They deserve to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Kate Bush

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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 have highlighted Kate Bush in the past and do like her. The eclectic theatrical singer is virtually unknown in the US market beyond a cult following. Bush made just one US live appearance and that was on “Saturday Night Live” and only song making a ripple was “Running Up That Hill” at Billboard #30. Why should she be inducted? First, the Hall of Fame needs to realize there is a pop world beyond America and has established musical borders beyond rock and roll. After 40 years, Bush is a UK music icon whose privacy and long hiatuses had lent a mythical aura. All 10 studio albums are UK gold and six platinum. 29 hits in the UK hot 100. In 2014, she emerged from decades of no live performances and her 22 date London engagement sold out in 15 minutes. Among those citing Bush as influence are Paula Cole, kd lang and Ellie Goulding. Her admirers are legion with Annie Lennox, Stevie Nicks, Tori Amos, Bjork, Robert Smith (Cure), Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Florence Welch (Florence and the Machine), John Lydon (Sex Pistols) and two pretty well known guys she worked with named Elton John and Prince. She sang vocals on Peter Gabriel’s “Games Without Frontiers.” American critics have praised her songwriting and soprano voice. Bush was on the 2018 nomination ballet. She will never get enough US fan votes so they should just induct her. Kate Bush is more deserving than inductee Patti Smith who is an underground poet writer who moonlighted as a punk singer for awhile.