The 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees: Mellencamp to the Dave Clark Five

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has recently announced it's 2008 list of inductees. Traditionally, their inductees include producers, performers, songwriters, disc jockeys and others that have added to the culture of Rock and Roll. This year is no different. The following artists are being honored and added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: John Mellencamp, The Dave Clark Five, Leonard Cohen, The Ventures and Madonna.

Unfortunately, there's been some controversy over who is or who isn't worthy of getting a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Personally, I think they all deserve a spot and I'll tell you why. I've listed the picks in the order of importance (to me). All of the details about each artist comes from their personal websites and details listed on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

#1 - JOHN MELLENCAMP
> Do you remember when music always had a message? It wasn't just a "beat" that people could bump and grind to. You can thank John Mellencamp and other artists like him for that. In 1965, when he played for Crepe Soul, who knew that his career would span over 40 years with songs that touched the heart of middle of America like "Small Town" and "Jack and Diane." His endless efforts to bring timeless music that speaks to the masses is why I think he should be the first inductee in this list to be recognized by the public and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He deserves it and worked hard to be a number one, musical contender.

#2 - LEONARD COHEN
> There's a thin line between good poetry and bad poetry. Musicians like Leonard Cohen show us the difference. For the past 30 years, he's been putting music to beautiful words that inspire everyone. "Hallelujah", "Suzanne" and "Bird On The Wire" open up the listeners heart and draw them into life. Cohen's dedication to the written word is why he's so popular and lasted throughout the years. It's also why I place him high on the list (of five) for deserving to be an inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Who do you think got left off the list of Inductees this year?

Credit: SXC.HU

Copyright: Gabriella Fabbri