Someone that recently passed away IMO deserves in the HOF. John Stewart came up from the Folk scene as a songwriter, then performer with the Kingston Trio, and later on his own with a #2 top 40 song "Gold" in 1979-1980. His songs were recorded by the Lovin' Spoonful, the Monkees, Rosanne Cash and a number of other performers. Stewart was well respected by the members of the Byrds, Moby Grape, and the Grateful Dead. Stewart passed away Jan 18 this last year. I think the HOF should consider the body of work...not body (Madonna's Ass et)...of the performers and what contributions they made to R&R.
That said, who's to say who does and doesn't belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is a commercial venture, not the one and only Catholic Church. You and I could establish a competing Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame and induct in it Bobby Rydell and Terry Jacks. Who's to stop us? It's such an artificial creature as to be laughable from the getgo, I'm afraid. I don't recognize it as any sort of authority on the history of rock'n'roll.