With the recent announcement of the long overdue induction of Carl Smith and Floyd Cramer to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the annual topic once again comes up among people, over who still hasn’t yet been inducted, who should be and when will they be. Of course many people have their varying opinions as to those who they feel should be, but suffice it to say, there’s still a great many deserving artists who are long overdue for that honor. And suffice it to say, that at the snail’s pace the CMA is moving, many of those who are deserving- prior to the last 30 years most likely won’t make it in, even during my lifetime, and I’ve hopefully got a long way to go yet.

I read an interesting article that pointed out that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has only been in existence and inducting people since 1986 and has already grown to a little over 200 inductees, while the Country Music Hall of Fame has been in existence since 1961 and to date has only 90. The writer then went on to reason that it was because the Country Hall of Fame was more selective, which was viewed as a positive thing, because the end result would be, only the creme de la creme of the genre would be allowed in.

I thought about that for a while and I say hogwash. Rock & Roll has only been around for going on 50 years. Country music was around during the 19^th century, however the first recordings surfaced in the 1910's- nearly 90 years ago. I looked over the inductee list for the R&RHoF, and while not everyone who’s been inducted are necessarily my personal taste in music, I can’t find fault with a single inductee- all have made their contribution and rightfully belong. The only argument I could possibly find might be the order in which they’ve been inducted.

The major point that the writer of the article missed, is that the R&RHoF has four categories for inductees: "Performers," "Sidemen," "Early Influences" and "Non-performers." They also have a "Lifetime Achievement" induction, though that’s only been awarded twice over the years. The CMHoF has no such distinctions, and seems to make up the rules as it goes. In the 1980's, the CMA made a provision that one non-performer can be inducted every three years. The non-performer can be a songwriter, a producer, an influential label executive or other influential person connected with the genre. That leaves a very large pool of people right there, who are deserving of a spot, all vying for one opening every three years to make it in. That’s only three people every decade!

The R&RHoF also has averaged at least a half dozen ‘performer’ inductees each year, in addition to a varying number of inductees in the other categories, in an effort to play catch up for the previous 30 years of the genre’s existence. Since 1961, the CMHoF on the other hand, has inducted annually, one person 17 times, two people 12 times, 3 people 9 times, four people 3 times and then there was the ‘one time’ mass induction of 10 members in 2001. In 1963 they inducted no one. Included among the sparse number of annual inductees over the years are non-performers. They are not inducted in addition to performers, but are counted in that number. In 1961, the CMHoF had roughly the same number of years as the R&RHoF did, to make up for before it’s existence. The CMHoF with it’s paltry current number of 90 inductees, still has a way to go to cover it’s prior 30 or 40 years, and they’re losing even more ground faster, as they now also have an additional 40 some years since it’s inception yet to cover.

In mulling over the more obvious names of those who’ve rightfully earned a place in the CMHoF and are not yet in, I came up with a fairly lengthy list. Then that got me to thinking even more, mostly about that "Sidemen" category the R&RHoF has. That led to an even more disturbing list of names that are CMHoF worthy, but who’s chances of ever getting in are slim to none. Sure, the main attraction is the ‘star,’ but often it’s the ‘sidemen’ who complete the package. The one example that comes to mind is when Bruce Springsteen was inducted into the R&RHoF. There’s no doubt that he’s one of music’s greatest songwriters and performers and rightfully earned his spot, but much of his success was due to the chemistry of the E Street Band. To his fans Bruce & the E Streeters were one in the same- inseparable. Yet due to a technicality- to everyone’s great disappointment, Bruce has his place in the Hall, but very unfortunately, minus E Street.

So then, what about the fate of country music’s great sidemen? Musicians like Jimmy Day, Johnny Gimble, Vassar Clements, Don Rich or Roy Nichols, for example. How about vocalists who held important supporting roles behind the ‘main attraction’ such as Tommy Duncan or Bonnie Owens? Aren’t these great musicians who weren’t in the direct spotlight, yet who had an important role in the success of the ‘star’ of the show, just as worthy of a place in the CMHoF or are they to be rendered mere footnotes in country music history?

And what about "Early Influences"? If there was no Tee-Tot, would there have been a Hank Williams? Who were the ones who influenced Jimmie Rodgers? How about the little known but highly influential Emmett Miller? This Minstrelsy/Tin Pan Alley performer was a major influence on Milton Brown and Bob Wills, as well as Hank Williams and Merle Haggard. Hag even recorded and dedicated an album to him, and virtually every song the man recorded, later went on to become a country music classic. Don’t they reveal as much about the history and direction the genre took and deserve a place along side the people they influenced?