They deserve to be the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Pat Benatar

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Some months ago both Scott Ganschow and fourwalls presented lists of performers whom they consider worthy of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and are being snubbed. Now it is time to put my two cents in the jukebox with my own selections. I will endeavor not to duplicate those previously named though several would be top personal choices. Consideration is drawn upon personal judgement and criteria established by the Hall of Fame. Artists are presented in alphabetical order. I previously extensively covered Pat Benatar in a recent series. It is inexplicable and inexcusable for tiny Pat with her huge voice to be excluded from the Hall of Fame. Certainly not when compared with a far lesser talent than Bonnie Raitt who was inducted decades ago. Few women have rocked harder than Benatar. She was commercially huge in the 80s with six platinum and eight gold albums and 16 top 50 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 including signature songs “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and “Heartbreaker.” Benatar won four Grammy Awards out of nine nominations. Her soaring operatic voice knows few equals. Was her decade long heyday too short? Raitt never even had a heyday. The most compelling reason why Benatar should be inducted is the one you would think the Hall of Fame would jump all over. Benatar is a female rock icon serving as inspiration to women wanting to break into the male dominated rock world. Perhaps 2020 will be Benatar’s year as she is on the Hall of Fame ballot.