2017 Pop Music Hall of Fame nominees announced
ABBA, Michael Jackson and Billy Joel are among 12 first-time nominees for 2017 induction into America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame, the national hall of fame that is based in Canonsburg.
The artists join eight returning acts on the ballot. Nominees, representing pop music through 1979, are selected by a national panel of musicians, disc jockeys and journalists based on the artists’ breadth and depth of pop hits, as well as influence.
Through online voting, the public will choose 10 inductees; the national selection committee will add up to five other “Heritage” inductees.
New nominees – in addition to ABBA, Jackson and Joel – are John Denver, Earth, Wind & Fire, the Fifth Dimension, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Herman’s Hermits, Tony Orlando & Dawn, Johnny Rivers and Diana Ross.
The eight returning nominees are Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Lou Christie, the Dave Clark Five, Petula Clark, the Four Tops, the Jackson Five, Tommy James & the Shondells and Rod Stewart. Artists must have placed a hit on the Billboard charts between 1945 and 1979 to qualify.
Voting began Nov. 2 at www.americaspopmusichalloffame.org and will continue through Dec. 2. Inductees will be announced Jan. 1, 2017.
America’s Pop Music Hall of Fame was formed in 2011 to honor artists and other contributors to pop music. Canonsburg natives Perry Como, Bobby Vinton and the Four Coins together placed nearly 200 songs on America’s pop charts.
Plans are continuing for construction of a four-story, hall of fame structure that includes a large performance center, as well as wings for both permanent and rotating collections and memorabilia.