Hi All,

This talk about the RRHOF prompted me to write a letter (well e mail). I probably just wasted my time, but I thought I'd give it a shot. Here is what I wrote:

Dear Mr. Wenner,

I am writing to you in question to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I hope you will take the time out from your busy schedule, and reply back to me. It would be greatly appreciated!

I'm sure you've heard, and read, many complaints regarding Ms. Connie Francis not being inducted into the Hall Of Fame. I am positive that many of the artists who were inducted truly belong in your institution.
I am puzzled though, as to why some acts are in your Hall Of Fame, especially since they are NOT Rock and Roll. Other acts, I feel, as well as many other people, have never even been heard of.

Regardless of these opinions, it is still a mystery to me as to why Ms. Connie Francis ... the FIRST Rock and Roll female artist ... has been so overly overlooked these past years, without any reasonable explanation.
Has she 'stepped on some toes' which we do not know about? Is there something or someone who has a vendetta against her? Is she 'blackballed' from this institution? What could possibly be the explanation or reasoning as to why Ms. Connie Francis isn't in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame?

Although, Ms. Francis, like Mr. Bobby Darin, (who is in the institution), branched out from Rock And Roll, it still leaves the FACT that she started out as a Rock And Roll singer, and had MANY successful records on the Billboard Charts during Rock and Roll's infancy. There was a time when she was the ONLY female on the Rock and Roll charts, amongst many male singers! She opened doors to all other female artists that followed. This, in itself, is an accomplishment. Without Ms. Connie Francis, there wouldn't have been many other white female artists such as Madonna, Brittany Spears, Bonnie Raitt etc.

Ms. Connie Francis is till active today, as we speak, selling out venues wherever she goes. She is a class act, and an institution in herself.
She was, and still is, LOVED throughout the world. It is really a pity that Ms. Francis isn't recognized by your institution, nor has she ever been featured in your magazine.

Mr. Wenner, I really hope you'd read and answer this e mail, so you may be able to shed some light as to why Connie Francis is so terribly neglected.

I will anxiously be awaiting your reply.

Sincerely,

Michael John Micallef
Malta, Europe

(note: as of April 2, 2009 Michael's email has yet to get a reply. I find this very unprofessional! Mr. Wenner.
now it is July 12, 2009. Still not a word from Mr. Wenner??? Not very nice sir!)

  Connie sings "Lipstick On Your Collar"

When I questioned RRHOF on this number of units sold. They said that was not a criteria for induction into the "hall". Induction is not based on popularity????????? I don't know what the criteria is. I had sent the list before of whom votes for this "hall" only about 600 people vote, no one who's name I recognize. It seems this "hall" has become a joke. You notice it does not get the attention of the Grammy's, Oscars, or any of the other awards shows. No red carpet treatment that I am aware of. They do show it on television but to be honest I have never watched. Never cared to.
Charlie

   Connie singing "Plenty Good Lovin"  (this song was written by Connie)

Cat, Pat and everyone, we would all like to see Connie get the  recognition she deserves in the HOF, and especially since we know it does bother her to be left out. But as Cat has pointed out, every sort of effort has fallen on deaf ears, and the HOF will not respond.
So I think the only thing that might have a shot, if anything at all, would be for all of us to take every opportunity to criticize and denounce the HOF in every public arena we can find. Interent forums, music chat rooms, web site discussions, etc. because if enough bad PR gets around about the HOF ignoring Connie, then perhaps in an effort to avoid a backlash they might just take a different attitude. Think about it. If a large TV news network, or other media outlet, was to take the  position that it's disgraceful that the legendary Connie Francis is being ignored by the R&RHOF, it would paint them in somewhat of a  negative light, and that's never desirable for an entertainment  entity. If the heat they were to feel was strong enough, and if there was enough public outcry for Connie to get the recognition she  deserves, they just might change their tune.

On my blog, "Connie  Francis Forever", I've made it a priority to mention the HOF  situation as much as possible in order to generate interest in other people who might happen across the blog, who may not actually be Connie fans.  This way maybe we can get the ball rolling. I don't know, just some thoughts my friends.
Larry
 

I know Johnny D has a "Hall of Shame" page on his site and it has been brought up a lot for years all over the place, even some entertainers have mentioned it to the same deaf ears. I started the other day when I was taking a break from my assignments, putting together a new List page using some of this discussion on it.
But, I seriously don't think Connie would want it only if they felt like they were FORCED to do it. That would not seem to me anyway like an award but a consolation prize. It is shameful and it should have been done years ago....so its a Catch 22!
C
 

Larry, I think any positive thoughts or deeds that would help I support. The R&RHOF even on their website makes no bones about the fact that the fans have no say when it comes to inductees/nominating/voting etc. In others they don't care what the fans think.
Maybe bad press from media? Who knows I'll try anything.
Pat

Well Pat since the thing opened, we have fought a good fight, but you can only butt your head against a brick wall so many times before you realize you can't move the wall!
C
 

I'm not so sure that Connie would want it that way, i.e., a coercion to get her in. If it could be done without mentioning any specific artist's name, or stating a list of the artists who have been unjustifiably ignored, that would be a better avenue. Even better, and as I have said before, would be artists being inducted to denounce the omissions and/or their "honor". Does it really mean anything to be inducted in the Hall!
Sal
 

I think it is political and has something to do with the way Connie spoke out about our government in the early 80's after Reagan did nothing with the task force. Connie said some pretty staunch things back then before she moved to Dallas. The things she said on national TV were pretty rough but some were very true. Who knows...all I know is Connie deserves to be there and it is a travesty she isn't but Connie could care less now I am sure.
Donna

 

Donna one thing we can always count on Connie for, is to speak her mind... and ONE thing people sometimes don't like hearing is 'the truth'... especially gov't officials and those in politics?? Just my humble thoughts...
B.B.