriter, producer
I
  • The Impressions (2017) vocal group
  • The Independents (2023) vocal group
  • International Sweethearts of Rhythm (2016) group
J
  • Chuck Jackson (2015) singer
  • Hal Jackson (2020) radio
  • Joe Jackson (2014) promoter, manager
  • Mahalia Jackson (2020) singer
  • Michael Jackson (2014) singer
  • Millie Jackson (2015) singer
  • Etta James (2020) singer
  • Jeff & The Atlantics (2017) group
  • Little Willie John (2013, 2016) singer, songwriter
  • Robert Johnson (2017) singer
  • Linda Jones (2023) singer/songwriter
  • Louis Jordan (2017) bandleader, musician, singer
K
  • Eddie Kendricks (2019) singer
  • Herb Kent (2016) radio personality
  • B.B. King (2014) blues singer and guitarist
  • Ben E. King (2021) singer
  • Gladys Knight & The Pips (2017) vocal group
L
  • Lady Champagne (2019) singer
  • Denise LaSalle (2015) singer
  • Bettye LaVette (2016) singer/songwriter
  • Kenny Lattimore (2024) singer/songwriter
  • Laura Lee (2015) singer
  • Harold Leonard (2021) radio personality
  • Leo’s Casino (Cleveland) (2013) venue
  • Gerald Levert (2013) singer
  • Pat Lewis (2015) singer
  • Little Anthony & The Imperials (2018) vocal group
  • Little Richard (2015) singer
  • Little Walter (2021) blues musician
  • Miller London (2016) sales & marketing mogul
M
  • The Mad Lads (2015) vocal group
  • Skip Mahoney & The Casuals (2017) vocal group
  • The Manhattans (2017) vocal group
  • Tim Marshall (2013) Radio host, educator
  • Martha and the Vandellas (2013) vocal group
  • The Marvelettes (2013) vocal group
  • Mary Jane Girls (2019) vocal group
  • Johnnie Mae Mathews (2015) singer, songwriter, producer
  • Rose Marie McCoy (2024) songwriter
  • Clay McMurray (2018) producer & engineer
  • Big Jay McNeely (2020) jazz saxophonist
  • Clyde McPhatter (2023) singer
  • Buddy Miles (2024) musician/songwriter
  • Stephanie Mills (2020) singer
  • The Miracles (2015) vocal group
  • Lee Morgan (2020) jazz saxophonist
  • Dorothy Moore (2015) singer
  • Melba Moore (2015) singer
  • Motown Records (2018) record company
  • Sylvia Moy (2017) songwriter, producer
N-O
  • Ronnie Nelson (2023) musician
  • New Edition (2023) vocal group
  • Norm N. Nite (2014) author, radio host
  • The Ohio Players (2013) group
  • The O'Jays (2013) vocal group
  • Jeffrey Osborne (2024) musician/singer-songwriter
  • Johnny Otis (2017) bandleader, musician, singer
P-Q
  • Charlie Parker (2020) jazz saxophonist
  • Little Junior Parker (2015) singer
  • Ray Parker Jr. (2019) singer
  • Brooke Payne (2023) manager
  • Freda Payne (2017) singer
  • Mike Payne (2023) radio personality
  • Peaches & Herb (2018) vocal group
  • Teddy Pendergrass (2021) singer
  • Phil Perry (2019) singer
  • Dewey Phillips (2021) radio personality
  • Wilson Pickett (2016) singer/songwriter
  • Michael J. Powell (2017) producer, musician
  • Elvis Presley (2015) singer
  • Lloyd Price (2019) singer
  • Priscilla Price (2023) singer
  • Prince (2016) singer/songwriter
R
  • Lou Rawls (2021) singer
  • Danny Ray (2021) singer
  • Raydio (2023) vocal group
  • Otis Redding (2013) singer
  • Della Reese (2017) singer, actress
  • Martha Reeves (2015) singer
  • Sir Mack Rice (2016) singer, producer
  • Jimmy Roach (2019) producer, songwriter
  • Smokey Robinson (2016) singer/songwriter
  • Sugar Chile Robinson (2016) child prodigy
  • The Royal Jokers (2016) vocal group
  • The Royal Theater (Baltimore) (2020) venue
  • Ruby & The Romantics (2013) vocal group
  • The Rude Boys (2019) vocal group
  • David Ruffin (2013) singer
  • Jimmy Ruffin (2015) singer
  • Bobby Rush (2015 & 2022) singer/songwriter
  • Mitch Ryder (2017) singer
S
  • Sam & Dave (2018) vocal group
  • Little Jimmy Scott (2013) Jazz artist
  • Rena Scott (2016) singer/songwriter
  • Shades of Blue (2015) vocal group
  • Dee Dee Sharp (2023) singer
  • Nina Simone (2021) singer
  • Donnie Simpson (2015) radio/TV host
  • Percy Sledge (2021) singer
  • Sly, Slick & Wicked (2013) vocal group
  • Sounds of Unity and Love (S.O.U.L.) (2013) group
  • The Spinners (2015) vocal group
  • Dusty Springfield (2023) singer
  • Edwin Starr (2013) singer
  • Candi Staton (2024) singer/songwriter
  • Stax Records (2015) record company
  • Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg (2017) radio host, minister
  • Mickey Stevenson (2016) A&R director
  • Billy Stewart (2021) singer
  • The Stubbs Girls (2023) vocal group
  • Ed Sullivan (2020) TV personality
  • Donna Summer (2021) singer
  • The Supremes (2013) vocal group
  • Sweet Boogie Productions (2023) music production, venue
  • Sweet Inspirations (2014) vocal group
T
  • Johnnie Taylor (2015) singer
  • Temptations Review Featuring Dennis Edwards (2015) vocal group
  • The Temptations (2013) vocal group
  • Sister Rosetta Tharpe (2020) singer
  • Carla Thomas (2022) singer
  • Big Joe Turner (2021) singer
  • Ike Turner (2015) Singer/Songwriter/Musician
  • Spyder Turner (2015) singer
  • The 20 Grand (2015) Night club, concert venue
  • Henry Tyler (2015) radio personality
  • The Tymes (2019) vocal group
U-V
  • The Undisputed Truth (2015) vocal group
  • Upbeat (2013) TV show
  • The Valadiers (2017) vocal group
  • Luther Vandross (2021) singer
  • The Velvelettes (2016) vocal group
W-X-Y-Z
  • Johnnie Walker (2022) music executive
  • Dee Dee Warwick (2023) singer
  • Dionne Warwick (2016) singer/songwriter
  • David Washington (2019) radio personality
  • Gino Washington (2015) singer
  • Henry Washington (2018) Promoter
  • Keith Washington (2019) singer
  • Muddy Waters (2015) Singer/Musician
  • RJ Watkins (2015) radio personality
  • Johnny Watson (2021) singer
  • WABQ (2024) radio station
  • WDIA (2015) radio station
  • WJMO (2024) radio station
  • Mary Wells (2017) singer
  • Kim Weston (2013) singer
  • Jerry Wexler (2017) record executive
  • The Whispers (2014) vocal group
  • Barry White (2021) singer
  • Norman Whitfield (2021) songwriter, producer
  • Nat D. Williams (2017) radio personality
  • Jackie Wilson (2013) singer
  • Ernest Withers (2022) photojournalist
  • Stevie Wonder (2019) singer
  • George Woods (2023) radio personality
  • Richard "Popcorn" Wylie (2018) producer, songwriter, and singer

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