Is 2013 Disco’s Year? Donna Summer, Chic On Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Ballot

photo credit: Peter Kramer

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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2013 ballot is out, and disco icons Donna Summer and Chic are both up for induction this year. Of course, “rock” fans have a complicated history with disco, although Chic’s Nile Rodgers has produced albums for rock icons including Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Bruce Springsteen, meanwhile, thought enough of Donna Summer to write “Protection” for her.

donna summer Is 2013 Discos Year? Donna Summer, Chic On Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Ballot
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Still, as of now, there are artists who used disco in the Hall of Fame (The Bee Gees, The O’Jays, ABBA), but no straight ahead disco acts. That may change this year: Rodgers is a hugely popular among other artists (and is also respected by rock critics, who make up a percentage of voters). And Elton John seems ready to launch a campaign to get Summer voted in. In Summer’s case, it would be a bittersweet occasion, as she passed away in May.

Other artists on the ballot this year include Rush, Deep Purple, Heart, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Randy Newman and The Marvelettes, among others.

he Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held April 18, 2013 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles (the first time it’s being held in L.A. since 1993), and it will air at a later date on HBO.

The Hall of Fame is touting the fact that for the first time, fans will have a say in who gets inducted… albeit a very small say. The entire fan vote will count as less than 1/600 of the voting body. From now until December 5, fans can vote at the Hall Of Fame’s website for the nominees they’d like to see inducted. The top five acts will comprise a “fan’s ballot” that will count as one of the more than 600 ballots that determine the Class of 2013. The results will be announced in mid-December.

– Brian Ives, CBS Local

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