Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on September 8, 2007. Photo courtesy of Sanctuary Records.
Dec. 1, 2008 — A cluster of singles that shaped the sound of several generations and genres of country music are among 28 new titles being added to the Grammy Hall of Fame as the hall finally realizes a physical home.
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s "Sweet Home Alabama," a 34-year-old classic-rock song that heavily influenced contemporary country and was sampled in a Kid Rock hit from the summer, is the newest release of the country-connected bunch. Roy Acuff’s 1936 recording of "Great Speckled Bird," a gospel-tinged song that introduced him on the Grand Ole Opry, is the oldest.
Also being added are Bill Monroe’s "Mule Skinner Blues," a 1940 recording from his first session with his band the Blue Grass Boys that helped pioneer the bluegrass genre; and Roy Rogers & Dale Evans’ "Happy Trails" TV theme, a 1952 creation that has come to symbolize the western influence on country music.
This year’s class of Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized during Wednesday’s CBS Grammy nominations special, co-hosted by Taylor Swift. The Recording Academy will open its Grammy Hall of Fame in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday.
Among the non-country additions this year are Harry Belafonte’s "Banana Boat (Day-O)," Stevie Wonder’s "For Once In My Life," Herbie Hancock’s Head Hunters album, Queen’s "We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You" and The Police album Synchronicity.
Numerous country classics have previously been enshrined in the Hall of Fame since it was first established in the late 1970s. They include George Jones’ "He Stopped Loving Her Today," Patsy Cline’s "Crazy," Glen Campbell’s "Wichita Lineman," Hank Williams’ "Your Cheatin’ Heart" and Willie Nelson’s "Always On My Mind."