Preview: Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple, N.W.A., Steve Miller to be inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

By: Jaime Espinoza – 

The 31st annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, April 8, 2016 at Barclay’s Center in New York City.

Inductees are selected by over 800 voters in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation as well as the public through online voting.

An artist is eligible to be included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after 25 years have passed since the release of their first recording.

The 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees are: Cheap Trick, Chicago, Deep Purple, N.W.A. and Steve Miller.

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Cheap Trick
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Cheap Trick formed in Rockford, Illinois and over the years developed a style that is best described as a hard working rock and pop band with a solid stage presence.

Cheap Trick enjoyed success in Japan which helped to refine their act and bring that success into the American market.

Inductees: Bun E. Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson, Robin Zander

Notable Songs: I Want You to Want Me, The Flame, Dream Police, Surrender

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Chicago
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Chicago took the ambitious idea of blending jazz and rock to produce catchy and easy listening music that received regular airplay in the 70s and early 80s.

The band enjoyed great success in the 80s when a change in record labels gave new life and pop ballad sound to the band.

The band has garnered 21 top-ten singles and five number-one albums.

Inductees: Peter Cetera, Terry Kath, Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow, Walter Parazaider, Danny Seraphine

Notable Songs: 25 or 6 to 4, Saturday in the Park, If You Leave Me Now, You’re the Inspiration, Hard to Say I’m Sorry

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Deep Purple
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Deep Purple formed in England in the late 60s and despite numerous lineup changes, they managed to produce memorable rock songs that inspired other bands.

Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan and David Coverdale are among the alumnus of Deep Purple who enjoyed success in and after Deep Purple.

Inductees: Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Glenn Hughes, Jon Lord, Ian Paice

Notable Songs: Smoke On the Water, Highway Star, Woman From Tokyo, Fireball

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N.W.A.
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N.W.A. made their mark with the release of the controversial album Straight Outta Compton in 1998. Despite the condemnation of explicit lyrics and gangster rap themes, the music reached the mainstream.

N.W.A. helped propel the careers of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E.

Inductees: DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren

Notable Songs: Straight Outta Compton, Fuck The Police, Express Yourself, 100 Miles and Runnin’

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Steve Miller
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Steve Miller’s early recordings in the 60’s were a product of his surroundings in San Francisco, encompassing rock, blues and psychedelia.

His work in the 70s turned into a pop rock direction, garnering several hits and more airplay.

Notable Songs: The Joker, Abracadabra, Fly Like An Eagle, Take the Money and Run