Bobby Byrd - Induction To The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Initial Controversy

Induction To The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Initial Controversy

In 1986, the first committee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced that Brown, the Famous Flames' lead singer, would be inducted among nine other legendary musicians. However, the committee failed to include the other original Famous Flames, including Byrd, Johnny Terry, Bobby Bennett and Lloyd Stallworth, leading to a controversy that lasted more than 25 years and puzzled longtime fans of the group. In late 2011, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame formed a special committee to discuss several pioneering groups who they felt deserved to be inducted that weren't inducted with their front men. The committee's decision led to them inducting the Famous Flames, including group founder Byrd, to the Hall without a need for nomination or voting, under the premise that they should have been inducted with Brown back in 1986, since Brown's first solo recording missed the 25-year criteria that was taken to induct performing musicians. Byrd, Stallworth (c. 2001) and Terry had long been deceased by this point and Bobby Bennett, the group's only surviving member, accepted the honor on behalf of the group.

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