In recognition of his stature as one of the finest American artists of all time, whose music defined the early years of Rock & Roll, and whose death at 22 deprived the world of one of the most joyfully celebrated voices ever heard. Awarded 1997
Roy Orbison
The King of the melancholy rock ballad, Orbison pioneered a soaring falsetto approach to his emotionally charged and dynamic music, creating a bold new sound that mixed the best elements of Rock & Roll and Country on classics like "In Dreams" "Crying" and "Oh Pretty Woman". Awarded 1998