People: Rock and Roll Hall announces nominees
Velvet Underground founding member Lou Reed, punk-pop band Green Day, industrial dance-rock group Nine Inch Nails and ’80s Brit-pop group the Smiths are among the 15 pop music acts that appear on the final nominees ballot for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2015.
They’re joined by Sting, who is already a Rock Hall member as frontman of the Police, along with such repeat nominees as the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, disco group Chic, hard-rocking Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, influential German electronic group Kraftwerk and Compton rap collective N.W.A.
This year’s nominee list is rounded out by the Motown R&B vocal groups Marvelettes and the Spinners, Texas blues singer-guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, R&B band War and pop-R&B singer-songwriter Bill Withers.
Final selections as determined by some 700 of the Rock Hall’s voting members will be announced in December. In addition, fans can weigh in with their preferences on the hall’s website for a single fan ballot for the top five vote-getters that will be added in with the rest of the votes.
Under the hall’s rules, 25 years must elapse from the time an artist’s first single or album is released before they become eligible for induction. That leaves Green Day and Nine Inch Nails as the only acts to make this year’s final ballot in their first year of eligibility.
Davis shares her drive to end hunger
Viola Davis told a crowd of Hollywood luminaries that her drive to end childhood hunger is fueled by memories of growing up in “abject poverty,” stealing and crawling through maggot-filled garbage bins to get food.
“I sacrificed a childhood for food,” she said, “and grew up in immense shame.”
Davis shared the personal story Friday as she accepted accolades at the Variety Power of Women luncheon, where Jane Fonda, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Lopez were also recognized for humanitarian efforts.
Davis said her work with the Hunger Is campaign to raise awareness about hunger in the United States has been “the joy of my life.” She thanked her colleagues and supporters for the chance to “stand up in front of so many people, at the age of 49, and share my testimony and begin the process of healing.”
Witherspoon was recognized for her involvement with the Malala Fund, the educational advocacy organization established by Malala Yousafzai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. Witherspoon said she was inspired by her daughter, Ava, to explore the state of girls’ education around the world and learn about Malala’s efforts.
The birthday bunch
Comedian-activist Dick Gregory is 82. Singer Sam Moore (formerly of Sam and Dave) is 79. Broadcast journalist Chris Wallace is 67. Actress-singer Susan Anton is 64. Rock singer-musician Pat DiNizio is 59. Jazz musician Chris Botti is 52. Actor Hugh Jackman is 46. Country musician Martie Maguire (Courtyard Hounds, The Dixie Chicks) is 45. Actor Kirk Cameron is 44. Actor Josh Hutcherson is 22.