Leonard Cohen, Madonna And Beastie Boys On Hall Of Fame Ballot

Canada could have its third solo artist inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame next year, as Leonard Cohen is one of nine finalists vying for five openings at the March 10 induction ceremony at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

If Cohen makes it, he'll join Joni Mitchell and Neil Young in the Cleveland-based shrine. Vancouver broadcasting legend Red Robinson is also in, but no all-Canadian bands have yet been honoured. Let the lobbying for The Guess Who begin now.

The Montreal-born Cohen (who turned 73 on Sept. 21) is among the elder statesmen on the nominee list, joining California instrumental surf group The Ventures and British big beat combo The Dave Clark Five, who made headlines last year after it was reported that they received more votes than Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five, but were excluded because some of their votes were allegedly submitted late.

Disco diva Donna Summer is in the running this year along with her dance/funk contemporaries in Chic.

On the more organic end of things, John Mellencamp (who began his recording career in 1976 as Johnny Cougar) is 2007's blue-collar rock nominee.

To be considered for nomination this year, an artist must have released their first single or album no later than 1982, which means that there are two very prominent names and one more underground artist on the list for the first time.

Madonna's "Everybody" single came out in April of that year. The Beastie Boys, while much more of a punk band than the hip-hop outfit that they later became, released their Polly Wog Stew EP in '82. Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa made his presence known with his groundbreaking 1982 single, "Planet Rock."

Grandmaster Flash, R.E.M., The Ronettes, Patti Smith and Van Halen were inducted last year.