They were one of the hardest working bands during their prime (1965--1970?) and still were touring 4 original members until 2013. They had solid hits, and harmonized better than many groups in RxR HOF.

They ALL sang and ALL played instruments
on tour and added some personality in rapport with their fans,
kind of like the Fab 4. One of best bands I ever saw during their prime and certainly deserve to be in Hall of Fame!

Posted by Leonard Garcia on Saturday, 04/5/2014 @ 02:06am

Just found out Larry Ramos, guitarist & vocalist on Never My Love & Windy & many other great songs The Association did has passed away.

He was also a member of The New Christy Minstrels.

Mr. Ramos was a native Hawaiian. RIP, Larry. Sure enjoyed your music.

Posted by Paul in KY on Wednesday, 07/16/2014 @ 07:45am

I have always been appalled that the Association has been snubbed by the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. Let's list just a few of their musical accomplishments:

1. They have THREE (3) songs listed by BMI as the top played songs for the ENTIRE 20th Century: Never, My Love, Cherish and Windy. The Beatles only had 3 and no other recording group had more!

2. A seriously significant run of million-selling Billboard songs including such hits as: Along Comes Mary, Cherish, Windy, Never, My Love, Everything That Touches You...

3.The breath-taking vocals and heart-wrenching words of Requiem For The Masses which was a so-called "B" side of a single. I don't think any other band in the history of Rock 'n Roll could perform a Gregorian Chant that could leave you breathless and you jaw dropping to the floor! They should be in the Hall of Fame for THAT song alone!

4. The Association wrote and performed the songs and score for the hit movie Goodbye, Columbus

5. How many bands in Rock 'n Roll history could successfully perform the enormous VARIETY of song styles that the Association did in their career? They did Pop, Rock, Hard Rock, Love Ballads,Swing, Folk, Protest Songs. Psychedelic, Country, Gregorian Chant...They could do it all!

5. Each member of this forever hard-working band played multiple musical instruments, often switching instruments numerous times during a typical concert. Terry Kirkman could play virtually every wind instrument in existence and do it well.

I could probably go on for pages but I think you get the idea. The Association more than deserves to be in the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. It's high time to correct this horrible wrong of their exclusion!

Posted by Bytemeister on Friday, 09/5/2014 @ 16:17pm

The Association was one of the greatest American bands from 1966-1972. They were top professionals on stage and could fill an arena with vocal harmony like no other band. Their musicianship and showmanship has been sadly overlooked in the RRHOF consideration, and the snide comments of some on this forum reveal that they have no first-hand experience with The Association at all. These guys should've been in the RRHOF in the FIRST induction. Hopefully, someone in Cleveland will see the error of their ways and make a change in their voting very soon. And one more thing--From 1968-1970, these guys sold more records in the US than the Beatles did. Get you some of that, RRHOF!

Posted by ulyssesmsu on Wednesday, 08/12/2015 @ 23:05pm

Was listening to some of the Association the other day. Never My Love and Windy is good as it gets. They really had a good sound and I'm a sucker for vocal harmony. They deserve consideration I think in the next decade. Cole could play that bass. KING

Posted by KING on Monday, 08/17/2015 @ 00:53am

The Association had delivered some incredible hits. Love the bass line from Cole had at the beginning of Windy. That is a Classic. Never My Love is almost perfect in delivery. Outstanding song! The Association showed how to do a love song with Cherish. Along Comes Mary more upbeat rocker. I have to admit The Association will start to get more consideration as most of the no-brain 60's acts have been inducted. These guys were Vocal Harmony Masters and deserve a KING salute!!! They were cool...The death of Cole was a shame. KING

Posted by KING on Wednesday, 09/2/2015 @ 04:32am

KING: You'll hear no guff from me here: the Association were a great, great band. I even think to a small degree they're underrated as a band. Those vocal harmonies were excellent and the instrumentation was fantastic. Windy's still a constant favorite of mine, and Cherish and Never My Love just sweet songs.

Posted by SotN on Wednesday, 09/2/2015 @ 07:51am

Joe Osborn played bass on Windy not Brian Cole.

Posted by BK on Thursday, 10/8/2015 @ 17:08pm

Maybe it’s that they’re not just a rock and roll band. As previously mentioned, The Association covered many genres of music and covered them all excellently. The fact that they weren't "just" a rock and roll band shouldn’t prevent them from being in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, however….the Hall of Fame should be ashamed for snubbing them, and is considered incomplete without them.

Posted by sandie on Tuesday, 11/1/2016 @ 18:30pm

Aside from any controversy the band may have had. The music speaks for itself. Why not let them in, lesser artists are in. This was a band that defined an era in history. From the many who mourned their friends forever from Vietnam to the forever moments of a wedding day, the music was there to mark it all. Let them in and allow other generations to enjoy the music too, controversies and all...

Posted by Dave on Wednesday, 06/28/2017 @ 02:07am

The Hall of Fame is a joke. First of all the Hall should have been built in Philadelphia! Second, "Rock & Roll" doesn't seem to apply with a good number of groups in the Hall. The Association is clearly on of the greatest vocal groups of all time. I have everything the group has ever recorded and I can say these guys are, by far, better than half the crap that's already in the Hall.

Looking at the complete list of bands and artists it's pretty clear that those in charge haven't got a clue about the true history of R&R. Artists like Carol King, one of the great composers of all time is nowhere to be found. The Doobie Brothers have been waiting for 21 years! Insane! These are just two examples. And how Rap is considered R&R I'll never understand. It's crap!

Sad!

Posted by Dig on Saturday, 11/11/2017 @ 20:46pm

Have you ever listened to a rap album the whole way through?

How about reading a book on the history of hip-hop?

No? You haven't? Too much work?

Posted by AlexVoltaire on Sunday, 11/12/2017 @ 07:28am

Please! You know all the comments and reasoning above. RRHOF is woefully incomplete without the Association.

Posted by Alan on Saturday, 08/17/2019 @ 19:12pm

The Association has zero chance at a nomination.

Posted by Mark on Sunday, 08/18/2019 @ 10:28am

The association make/made wonderful melodious music."Everything that Touches You" is so gorgeous and moving it sounds lke religious music. Their harmonies are what make this group so special.

Posted by Diane Curtis on Friday, 03/6/2020 @ 15:42pm

Some of the best vocals I've ever heard in my life! Let them in!

Posted by Prince P. on Tuesday, 04/21/2020 @ 02:09am

Also, let us not forget that they opened for the Monterey Pop Festival, which hosted greats such as Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, and The Who.

Posted by Prince P. on Tuesday, 04/21/2020 @ 02:38am

I agree Prince P
Let's Hope

Posted by Happy on Tuesday, 04/21/2020 @ 14:30pm

Which groups tried to do a cover on any of the Association hits? Hard to figure out the harmonies and copy their success and style. Many groups use studio musicians in Hollywood for recording their records. It is a producer's choice for many different reasons. David Foster has done it with Chicago.

Posted by NIcholas Nizich on Sunday, 07/26/2020 @ 20:32pm

I have much to say about the Association, however I will keep this as brief as possible

First, I want to establish that I am now 66 and a performed classical and rock composer I grew up in the 60s and saw this class act band live 11 times No one who experiences them live can ever walk away not in love with their harmonies, instrumentations and personalities

My first major classical piece is a quinette - a string quartet with flute performed first in 1972 by the NJ symphony That was dedicated to Terry Kirkman

My lucky song is Windy and something that every needs to know is Cherish was considered THE love ballod of the 60s the same way that stairway to heaven remains the top rock song of all time each year to this day

There was one time during an out door concert when they were playing cherish and there was an external 30 seconds of noise They stopped Terry went to the mic and said "we see all you lovers out there and noted how upset you were so we thought we would start the song again" I think the standing ovation lasted at least 3 minutes before the beautiful notes of Cherish commenced for the second tlme that night Just amazing

I am going to close with the story that clearly proves that the Association belongs in the hall of fame

In 1967 WNEW NYC was born and with it the album oriented radio station One of the jocks was Scott Muney He evolved into the one person who can get any rocker interview he wanted

One day I was listening to him interview Jon Anderson (lead singer of Yes) At that time I was big into Yes

Scott asked Jon: "Is there one artist that stands out who most influenced your career?" Jon replied "absolutely. The Association. They would far ahead of their time in their harmonies and instrumentation. I have had long conversations with them and I am proud to call them my friend. Even the Beatles and Beach Boys took something's from the Association in their later works.

I was thrilled to hear this interview. You might call it vindication. All those years defending my love of this group. I am a composer. Music is a.big part of my life. The Association was or is too as was is Richard Harris and Jimmy Webb who I actually had the chance to meet and talk with

Back to the Association I think point proven beyond any reasonable doubt GET THEM IN

Posted by Howard Leslie on Saturday, 05/15/2021 @ 08:54am

I saw most of the original members of The Association in concert at the Schaefer Music Festival in Central Park in 1972. It was the finest concert I have ever attended. Great song writing, excellent musical artistry and superb, if not sublime, singing ability are all outstanding traits of the members of this legendary group.

Incidentally, the late, great Larry Ramos once commented it was ironic that many newlyweds have "Cherish" played as the song they first dance to at their wedding receptions because "Cherish" is about unrequited love. "Never My Love" is a much more appropriate song for a newly-married couple's first dance.

And, while many people believe that "Requiem for the Masses" is an anti-war song, addressing the long and bitter US involvement in the Vietnam War, I have heard that the estimable Terry Kirkman was addressing the divisive racial conflict of the 1960s, as in, "black and white was the question that so bothered him."

Association member Jim Yester, who sings lead on "Along Comes Mary," and who wrote and also sings lead on "Goodbye, Columbus" and the superb "What Were The Words," stated that he doubts the Association will get into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame because Terry Kirkman once got into a heated argument with some official with the R&R HOF and that may have ended the group's chance of being inducted into the hall.

If this is accurate, that really is a shame. The Association most deservedly belongs in the R&R HOF. I hope Jan Wenner wises up and finally recognizes this phenomenal band and agrees to admit them.

Posted by Ken on Saturday, 11/6/2021 @ 13:54pm

I really find it to believe that one of the greatest bands of the 60s are not as of yet in the rock and roll hall of fame. With such all time classics as Along comes Mary, Windy, Cherish and one one the most played songs of all time Never my love.
Who makes the decisions in regards to which bands go into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Maybe they need to get past all the hype of stadium rock and all these egoist who's only talent is crude self promotion . They need to learn about great music that never ages.

Posted by Paul on Friday, 01/7/2022 @ 07:56am

The Association absolutely belong in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They charted 4 top 10 hits on the Billboard Top 100 and 12 total hits that made the Top 100. Their songs "Cherish" and "Never My Love" are two of the most played songs on Oldies stations today. As well it has been noted that both of these songs have been played at an uncountable number of weddings. I am not sure what else they would have had to do. There are some clunkers in the Rock & Roll of Fame and yet this great group has been shunned, much like the Turtles.

Posted by Orion on Wednesday, 05/4/2022 @ 10:06am

The Association not being in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is almost criminal. They sang some of the best songs of all time and are still performing today. Many lesser acts have been inducted into the hall.

Posted by robert seale on Monday, 10/17/2022 @ 17:59pm

Hello, I had read years ago that a member of the Association (I don't know which member) had called Mr. Wenner a Nazi. Mr. Wenner has banned more than a few bands. I believe it was Michael Nesmith who said that it's his club and he can have whomever he wants in that club. In all fairness The Association certainly meet the criteria......frank

Posted by frank on Monday, 12/5/2022 @ 13:39pm

I note people have asked the Hall to induct the Assiciation for years.
They were premier sounds of the 60's. The AM stations could not get enough of Cherish and Windy. I grew up on Philly where it I was Famous 56 WFIL and WIBG 99 .
Never my Love, Along Comes Mary..
Famous 60's never forgotten…

Posted by Ramy Djerassi on Tuesday, 06/27/2023 @ 22:16pm

Rest in Peace Terry Kirkman, vocals, woodwinds and songwriter, 1939-2023.

Posted by Joe S. on Sunday, 09/24/2023 @ 19:01pm

The hall is a joke anyway, but this band deserves to be on without question. Their greatest hits album is a classic.

Posted by Bill on Monday, 09/25/2023 @ 12:35pm

Great musicians; inclusive in having an Asian as a key member, not just window dressing. Complicated yet subtle harmonies that created a blend more substance in sound than The Beach Boys. Should have been a no brainer to have The Association inducted years ago. But by its inaction regarding the Association the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame indeed shows it has no brain.

Posted by Michael on Friday, 09/29/2023 @ 02:30am

They should have been inducted a long time ago. Other great songs were Everything That Touches, Requiem for the Masses, P.F. Sloan, We Love, Cherish, and many more. The whole Stop Your Motors album is great.

Posted by Brad Schwebler on Tuesday, 01/2/2024 @ 11:22am

Larry Ramos was the first Asian American to win a grammy.

Posted by Mugs McGinnis on Thursday, 01/25/2024 @ 06:51am