1ºI am astounded that I have to defend the inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for yet another year. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame represents a diverse range of musical genres, not just one specific style. A quick glance at the first and second classes of inductees in 1986 and 1987 demonstrates this fact. Moreover, rock and roll is an amalgamation of various types of music, particularly African-American music such as jazz, rhythm and blues, boogie-woogie, electric blues, gospel, and jump blues, along with country music. Therefore, it is fitting that artists like Cher and Mary J Blige are included in the Hall of Fame alongside Ozzy Osbourne! Congratulations to all the other inductees you all truly embody the spirit of rock and roll.

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