Every music fan knows that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts artists and bands who have made a significant impact on popular music history.
But what about artists who only had one significant, outstanding song? Perhaps artists with an iconic track, like Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild” and the Kingsmen’s “Louie Louie.”
Does the Rock Hall have a “singles category” to recognize individual songs?
Yes, the Rock Hall did briefly have a singles category. But no, the category is no longer being used.
Here’s a look at the history of the singles category, and a list of songs and artists inducted.
History of the Singles Category at the Rock Hall
The notion of a singles category was championed by Rock Hall Nominating Committee member Little Steven (Steven Van Zandt), a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
Created in 2018, the singles category was initially meant to honor songs by artists who were unlikely to earn full Hall induction. But that premise started to fall apart when someone of the artists recognized in the singles category, such as Link Wray, started getting full Hall induction.
Steven said at the time that the singles category was “a recognition of the excellence of the singles that shaped rock ‘n’ roll, kind of a rock ‘n’ roll jukebox, records by artists not in the Rock Hall — which is not to say these artists will never be in the Rock Hall. They just are not in the Rock Hall at the moment.”
He added, “We all know the history of music can be changed with just one song, one record. In three minutes we suddenly enter a new direction, a movement, a style, an experience. That three-minute song can result in a personal revelation, an epiphany that changes our lives.”
The first class of six songs included four from artists who had long been considered Rock Hall snubs: Chubby Checker (“The Twist”), Procol Harum (“A Whiter Shade of Pale”), Steppenwolf (“Born to be Wild”), and Link Wray (“Rumble”.) The latter three had been previously nominated for the Hall, but did not get inducted.
Link Wray (2023) and Chubby Checker (2025) were ultimately inducted into the Rock Hall as artists 2023, seemingly defeating the purpose of inducting their songs.
The second class of singles in 2019 caused some controversy, because one of the inductees was the Isley Brothers’ “Twist & Shout.” The Isleys were already Hall inductees, so what was the point of honoring one of their songs?
In 2020, Van Zandt was aked on Twitter about the specific criteria for the award, and he replied that there wasn’t any: “A few of us just pick em.”
That lack of clarity, and the lack of attention given to the singles category by HBO (which aired the Hall induction) and at the Rock Hall museum itself in Cleveland, led the Hall to put the singles category on hiatus after 2020. Most hall watchers believe (and hope) that it will never return.
The discontinuation of the singles category means that we’ll never get to see more recent pop gems like Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309/Jenny” or a-ha’s “Take on Me” honored by the Rock Hall. How funny would that have been? (Although to be fair, both are really two-hit wonders.)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Singles Category Honorees
2018 Class
- Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats – “Rocket 88” (1951)
- Link Wray & His Ray Men – “Rumble” (1958)
- Chubby Checker – “The Twist” (1960)
- The Kingsmen – “Louie Louie” (1963)
- Procol Harum – “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (1967)
- Steppenwolf – “Born to Be Wild” (1968)
2019 Class
The 2019 class caused some controversy, since the Isley Brothers had already been inducted.
- The Chantels – “Maybe” (1957)
- The Champs – “Tequila” (1958)
- Barrett Strong – “Money (That’s What I Want)” (1959)
- The Shangri-Las – “Leader of the Pack” (1964)
- The Shadows of Knight – “Gloria” (1965)
- The Isley Brothers – “Twist and Shout” (1962)
2020 Class
Note: These songs were announced as inductees, but due to covid, the Hall ceremony did not take place in 2020.
- Irma Thomas – “Time Is on My Side” (1964)
- Junior Walker & the All-Stars – “Shotgun” (1965)
- Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs – “Wooly Bully” (1965)
- The Troggs – “Wild Thing” (1966)
- The Box Tops – “The Letter” (1967)
A recent search of the official Rock Hall website turned up no mention of a “singles category.” It seems this strange honor has been sent to the dustbin of history.
Last Updated on February 16, 2026