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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Pay Tribute to Women in Music With New Exhibit

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Women may be a minority in the annals of rock 'n' roll, but they'll get their due this spring with a new exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Cleveland museum's exhibit, "Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power," will showcase a century of women in music, spotlighting more than 60 artists ranging from Billie Holiday to Brenda Lee, Janis Joplin to Patti Smith, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift, '20s cabaret singers to '90s Lilith Fair headliners.

The two-floor interactive exhibit will take visitors through a century of women musicians, beginning with turn-of-the-century blues singers and ending in the modern age. It focuses on a number of genres and the ways female artists explored, fought for and celebrated the social movements of their times, from women's suffrage to defining feminism. There will be plenty of artifacts, written histories, listening stations, videos and more. The opening of the exhibit will be celebrated with a concert featuring Wanda Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and more artists to be named.

The exhibit makes no claims of being comprehensive; rather, it offers a wide and diverse look at key female performers who created and expanded women's roles over the last hundred-odd years of popular music.

"There is no one linear argument to be made about what or who women were or are -- it changes all the time," Lauren Onkey, the museum's vice president of education and public programs, told the Los Angeles Times. "It's a big story to grapple with and it's not just one story."

The exhibit opens May 13 and runs through February of next year.

The museum will open the first of several related exhibits on Feb. 14, called "Girls on Film: 40 Years of Women in Rock." The exhibit consists of photos taken by Cleveland-based photographer and writer Anastasia Pantsios, and features shots of iconic female singers who toured through the Midwest over the decades, including Grace Slick, Joan Jett and Tina Turner.

Janis Joplin Performs 'Piece of My Heart'

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a1acapella

chaka khan..rufusized..

May 29 2011 at 6:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
a1acapella

there better be some linda ronstadt in the mix. alicia of course..christina doiing all right now.. gimmea break.. pat benatar.. heart.. big rock voices..

May 29 2011 at 6:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rbruno9060

Women Who Rock: RnRHoF/Museum update
http://rabdrake.wordpress.com/category/women-who-rock/

May 26 2011 at 6:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ralph Bruno

According to the RnRHoF, the exhibit will not feature the women who pioneered LGBT popular music? The term LGBT will not even be mentioned. "Emmie" will not even be credited as Pop's first lesbian love song.

May 16 2011 at 4:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ralph Bruno

Friday the 13th was the opening of Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power' at the Rock n Hall of Fame.
Does anyone know if the exhibit will properly appreciate the women who pioneered LGBT popular music? Laura Nyro "Emmie" "Timer" "Roadnotes" and "Désiree"- Cathy Young "Maggie May"- Alix Dobkin “I Only Want To Be With You”- ISIS "She Loves Me” - Patti Smith "Gloria""- Cris Williamson "Sweet Woman""- Blondie “Sunday Girl” "- Carole Pope "High School Confidential"- Rindy Ross "Valerie"- Joan Jett "Crimson n Clover"- Jill Sobule "I Kissed A Girl"- Lucille Bogan “B.D. Woman’s Blues” aka Bull Dyke, et al. Thnx Rabdrake

May 15 2011 at 10:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Isaac

Yeesh. Gaga and Swift should not be compared to the greats.

May 13 2011 at 10:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ALE FAN WILLIE

whenever the subject of female rockers comes up the name DORO PESCH is missing which somewhat puzzles me one, because DORO has been in the business now over 25 years, i know mostly not in usa but still its 25 years and she's a metal gal,they must be some lungs!! anyhow TO: powers to be at ROCK N ROLL HALL please check career of DORO PESCH im pretty sure will agree HALL material if for just lasting 25 years and still metalling. ask blaze bailey his fave"duet"partner,ummm?yes DORO? if doubt me youtube DORO/DORO PESCH/WARLOCK. ENJOY!!

February 06 2011 at 4:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply