There are so many worthy candidates but in my opionion, singer Michael McDonald deserves the next honor.

Though he has been successful with Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and his own solo career, his has been a difficult road because he's never "belonged" or "fit in". His soulful sound was most heavily influenced by Ray Charles and Edwin Starr along with Frank Sinatra. Even in his early teen years, his love for Soul music was genuine and passionate. Michael McDonald studied the best male singing voices and developed a passion for becoming one of them.

Michael McDonald has always tried to sing from his heart and follow his passion in music which is R&B yet has always had to deal with the stigma of being an "outsider". He has created a genre of music that is a mix of Blues, Soul, and Rock and Roll. The uniqueness of this blend puts him in a class by himself and qualifies him to be added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for creating a new kind of vocal sound. Very few singers can approach a song with such emotion and heart-wrenching feeling. He becomes an interpreter each time he sings a song whether it is his own or a someone else's. This is why so many listeners enjoy hearing his voice on the radio or even on a TV commercial. There's something very special whenever the familiar tone of his voice is heard. Someone who has that kind of vocal recognition deserves to be inducted. He has earned the right to be there.

Learn more about this author, Sherelle Cary Smith.
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