R&R Hall of Fame Fetes Inductees
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame welcomed some new members Monday night in a New York City induction ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria. The place was crawling with legends, CBS News Correspondent Bobbi Harley and Early Show Contributor Laurie Hibberd report.
Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday were inducted for their early influence on the music. And there are other new inductees to welcome.
Flashback to the sixties and the Lovin' Spoonful, whose mid-60s hits included "Do You Believe in Magic?" and "Summer in the City." They're in, as are doo wop pioneers, the Moonglows, whose signature tune was "Sincerely."
Earth, Wind & Fire, known for their elaborate stage productions and colorful costumes, also got its place in the Hall. The group's Maurice White, who last week revealed his battle with Parkinson's disease, made a rare appearance performing with the band he founded.
"Sweet Baby James" Taylor was the quintessential 70s singer-songwriter, with hits like "Fire and Rain," "How Sweet It Is" and "Carolina in my Mind." He's a Hall of Famer now too.
Taylor had a rough road to the hall of fame, filled with drug addictions and disappointment. He seemed honored by his induction, but still managed to poke fun at the award.
"I'm very grateful for this. I only hope one of these never falls into the hands of someone desperate enough to use it," he quipped.
Bonnie Raitt rocked the night with the woman who inducted her into the Hall of Fame, Melissa Etheridge. Backstage, Raitt said the honor was "absolutely unbelievable."
"I mean, it's enough of an honor to do it for a living. Believe me, I mean, I did not have to get a regular job all this time and that's blessing enough. It's unbelievable. I never expected to get in until I was about 70."
Raitt was largely a cult favorite until her 10th album, Nick of Time, won four Grammy awards in 1989. She also founded the Rhythm & Blues Foundation to help older artists who didn't reap financial rewards from their work.
Clive Davis is the powerhouse behind some of the industry's biggest musicians, like this year's eight-Grammy comeback of Carlos Santana. Davis founded Arista Records and is now involved in a public battle with Arista's owners to keep his job; he's going into the Hall in the non-performer category.
Eric Clapton is no stranger to the Hall of Fame ceremony. Clapton's hits have spanned three decades and he's already in the Rock Hall for his work as a member of two groups, the Yardbirds and Cream. This time, the guitarist's solo career was being spotlighted.
The names of Hall of Fame honorees are on exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland.