The third non-performer inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2012 was Cosimo Matassa, a New Orleans-born sound engineer and studio head who played a key role in the early rock records of the 50s and 60s.
It was in Matassa’s New Orleans studio that Fats Domino recorded 1949’s ‘The Fat Man,’ a record considered by some the first rock-n-roll song. It was also the first rock-n-roll song to sell a million copies.
Matassa also recorded Little Richard’s ‘Tutti Frutti’ and songs by Ray Charles, Dr. John, Lee Dorsey, and others. Most of his acts were products of New Orleans, and he helped pioneer the “New Orleans sound.”
I’d never heard of Matassa, but I like the idea of somebody recording seminal records at the very beginning of the rock era making it into the Hall of Fame.
Whop bop b-luma b-lop bam bom
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
A wop bop b-luma b-lop bam bom
[Verse 1]
I got a girl named Sue
She knows just what to do
I got a girl named Sue
She knows just what to do
[Bridge]
She rocks to the east, she rocks to the west
But she’s the girl that I love best
[Chorus]
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty, whoo
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
A wop bop-b-luma b-lop bam bom
[Verse 2]
Got a girl named Daisy
She almost drives me crazy
Got a girl named Daisy
She almost drives me crazy
[Bridge]
She knows how to love me, yes, indeed
Boy, you don’t know what she do to me
[Chorus]
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty, whoo
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Whop bop-b-luma, oww
[Break]
[Chorus]
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty, whoo
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
A wop bop-b-luma b-lop bam bom
[Verse 3]
Got a girl named Daisy
She almost drives me crazy
Got a girl named Daisy
She almost drives me crazy
[Bridge]
She knows how to love me, yes, indeed
Boy, you don’t know what she do to me
[Chorus]
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty, whoo
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
Tutti frutti, oh rooty
A wop bop-b-luma b-lop bam boom
Meet Me In Montauk 
Never heard of him either, or that Fats Domino song, but he certainly deserves Rock Hall recognition.
I agree that it’s great to see these artists inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame!