A cryin' shame

So, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will officially induct three artists and two bands today.

Joining a hailed group of legends today will be Madonna, Leonard Cohen, John Mellencamp, The Dave Clark Five and The Ventures.

Along with the performers, songwriting and producing team Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff will be inducted as will Little Walter in the "sideman" category for his harmonica playing.

No one should argue the resumes of these artists.

Mellencamp gives Hoosiers something to be proud of today with his induction. Long overlooked, the Indiana native gets his just due today.

Hits like "Jack and Diane," and "Hurts So Good," alone should merit his induction. And he's been up for nomination before.

Madonna has every right to be there as well. She's been a pop icon since she released her first album in 1983.

The Dave Clark Five, for a short time, rivaled The Beatles as hitmakers in the 1960s and The Ventures wrote the theme song for "Hawaii 5-O."

Cohen made his mark in the undertow of music, but still deserves credit for inspiring several artists.

A few months ago, when the inductees were announced, I blogged regarding how some artists have been ignored.

It really is a shame that some of these artists have not been recognized by the holier-than-thou system that provides the general public with the Hall of Fame inductees.

Here's a quick list of some overlooked artists and bands:

The Monkees, Grand Funk Railroad, Todd Rundgren, Alice Cooper, T. Rex, Yes, Kiss, ABBA, Chicago, Deep Purple, the Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the Hollies, Judas Priest, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Diamond, Moody Blues, Metallica, Badfinger, Black Flag, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Boston, The Cars, Cat Stevens, Cheap Trick, Commodores, Lionel Ritchie, The Cure, Def Leppard, Dire Straits, Doobie Brothers, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Foreigner, Free, Bad Company, Hall and Oates, Heart, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Buffett, Kool and the Gang, Motley Crue, Peter Frampton, R.E.M., Rush, Scorpions, Sonic Youth, Steve Miller, Styx, Ted Nugent, Three Dog Night, etc.

Some of these, like Metallica and R.E.M., are examples of performers that will be inducted soon.

Others, like Chicago, Moody Blues, Hall and Oates, Heart, etc., for some reason, have been ignored.

I have e-mailed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame several times throughout the years asking why some of these artists have been overlooked and I've never received a good answer.

Here's to hoping they get their due. They deserve it just as much as some of the other inductees.