Wanda Jackson selected for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
Oklahoma singer Wanda Jackson has been chosen for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Maud native and Oklahoma City resident will be inducted in the early influence category, the rock hall announced today. The induction ceremony will take place April 4 in Cleveland.
Known as the Queen of Rockabilly and the First Lady of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Jackson, 71, first recorded as a country artist in 1954. She started singing rock ‘n’ roll in 1956. She tried the new style at the urging of up-and-coming singer Elvis Presley, with whom she toured and dated.
She later returned to recording country music and also performed as a gospel artist. A perennial rock star in Europe and Japan, her rock career revived in the U.S. in the 1990s with the resurgence of rockabilly. She continues to perform worldwide.
Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first recording. For years, many music luminaries, particularly Elvis Costello, and thousands of loyal fans have championed Jackson’s entrance into the rock hall.
Jackson is apparently the first woman with Oklahoma ties to be inducted into the rock hall. Previous inductees with Oklahoma connections include Woody Guthrie, Charlie Christian, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys and The Ventures.
The other 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are heavy metal band Metallica, rap pioneers Run-DMC, guitarist Jeff Beck, soul singer Bobby Womack and doo-wop group Little Anthony and the Imperials. The inductees in the sidemen category are session musician Spooner Oldham and two of Elvis Presley’s musicians, drummer D.J. Fontana and bassist Bill Black.
(I’ll have an interview with Wanda Jackson up on the blog Thursday.)
-BAM
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