Paul Simon, Queen, Michael Jackson among Rock Hall Inductees

NEW YORK (AP) _ Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Aerosmith and Queen headline an all-male group of artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2001. <br><br>Also inducted were groups Steely Dan

Wednesday, December 13th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Aerosmith and Queen headline an all-male group of artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2001.

Also inducted were groups Steely Dan and The Flamingos, soul singer Solomon Burke and Ritchie Valens, who was killed in a plane crash along with Buddy Holly and J.P. Richardson in 1959.

``I think that especially this year that we have representatives from every genre from rock 'n' roll,'' said Susan Evans, executive director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame foundation.

``We've got artists who made their biggest hits early on, as well as those who have been very active today, so it's a wide spectrum of artists there.''

The announcement was made Tuesday by Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner and VH1 host Rebecca Rankin at the cable station's Manhattan studio. VH1 will carry the induction ceremonies live on March 19.

``I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honor,'' Jackson said. ``I could not ask to be in better company than the list of fellow inductees. Each and every one is a master from whom I have learned.''

No women were inducted this year, though nominees included Patti Smith.

Evans said it was an unusual occurrence.

``Of course, I'm always hoping that there will be some women inductees,'' she said. ``It's unfortunate that there aren't any this year, but of course we have had many in the past.''

Artists are eligible for induction 25 years after their first record is released. Nominees are selected by a group of rock historians, and inductees are chosen by about 1,000 rock experts across the globe.

This year's non-performer inductee is Chris Blackwell, who founded Island Records in 1959. Blackwell introduced reggae legend Bob Marley to the world, and Island is home to such artists as U2.

There were also two sidemen inductees, a category that honors artists who have spent their careers backing up their more famous counterparts. Johnnie Johnson, piano player for Chuck Berry, and James Burton, a guitarist who toured with Elvis Presley and others, were given the honor.

There was no early influences category this year.

It isn't Jackson's and Simon's first trip to the hall. Both were already inducted _ Jackson as a member of The Jackson Five and Simon as a member of Simon and Garfunkel. Eric Clapton is the only person elected three times into the hall; once as a solo artist, and as a member of the bands Cream and the Yardbirds.

Besides Smith, other acts who did not make the cut were AC/DC, Bob Seger, the New York Dolls, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brenda Lee, Black Sabbath and Lou Reed.