Each year there there tends to be a "rock, pop or soul" artist that is induced and for the past couple years they have all been rock acts (and most British). You have Elton John, The Who, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springstein. All worthy artist but come on now, can't we get a brotha or sista inducted?

The sucky part, the only way to start a grassroots movement is via good ole fashion snail mail. However, we can lobby previous winners. Withers is the soul equivelent of Bruce. Anyone wanna dig up an email for Bruce's people? I'll write a generic letter if people are interested. We could do a Facebook page. Let's get Bill a Kennedy Center Award. Anyone want to help? Let's use the org for something positive instead of the usual.

Here's what the Honor's site has to say.

How do I nominate someone for the Kennedy Center Honors?
Honorees are chosen by the Kennedy Center's national arts committee and by previous honorees, but written, grass-roots nominations are welcome. Send letters to: The Kennedy Center Honors, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566.

http://www.kennedy-center.org

If not Bill...then who?

I know there's folks here who probably are doing that right now...

Let me research a list of the r&b artist who are already inducted. FYI: You have to be alive to accept it and since the president and first lady attend, you have to be a PC kind of artist. In other words, no Patti Lulabelle (in the middle of drama) or Sly Stone (crack head) type choices.

sosgemini said:

Let me research a list of the r&b artist who are already inducted. FYI: You have to be alive to accept it and since the president and first lady attend, you have to be a PC kind of artist. In other words, no Patti Lulabelle (in the middle of drama) or Sly Stone (crack head) type choices.

I'm still at you saying "Patti Lulabelle". I'm gonna call her that from now on. Lulabelle.

Let's see...

Chaka?
Gladys?

O'Jays?

Harry Belafonte

Stevie Wonder

B.B. King

Quincy Jones

Tina Turner

Aretha Franklin

Chuck Berry

Smokey Robinson

Diana Ross

Full list:http://en.wikipedia.org/w...ter_Honors

First off, I am shocked that Lil Richard is not inducted. However, you have to agree to attend. Maybe he declined. Hmm....Well, he should get in before Withers. Yet, they are both old and need to get in before they croke.

sosgemini said:

Harry Belafonte

Stevie Wonder

B.B. King

Quincy Jones

Tina Turner

Aretha Franklin

Chuck Berry

Smokey Robinson

Diana Ross

Full list:http://en.wikipedia.org/w...ter_Honors

First off, I am shocked that Lil Richard is not inducted. However, you have to agree to attend. Maybe he declined. Hmm....Well, he should get in before Withers. Yet, they are both old and need to get in before they croke.

True. But I have a funny feeling Richard may FINALLY get in this year.

Timmy84 said:

sosgemini said:

Let me research a list of the r&b artist who are already inducted. FYI: You have to be alive to accept it and since the president and first lady attend, you have to be a PC kind of artist. In other words, no Patti Lulabelle (in the middle of drama) or Sly Stone (crack head) type choices.

I'm still at you saying "Patti Lulabelle". I'm gonna call her that from now on. Lulabelle.

Let's see...

Chaka?
Gladys?

O'Jays?

Gladys is a good choice. Chaka is newer than Withers and has had less of a social impact IMHO. O'Jays? They don't do bands. Sometimes they do duos (like the two guys from The Who and Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis).

Yeah, Gladys should have got in before Bruce did. Oh, and Dionne and Burt Bacharach should get inducted as a duo. They were before Wither's time too, right?

sosgemini said:

Timmy84 said:

I'm still at you saying "Patti Lulabelle". I'm gonna call her that from now on. Lulabelle.

Let's see...

Chaka?
Gladys?

O'Jays?

Gladys is a good choice. Chaka is newer than Withers and has had less of a social impact IMHO. O'Jays? They don't do bands. Sometimes they do duos (like the two guys from The Who and Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis).

Yeah, Gladys should have got in before Bruce did. Oh, and Dionne and Burt Bacharach should get inducted as a duo. They were before Wither's time too, right?

Yeah I understand about Chaka and the O'Jays. I think Dionne would get in too. But you know how they do with their selections, ain't as better as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame committee.

Bill Withers? for real?

errant said:

Bill Withers? for real?

Name another artist who has had that many top ten hits that continue to inspire generations and our popular culture and who is PC enough to stand next to the President of the United States?

^^^Merle Haggard & James Brown got it, and they're not exactly PC, and neither is Chuck Berry.

[Edited 6/5/11 16:33pm]

MickyDolenz said:

^^^Merle Haggard & James Brown got it, and they're not exactly PC.

But they let years and years pass following the big drama and it also depends on the drama. I highly doubt MJ would have gotten it if he lived nor will R Kelly. With that being said, share who you think deserves it. Let's have some fun here.....

[Edited 6/5/11 16:35pm]

Patti deserves it as much as Dionne, Gladys & Chaka.

sassy33 said:

sosgemini said:

sassy33 said:

Patti deserves it as much as Dionne, Gladys & Chaka.

With Patti's current drama, NEXT!!!!

Oh please. Kennedy Center Honors inducted James Brown, Bill Cosby & The Who.

One can hope at somepoint Mr. Withers will be inducted by the board, I would think anytype campaign would be counter productive.

sassy33 said:

sosgemini said:

sassy33 said: With Patti's current drama, NEXT!!!!

Oh please. Kennedy Center Honors inducted James Brown, Bill Cosby & The Who.

Uhh, didn't I already answer this? Okay, one more time: Their drama/scandals passed decades prior to them being inducted. And what the hell was Bill Cosby's drama?

Patti's drama just happened this weekend.

TD3 said:

One can hope at somepoint Mr. Withers will be inducted by the board, I would think anytype campaign would be counter productive.

You think so? After alll, they encourage grassroots campaigning via their website.

sosgemini said:

sassy33 said:

Oh please. Kennedy Center Honors inducted James Brown, Bill Cosby & The Who.

Uhh, didn't I already answer this? Okay, one more time: Their drama/scandals passed decades prior to them being inducted.

So what?

Her "drama" is nothing compared to previous inductees drama.

People really need to get off their high horses.

[Edited 6/6/11 8:58am]

sassy33 said:

sosgemini said:

sassy33 said:

So what?

Her "drama" is nothing compared to previous inductees drama.

People really need to get off their high horses.

[Edited 6/6/11 8:58am]

What part of "timing" do you not understand? You do realize that Kennedy Center's Board is made up of a bunch of political folks, right? They aren't going to touch Patti with a ten foot pole right now. This is not a peer group given award, its a nonprofit group who can do what they want and with the Kennedy Family and President Obama involved, you know damn well she is out of the question for a good five to ten years. Like it or not, Patti is involved in a major scandal with a US soldier while we are at war. She's toxic...innocent or guilty. Its the sad truth.

Timing Schmining. People need to separate disliking Patti from the actual incident.

One which given who the Kennedy Center Honors has inducted previously (drug addicts, criminals, domestic abusers, serial philanderers) is nominal at best.

As far as her being toxic that's hyperpoble at its finest.

She's a legend, deserves the KHC as much as anyone & shit happens. Get over it.

sassy33 said:

sosgemini said:

sassy33 said: What part of "timing" do you not understand? You do realize that Kennedy Center's Board is made up of a bunch of political folks, right? They aren't going to touch Patti with a ten foot pole right now. This is not a peer group given award, its a nonprofit group who can do what they want and with the Kennedy Family and President Obama involved, you know damn well she is out of the question for a good five to ten years. Like it or not, Patti is involved in a major scandal with a US soldier while we are at war. She's toxic...innocent or guilty. Its the sad truth.

Timing Schmining. People need to separate disliking Patti from the actual incident.

One which given who the Kennedy Center Honors has inducted previously (drug addicts, criminals, domestic abusers, serial philanderers) is nominal at best.

As far as her being toxic that's hyperpoble at its finest.

She's a legend, deserves the KHC as much as anyone & shit happens. Get over it.

Who dislikes Patti? Look, I work in politics. I've worked for a US Congressmember and have worked with US Presidents, Speaker of the House, State and local polititicians. I would advice any politician to stay clear of Patti till this issue gets resolved. It has nothing to do with her personally and everything to do with smart politics.

it will not do any good. bill has pissed off a lot of people with his outspoken views on the record industry and politics. not to mention his own drama with his ex denise nicholas.

sosgemini said:

sassy33 said:

Timing Schmining. People need to separate disliking Patti from the actual incident.

One which given who the Kennedy Center Honors has inducted previously (drug addicts, criminals, domestic abusers, serial philanderers) is nominal at best.

As far as her being toxic that's hyperpoble at its finest.

She's a legend, deserves the KHC as much as anyone & shit happens. Get over it.

Look, I work in politics. I've worked for a US Congressmember and have worked with US Presidents, Speaker of the House, State and local polititicians.

And? Nobody gives a shit.

I'm more interested in Jackie Chan getting in than a music act, although Jackie sings and releases records too.

MickyDolenz said:

I'm more interested in Jackie Chan getting in than a music act, although Jackie sings and releases records too.

Jackie will likely get in anyways.

jackson35 said:

it will not do any good. bill has pissed off a lot of people with his outspoken views on the record industry and politics. not to mention his own drama with his ex denise nicholas.

Ahh...interesting. Do share re: industry and politics. What drama with his ex?

sassy33 said:

sosgemini said:

Look, I work in politics. I've worked for a US Congressmember and have worked with US Presidents, Speaker of the House, State and local polititicians.

And? Nobody gives a shit.

No, you don't give a shit.

....and that's okay.

sosgemini said:

sassy33 said:

And? Nobody gives a shit.

No, you don't give a shit.

....and that's okay.

Eh. Nope. Nice try though.