Madonna and Leonard Cohen to enter the Hall of Fame of Rock

By Michelle Nichols:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The pop star Madonna, the folk singer Leonard Cohen, the rock John Mellencamp, the British pop band The Dave Clark Five and the group instrumental The Ventures will join the Hall of Fame of Rock and Roll this Monday.

The five were chosen by 600 professionals in the music industry and defeated the singer Donna Summer, the group Chic funk New Yorker, the pioneering rapper Afrika Bambataa and the group of hip Beastie Boys to be honored at the 23rd annual ceremony for inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

The artists may join the Hall of Fame from 25 years after the release of their first album or single.They are being represented in an exhibition at the museum of the Hall of Fame of Rock and Roll, in Cleveland, Ohio.

For the British band of the 1960s The Dave Clark Five, the honor comes with some sadness, because their vocalist, Mike Smith, died in February of pneumonia, to 64 years.

"He was very happy because we would be included in the Hall of Fame," said his agent, Margo Lewis, when Smith died.

The Dave Clark Five stops led British in 1965 with "Glad All Over" and was described as "huge pop phenomenon" before they separated in 1970. The group has sold more than 50 million albums.

The band will be received at the Hall of Fame by Tom Hanks, and there will be a special performance.

FIRST TIME FOR MADONNA

The Dave Clark Five and Mellencamp had indicated other times for the Hall of Fame, but this was the first indication of Madonna. She will be received at the Hall of Fame of Rock and Roll by Justin Timberlake, and Iggy & The Stooges will present in his honor.

Madonna, 49 years old, was launched in 1982, and its first album, "Madonna", had hits like "Holiday", "Borderline" and "Lucky Star", which helped transform it into one of the most famous pop artists in the world and has already sold more than 200 million albums.

John Mellencamp released his first album in 1976 and sang very frustrated about the American dream, a fact that prompted the Hall of Fame to describe it as a "symbol of the hopes, struggles and passions of the American heart."



Leonard Cohen, Canadian voice hoarse whose songs speak of love, sex, faith and betrayal, is one of the most literary of composers. He has four books of poems and two novels before they return to the music.