May 12, 2021
Todd Rundgren can now add Rock & Roll Hall of Famer to his accomplished musical career.
The Upper Darby native is one of six performers who were selected Wednesday for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 2021 induction class. Joining Rundgren in the Hall of Fame this year will be Tina Turner, Carole King, The Go-Go's, Jay-Z and Foo Fighters.
Kraftwerk, Charley Patton and Gil Scott-Heron will receive the Early Influence Award. The Musical Excellence Award will be awarded to LL Cool J, Billy Preston and Randy Rhoads. Clarence Avant will receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
"This diverse class of talented inductees reflects the Rock Hall’s ongoing commitment to honor artists whose music created the sound of youth culture," Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation chairman John Sykes said.
Just Announced: The #RockHall2021 Inductees pic.twitter.com/WeocRAvSDb
— Rock Hall (@rockhall) May 12, 2021
The 72-year-old Rundgren was one of 16 nominees for the performers category this year. This was Rundgren's third straight nomination for the Hall of Fame. The musician became eligible in 1996, but he did not receive his first nomination until 2019. He was nominated again in 2020.
The performers criteria honors bands and solo artists who have "created music whose originality, impact and influence has changed the course of rock & roll," according to the Hall of Fame. In order to be eligible for the Hall, artists are required to have released their first record 25 years prior to induction.
An international voting body of more than 1,200 artists, including current living inductees, historians and members of the music industry, submitted ballots. Factors such as an artist's musical influence and the length and depth of one's career are taken into consideration when voting.
Fans were allowed to participate in the selection process by voting for as many as five nominees per day on the Hall of Fame's website. The top five nominees who were voted on by the public comprised the fan ballot and were tallied alongside the other ballots to select the 2021 inductees.
Five million fan votes were cast, but Rundgren didn't finish in the top five of the fan vote. Turner, The Go-Go's and Foo Fighters all finished in the top five of the fan vote.
The 36th annual induction ceremony will be held Saturday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. Tickets go on sale in July.
A radio simulcast will be available on SiriusXM's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Radio. The ceremony will air at a later date on HBO and stream on HBO Max.
Born in Philly, Rundgren was raised in Upper Darby and graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1965.
The artist was influenced by soul, British rock, vocal harmony and 1960s singer-songwriters, according to the Hall of Fame. Among his biggest influences were The Beach Boys and Pink Floyd.
Rundgren formed the musical group Nazz in 1967 and joined Bearsville Records as a producer and engineer. He earned his first top 20 hit with "We Gotta Get You a Woman" as part of his debut solo album "Runt" in 1970.
Rundgren is best known for his 12 solo albums, nine albums with the rock group Utopia and production work during the 1970s and 1980s. His most notable music came in 1972, when he released his critically-acclaimed "Something/Anything?" album. The record featured a pair of Top 20 hits in "Hello It's Me" and "I Saw the Light."
"Hello It's Me" is Rundgren's best-charting song of all-time, and "Something/Anything?" was named to Rolling Stone's "500 Best Albums of All Time" list this past September.
Rundgren also produced albums for the Patti Smith Group, Meat Loaf, Grand Funk Railroad and the New York Dolls. His music influenced artists such as Prince and Hall & Oates.
Rundgren continues to perform live. His "Clearly Human" tour consisted of virtual concerts in 25 cities in February and March.
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