Cohen, Madonna And Mellencamp Among Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees

Leonard Cohen will join Neil Young and Joni Mitchell to become the third Canadian solo artist enshrined in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame at a March 10 induction ceremony at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

The Montreal-born singer/songwriter will enter the Hall, located on the shore of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio, along with the omnipotent Madonna (who was elected in her first year of eligibility), roots rocker John Mellencamp, instrumental surf guitar group The Ventures and British big beat merchants The Dave Clark Five. The soulful songwriting and production team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff will be presented with the Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performers, while blues harmonica player Little Walter will be inducted in the sideman category.

The Beastie Boys and Afrika Bambaataa were in their first year of eligibility and were among the finalists up for consideration, but they failed to make the cut. Disco diva Donna Summer and her dance/funk contemporaries in Chic were the other two finalists who will have to wait another year for consideration.

The inductees were chosen by approximately 600 voters from the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation. Artists are eligible to enter 25 years after their first recording is released.

"The 2008 inductees are trailblazers — all unique and influential in their genres," says Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation president/CEO Joel Peresman. "From poetry to pop, these five acts demonstrate the rich diversity of rock and roll itself. We are proud to honour these artists and celebrate their contribution to rock and roll's place in our culture."