Put Chicago in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

I really think any fan of music should openly be asking who in the world nominates artists for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Recently, the nominees for 2010 were announced. Leading the way are ABBA, Donna Summer, Genesis, KISS, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Hollies and LL Cool J.

Other nominees include Darlene Love, Jimmy Cliff, Laura Nyro, The Stooges and the Chantels.

Once again, no Chicago.

What is wrong with these people?

I have openly campaigned for this band for years to gain acceptance into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

But to no success.

And to that, I can only say, I just don't get it.

After seeing the list of current nominees, I couldn't help but look up information that I look up yearly around this time.

The nominees' highest charting album and single.

Here's what I came up with:

* The Stooges -- led by the enigmatic Iggy Pop. Their highest charting album was "The Weirdness," released in 2007. It reached No. 103 in the charts. The band's highest charting single? None,

* ABBA had five No. 1 albums in the United States, the last one coming in 1981. Their highest charting single was "Dancing Queen," which also reached No. 1,

* Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" reached the top of the album charts in 1979, her only top-charting album. Throughout her career, she can boast four No. 1 singles, the last being "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)," a duet with Barbra Streisand,

* Darlene Love? I could find no information regarding charted albums. Her single "He's a Rebel," however, reached No. 1 in 1962,

* Genesis. Led by Peter Gabriel (at one time) and then Phil Collins, the band reached No. 1 on the album charts with "Invisible Touch," in 1986. Their song "Invisible Touch" topped the charts also in 1986,

* KISS? In 1998, they reached No. 3 with "Psycho Circus," their highest charting album ever. That was a bit surprising considering how many albums they have sold (especially all the live collections). Their highest charting single? That happened in 1976 with the duo single "Detroit Rock City" and "Beth," which reached No. 7 on the charts,

* Jimmy Cliff? I could fine no information regarding albums or singles. The Reggae artist has made several albums but none have charted in the states. His highest charting single, in the United Kingdom, was "Wonderful World, Beautiful People," which hit No. 6, in the United Kingdom,

* Laura Nyro? She released several albums, but none of them charted. Neither did any of her singles,

* The Chantels? No charting albums, but the single "Look in My Eyes," reached No. 14 on the charts in 1961 and also reached No. 6 on the R&B charts,

* The Red Hot Chili Peppers? Their highest charting album came in 2006, when they reached No. 1 with "Stadium Arcadium." Their highest charting single took place in 1991 with "Under the Bridge," which hit No. 2,

* LL Cool J? He reached No. 1 in 2000 with his album "G.O.A.T.," and also topped the charts in 2003 with his single "All I Have," a duet with Jennifer Lopez, and

* The Hollies? They reached No. 11 on the album charts in 1967 with "The Hollies: Greatest Hits." They also reached No. 2 on the singles charts with "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress," in 1973.

As for Chicago? Well, the list is quite impressive, to me at least.

They reached No. 1 on the album charts five times, including four top-charting albums in a row, beginning with "Chicago V" in 1972. Their last top-charting album took place in 1975 with "Chicago VIII."

The band has had three top singles since its inception. The song "If You Leave Me Now" topped the charts in 1976, while "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" hit No. 1 in 1982. In addition, "Look Away" hit No. 1 in 1988.

Also, Chicago had eight No. 1 singles on the Adult Contemporary charts throughout the years, including "Beginnings" in 1971, "Call On Me" in 1974, "Wishing You Were Here" in 1974, "If You Leave Me Now" in 1976, Hard to Say I'm Sorry" in 1982, You're The Inspiration" in 1984, "Look Away" in 1988, and "Here in My Heart" in 1997.

According to a list of all-time best selling artists (albums only), Chicago has sold 122 million albums since 1967.

There are several artists ahead of Chicago in worldwide sales that are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, including The Beatles (1 billion albums, inducted 1988), Elvis Presley (1 billion albums, inducted 1986), Michael Jackson (750 million albums, inducted 2001), Queen (300 million albums, inducted 2001), AC/DC (200 million albums, inducted 2003), The Bee Gees (220 million albums, inducted 1997), Bob Marley (250 million albums, inducted 1994), Elton John (250 million albums, inducted 1994), Led Zeppelin (200 million albums, inducted 1995), Madonna (200 million albums, inducted 2008), Pink Floyd (200 million albums, inducted 1996), The Rolling Stones (200 million albums, inducted 1989), Aerosmith (150 million albums, inducted 2001), David Bowie (140 million albums, inducted 1996), Stevie Wonder (150 million albums, inducted 1989), Tina Turner (180 million albums, inducted 1991), and U2 (150 million albums, inducted 2005).

That leaves 17 artists worldwide who have sold more albums than Chicago, including ABBA (370 million), A.R. Rahman (200 million, Indian film composer), Alla Pugacheva (250 million, Russian pop), Celine Dion (200 million), Herbert von Karajan (200 million, Austrian composer), Julio Iglesias (200 million), Mariah Carey (200 million), Nana Mouskouri (200 million, Greek/French pop/folk), Wei Wei (200 million (Chinese pop), Barbra Streisand (140 million), Boney M. (140 million, German disco), Frank Sinatra (150 million), Garth Brooks (128 million), Genesis (150 million), James Last (150 million, German instrumental/classical), and Whitney Houston (190 million).

I can understand ABBA and Genesis being on the list of 2010 nominees. After all, both bands generated quite a bit of headlines, singles, influence, etc. It makes sense.

I'm quite certain that at a point, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston will be inducted. Again, these selections make perfect sense.

But still, no Chicago.

In 2007, I sent an e-mail to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame asking about the credentials it took to be inducted.

I received no response.

Again in 2008, I sent an e-mail questioning credentials and more.

I have received responses before telling me that album sales alone were not the only reasons a band or an artist would be inducted.

But still, no Chicago. Fourteen top 20 albums. Twenty-nine top 20 singles.

Something is seriously wrong here.

This has reached the point of idiocy.

The Coasters, The Drifters, The Platters, The Impressions, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, The Shirelles, The Velvet Underground, The Rascals, The Staple Singers, The Moonglows, The Flamingos, The Dells, The O'Jays, Blondie, The Ronettes, The Ventures and Little Anthony and the Imperials.

These are a few bands that have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since its inception in 1986.

I went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year.

And as this keeps going on, I highly doubt I will make another trip to Cleveland.

At least to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.