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In a long overdue honor, the legendary Nina Simone has been nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall Fame. From learning how to play the piano by ear at the age of three, to attending the Juilliard School of Music, to combining her passion for music and activism, Simone went on to influence generations of artists and become a timeless symbol of empowerment and liberation.
The musical genius is joined by 18 other nominees, including rock and roll pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, and LL Cool J, who is the only Hip-Hop nominee for the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
While the Rock and Roll of Fame nominates artists from different musical genres, "to be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of induction which means the 2018 nominees had to release their first official recording no later than 1992," according to CNN.
Historians, members of the music industry, and more than 900 artists will receive ballots; fans will also have an opportunity to cast their vote online from October 5 to December 5 on rockhall.com/vote. The 2018 inductees will then be announced in December. An induction ceremony will take place in Cleveland on April 14.
The full list of the 2018 nominees include: Bon Jovi, Kate Bush, The Cars, Depeche Mode, Dire Straits, Eurythmics, J. Geils Band, Judas Priest, LL Cool J, MC5, The Meters, The Moody Blues, Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Link Wray, The Zombies.