Today’s featured 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee is not Ozzy Osbourne. He has yet to be inducted as a solo artist, though he was inducted with Black Sabbath in 2006.
No, today’s highlighted artist is Randy Rhoads, the lead guitarist on this song and many other iconic heavy metal classics. Just listen to the fantastic riff on ‘Crazy Train’ and it’s hard to argue that the man responsible belongs in the Rock Hall.
The timing of this Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction is perfect, given the recent release of the 8-hour Beatles documentary Get Back. Keyboardist Billy Preston plays a key role in that series, joining The Beatles on some of their most iconic recordings, as well as their final live performance.
Preston has such a gregarious and calming presence in that footage. It’s a joy to watch him work, and sad to know the turn his life took in later years.
Talk about waiting a long time to get into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Charley Patton released his first song in 1929, making him eligible for induction in 1954, 41 years before the Rock Hall opened.
Patton, known as the Father of the Delta Blues, was inducted as an Early Influencer, honoring the role he played in mentoring and inspiring countless other blues artists.
LL Cool J is another in what promises to be a long line of rappers inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I already touched on that trend in my post about Jay-Z’s induction, so I won’t revisit it here.
LL Cool J was nominated five times for the Hall before making it on his sixth attempt. He was inducted in the Musical Excellence category, which differs from the Performers category in ways I have yet to understand. From what I can tell, the difference is that Performers have “changed the face of rock & roll” while those in Musical Excellence have “had a dramatic impact on music.” OK.
‘Freddy, My Love’ is one of the few songs from the stage musical Grease that did not make it into the 1978 movie.
On stage, the tune is sung by Marty Maraschino during the girls’ slumber party, after she shares that she’s dating a Marine. While it’s a fun and catchy song, I agree with the cut. The slumber party scene works beautifully as is, highlighted by Rizzo’s ‘Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee’ and Sandy’s ‘Hopelessly Devoted To You,’ which was newly written for the film.
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