Rock Hall Class of 1986


New York | Waldorf Astoria Hotel | January 23, 1986 | Private Event | not televised

These artists were voted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1985, but the induction ceremony took place in 1986. Click here for a list of artists who were first eligible in 1985 and haven't gotten in yet.

ArtistInducted ByCategory
Buddy HollyJohn FogertyPerformer
Chuck BerryKeith RichardsPerformer
Elvis PresleyJulian and Sean LennonPerformer
The Everly BrothersNeil YoungPerformer
Fats DominoBilly JoelPerformer
James BrownSteve WinwoodPerformer
Jerry Lee LewisHank Williams Jr.Performer
Little RichardRoberta FlackPerformer
Ray CharlesQuincy JonesPerformer
Sam CookeHerb AlpertPerformer
John HammondAhmet ErtegunLifetime Achievement
Alan FreedNorm N. Nite and Scott MuniNon-Performer
Sam PhillipsJerry Lee LewisNon-Performer
Jimmie RodgersJerry WexlerEarly Influence
Jimmy YanceyAhmet ErtegunEarly Influence
Robert JohnsonRobert Palmer (writer)Early Influence
The first year of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was 1986.1987 ⇨

Nominees who didn't make the cut in 1986

These artists were officially nominated in the Performer category for induction in 1986, but didn't receive enough votes from the "international voting body of rock experts" to get in that year. Roughly 72% of nominated artists who don't get in eventually get inducted in a later year.

NomineeEventually Inducted
B. B. King1987
Ben E. KingNot yet
Big Joe Turner1987
Bill Haley1987
Bo Diddley1987
Bobby "Blue" Bland1992
Bobby Darin1990
Chuck WillisNot yet
Clyde McPhatter1987
The Coasters1987
Dion1989
The Drifters1988
Duane Eddy1994
Eddie Cochran1987
Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers1993
Gene Vincent1998
Hank Ballard1990
Jackie Wilson1987
Jimmy Reed1991
Johnny AceNot yet
Johnny Otis1994
King Curtis2000
LaVern Baker1991
Little Willie John1996
Lloyd Price1998
Marvin Gaye1987
Muddy Waters1987
Ricky Nelson1987
Roy Orbison1987
Ruth Brown1993
Smokey Robinson1987

Nominating Committee who determined the 1986 performer ballot

Ahmet ErtegunNesuhi ErtegunSuzan Evans, ex officio
John HammondBob HilburnBob Krasnow
Kurt LoderNorm N. NiteNile Rodgers
Seymour SteinJann WennerJerry Wexler
Noreen Woods, ex officio

The first year of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was 1986.1987 ⇨


This site is not affiliated with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.