Producers Who Should Be Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
For the first 15 or so years of its induction ceremonies, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted at least one person in the Non-Performers category each year. Renamed the Ahmet Ertegun Award in 2008, the category “honors songwriters, producers, disc jockeys, record executives, journalists and other industry professionals who have had a major influence on rock & roll.” But in the last decade, the Rock Hall inducted very few people in that category, thus creating a backlog of worthy prospects on the outside looking in. Producers, in particular, are scarcely honored and that’s a shame given they oversee virtually every aspect of the recording process.
And in the last five years, the Rock Hall has only inducted two producers in the Non-Performers category. Bert Burns’ induction, despite his worthiness as an in-demand songwriter-producer in the 1960s, was met with controversy when two of the Nominating Committee’s members Steven Van Zandt and Paul Shaffer produced a Broadway musical based on Burns’ life and music. Jon Landau, Bruce Springsteen’s manager and frequent producer, was selected in this same category, but that was also questionable. Landau has served as the head of the Rock Hall’s nominating committee for decades and only proves the accusations of fraternization by naysayers. These controversies made me wonder which producers have been snubbed by the Rock Hall. And to my dismay, the Rock Hall has barely starched the surface to properly honor the accomplishments of great post-60s music producers. In this blog, I will survey 15 producers who I feel should be considered in the Non-Performers category and make a brief case for each prospect.
A quite note: I focused mainly on producers who’s careers peaked prior to 1995, aka the upcoming eligibility for artists to be considered for induction into the Rock Hall. That’s why the likes of The Neptunes, Mark Ronson, Max Martin and Timbaland are excluded.
1. Babyface: At the vanguard of the New Jack Swing scene in the late 1980s, BabyFace is perhaps the most influential R&B producer of the last three decades. Along with LA Reid (who should be included), he co-founded LaFace Records in 1989 and the label launched the careers of OutKast, TLC, Usher and Toni Braxton. They also worked with some of the world’s biggest music stars including Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men and Madonna. Speaking of recent inductees, they coproduced two hugely successful soundtracks for legendary 2020 inductee Whitney Houston: The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale. And something else to keep in mind—Babyface won the Grammy for Producer of the Year a record 4 (!) times in the 1990s (1993, 1996-98) which is an accomplishment in its own right. And if you doubt their Rock Hall chances, he worked Eric Clapton on his Grammy-winner “Change the World” and he’s the only 3-time inductee.
2. Brian Eno: Sure, Brian Eno is already inducted with Roxy Music but that’s simply not enough. Although a case could be made for his candidacy in the Performers category, I believe Eno’s work as a producer deserves more immediate consideration. Blending electronic and classical sounds, Eno took a minimalist approach to producing records. He was a pioneer of ambient music who create mosaic (almost cinematic) sounds that continuously challenged the conventions of popular music. Given the mega talents who collaborated with Eno in the past (e.g., David Bowie, U2, Talking Heads—all whom are inductees), it’s shocking he wasn’t inducted two decades ago. Bowie’s popularity, especially in the wake of his death, will surely keep Eno’s name in the conversation and among the most egregious snubs.
3. Butch Vig: Even if Butch Vig only produced Nirvana’s Nevermind, he would still be a viable Rock Hall candidate. Often nicknamed the “Nevermind Man,” Vig also played drums for the popular 90s rock band Garbage and became one of the first producers to bring alternative sounds to the mainstream. He also produced some of the biggest rock albums of the last three decades: The Smashing Pumpkins’ Gish and Siamese Dream, Sonic Youth’s Dirty, Green Day’s 21st Century Breakdown and Foo Fighters’ Sonic Highways. He will probably get inducted with Garbage someday, but Vig’s contributions to the rise of Nirvana shouldn’t be forgotten.
4. Dr. Dre: Inducted as a member of N.W.A in 2016, Dr. Dre is one of the most important and successful producers in the history of hip-hop. The Chronic alone warrants him induction in the Performers category but (like Eno) Dre’s legacy as a producer cannot be ignored. He produced records for 2pac, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent and made them all legends along the way. Dr. Dre ventured beyond the music world, but he a no-brainer selection for the Non-Performers category in the next few years.
5. Georgio Moroder: Often hailed as the Father of Disco, Georgio Moroder pioneered the usage of electronic-dance music (EDM) to the masses. He will forever be associated with Donna Summer (the Queen of Disco) and launched her to international superstardom. “I Feel Love” is the epitome of Moroder’s brilliance as a producer and almost singlehandedly revolutionized the sounds of modern pop music. He would go on to produce soundtracks to popular 80s movies such as American Gigolo, Flashdance and Scarface. And Daft Punk did have that song in Moroder’s honor, which cements his legacy as one of EDM’s fore fathers.
6. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis: Perhaps best known for their collaborations with Janet Jackson, Jimmy jam and Terry Lewis laid the foundations for the development of New Jack Swing and later trends in Pop and R&B since the late 1980s. They began as musicians in The Time and even worked with Prince, but they would turn their attention to producing and writing songs for other artists. Just take in this staggering fact for a second: they produced 16 #1 hits which is the more than any other production team in Billboard Hot 100 history. They also have additional 25 songs that peaked in the top 10, an amazing feat in its own right. Their appearance in the audience at Jackson’s induction last year should remind the nominating committee of their importance in contemporary pop music.
7. Jimmy Iovine: Initially started as a recording engineer on John Lennon and Bruce Springsteen records in the early 1970s, but Jimmy Iovine eventually would later become an in-demand producers. Some of his most notable productions are Patti Smith’s Easter, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ Damn the Torpedoes, Stevie Nicks’ Bella Donna and U2’s Rattle and Hum. He’s also a vital figure in the popularization of hip-hop, having signed Tupac Shakur’s first record deal on Interscope and producing Eminem’s Oscar-winning film 8 Mile. Given that Iovine and Dr. Dre co-founded Beat Electronics and even appeared as subjects in the HBO-produced documentary series The Defiant Ones, Iovine’s chances for induction are very high.
8. Joe Meek: Although he couldn’t play an instrument or read music, Joe Meek became one of the first producers to use the studio as the centerpiece in rock recordings. He pioneered experimental techniques such as echoing, overdubbing and tape looping to create futuristic-sounding records that might as well came from another planet. His most famous recording “Telestar” by the Tornadoes, an instrumental which became one of the first British songs to reach #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100—a full year before Beatlemania. A combination of substance abuse and depression cut Meek’s life tragically short and he died at the age of 37 in 1967. And if Meek is ever inducted into the Rock Hall, bet on Muse’s Matt Bellamy to induct him; Bellamy’s father was the rhythm guitarist for The Tornadoes.
9. Lee “Scratch” Perry: The Jamaican-born performer-producer Lee “Scratch” Perry is one of several notable figures who brought reggae to a global audience. He became a go-to producer for some of Jamaica’s biggest stars including Bob Marley and the Wailers, Junior Murvin and The Congos. He developed a devoted following in 70s punk-era England where he produced The Clash’s single “Complete Control” on their self-titled debut album. Years later, The Clash would cover Junior Murvin’s classic “Police and Thieves” in honor of Perry. The Beastie Boys also acknowledged Perry’s influence on their work and even featured Perry on their album Hello Nasty, who stand a good chance to induct Perry if the time comes. It’s important to also remember Perry is one of the few non-Rock Hall inductees to rank on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
10. Nigel Godrich: Often hailed as the sixth member of Radiohead, Nigel Godrich is an essential component to their legacy as one of modern rock’s finest bands. Perhaps the best way to put it is Godrich is to Radiohead as George Martin was to The Beatles. He initially began as an engineer on their 1994 EP My Iron Lung and their second studio album The Bends (1995). He has produced every Radiohead studio album since OK Computer (1997) and would even work on Thom Yorke’s solo releases. Godrich also worked with the likes of U2, Beck, Air, Pavement, Roger Water and even Paul McCartney. Radiohead just got inducted last year and their lukewarm response to their induction will probably make Godrich wait a good while before he’s considered in the Non-Performers category.
11. Norman Whitfield: Working for Motown Records fresh out of high school, Norman Whitfield worked his way to becoming a prolific producer for the iconic Detroit-based record label. He would produce hits including Marvin Gaye’s iconic cover of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” Working with songwriter Barrett Strong (known for the 1959 hit “Money (That’s What I Want)” which was inducted into the Singles category last year and should absolutely be included in a joint induction with Whitfield), Whitfield produced virtually all of The Temptations’ records from 1966-74. Strong and Whitfield contributed to the development of Psychedelic Soul in the late 1960s, which would serve as a template for funk-inspired compositions in the proceeding decade. Whitfield left Motown in 1975 to form his own record label and even produced Rose Royce’s international smash “Car Wash.” Coming off the huge success of The Temptations’ recent Broadway musical, Whitfield and Strong’s Rock Hall chances have skyrocketed.
12. Rick Rubin: It’s amazing to think Rick Rubin still isn’t already inducted into the Rock Hall. He’s worked with a ton of Hall of Famers including Tom Petty, Public Enemy, Johnny Cash, Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Along with Russell Simmons, Rubin co-founded Def Jam Recordings in 1984 and served as a hotbed for up-and-coming rap and R&B artists such as LL Cool J and Geto Boys. Both Rubin and Simmons popularized rap to a mainstream audience and made many of them household names. He rejuvenated Petty and Cash’s careers and introduced them to younger audiences, which that alone cemented his legacy as a legendary producer. Rubin has worked with a who’s-who in the music industry and in a wide array of genres and styles and it’s only a matter of time before he becomes an inductee.
13. Sylvia Robinson: Long before she became a producer and record label owner, Sylvia Robinson scored hits such as “Love is Strange” and “Pillow Talk.” She is often hailed as “The Mother of Hip-Hop” who produced two of the genre’s most iconic hits in its infancy: The Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message.” Just think for a second how radically different those two singles are: one is a novelty dance bop and the other is a grim, realistic portrait of inner-life life. That feat alone warrants induction into the Rock Hall and she’s just as responsible for bringing hip-hop to a mass audience as anyone else.
14. Thom Bell: Along with 2008 inductees Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, songwriter-producer Thom Bell helped build the foundations of the Philadelphia Sound that would dominate mainstream soul music in the 1970s. Although he worked with artists such as The Delfonics and The Stylistics, Bell will forever be associated with The Spinners and produced most of their biggest hits. His lush-sounding records are among the finest R&B recordings ever made and he even won the inaugural Grammy for Producer of the Year in 1975. Somehow, despite 3 prior nominations, The Spinners have yet to receive induction into the Rock Hall and it’s kinda difficult for Bell to receive induction when his most famous collaborators aren’t inductees themselves.
15. Todd Rundgren: Yes, he was nominated in the Performers category in the last two years, but I still believe Todd Rundgren should be honored for his accomplishments as a producer. A studio wizard, Rundgren’s pop sensibilities and adventurism made him of modern music’s most fearless experimenters. He produced albums for the likes of New York Dolls, Sparks, Cheap Trick, XTC, Badfinger and Grand Funk Railroad. And let’s not forget he produced Meat Loaf’s blockbuster Bat Out of Hell (1977), an album that sold well over 14 million copies in the U.S. (and another 30 million overseas), and cemented Rundgren’s place as one of rock’s greatest producers. Even though Rundgren has a long-documented history of critiquing the Rock Hall, I bet the Hall will honor him—in some fashion—very soon.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Feel free to post a comment below or reach me @NickDBambach on Twitter.
