Tupac, Nile Rodgers, Pearl Jam headed for Rock Hall of Fame

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FILE - Rapper Tupac Shakur and Seattle-based rockers Pearl Jam are among the first-time nominees on the ballot for induction next year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Frank Wiese, File)

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NY) - The late rapper Tupac Shakur and Seattle-based rockers Pearl Jam lead a class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees that also include folkie Joan Baez and 1970s favorites Journey, Yes and Electric Light Orchestra.

The rock hall also said Tuesday it would give a special award to Nile Rodgers, whose disco-era band Chic failed again to make the cut after its 11th time nominated.

"I'm always flattered when I get an award especially something so big, but it's shocking to me because Chic was nominated, 11 times, that means something," said Rodgers. "I wouldn't know David Bowie, Madonna or Paul Simon unless I was in Chic. They are all Chic fans."

The hall's 32nd annual induction ceremony takes place on April 7 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. HBO will show highlights at a later date, with SiriusXM doing a radio broadcast.

Shakur, Baez, Pearl Jam and ELO were all elected in their first year as nominees.

With the Associated Press