A Letter to the Hall of Fame
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Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation 1290 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10104 RE: Country Joe & The Fish/Consideration for 2004 Inductees Dear Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, I am writing this letter to formally submit Country Joe and The Fish to be considered for your inductees into the 2004 class of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. It is with great pleasure that I write and nominate this band for their incredible contribution to American rock and roll music. In 1965, Country Joe McDonald and Barry Melton set out to take rock and folk music with psychedelic sounds and strong social commentary to a whole new level at a time when America was going through one of the most important times of social and political change during the late sixties during the Vietnam conflict. With Country Joe McDonald on vocals, Barry Melton on lead guitar, Bruce Barthol on bass, Gary "Chicken" Hirsh on drums and David Cohen on keyboards, Country Joe and The Fish produced a culture changing anthem that made it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Top 500 songs of all time with "I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixing-To-Die" cheer which went on to define a strong statement questioning the American involvement in the Vietnam conflict. From 1965 to 1971, Country Joe and The Fish produced several albums all of which have withstood the test of time, from 1965’s "Electric Music For The Mind and Body," to "Here We Are Again," "Together," "Reunion," and the excellently produced live album "Live at the Fillmore West 1969." These albums during this period of many changes in lineup, produced some of the most innovative lyrics, musical sounds and never before heard use of tremelo, reverb and other musical effects to create a sound by very talented musicians. Many unforgettable classic songs were produced that serve to not only make the listener socially aware of the issues of the day, but the music served to inspire a generation of acoustic and electric guitar players, based on the innovative sounds of Country Joe McDonald and Barry Melton. David Cohen provided any up and coming keyboardists a perfect example of how musical talent and appreciation for the sounds of an electrical organ and piano can serve as a musical spine for any band. Gary Hirsh’s drumming and vamping ability provided a unique beat for the band’s music and Bruce Barthol’s bass playing very nicely complimented the band’s sound, one of the few bassists that had an amazing ability to intertwine his playing with Gary’s Hirsh’s drumming, making the music sound like it was all coming from just one instrument! The music of Country Joe and The Fish from those six years cannot be compared to any other band before them or that came after them. Their music was a once in a lifetime experience that forever changed all of the band members lives. That they cannot be compared to any other group lyrically or by sound shows the pure innovation of Country Joe and The Fish. Country Joe and The Fish paid tribute to a fellow vocalist and Hall Of Fame Inductee Janis Joplin with their very moving tribute song called "Janis." Besides the famous "Fixing To Die" song, the band produced other classics like "Rock and Soul Music," "Death Sound Blues," "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine," "Section 43," "She’s A Bird," "Donovan’s Reef," "Crystal Blues," "Doctor Of Electricity," and "Rocking Around The World." These songs are just some of many great songs the band produced and contributed to American rock and roll. The lyrics were created with Country Joe McDonald’s sense of humor, political activism, social awareness and humanitarian concerns. Barry Melton’s contribution to those same songs along the same, sometimes varying principle lines, along with the classic Fish sound, provided never before heard political satire but with a devastating rock and roll punch that only this band could provide. Country Joe and The Fish paid homage to James Brown, Lightning Hopkins and many other elements of Black Rhythm and Blues from the 1950s and brought that music to a whole new audience of people who were not yet fully embracing the sounds of soul as a necessary element of rock and roll. Country Joe and The Fish made it mandatory to rely on all sorts of musical influences in order to create the music for the next generation, given that music is constantly re-inventing self through other elements, much like rock music came from pure blues and country music. What Bob Dylan did for popular folk music by "electrifying" folk, Country Joe and The Fish added elements of soul, blues and other unique musical innovations to take folk music right into the heart of American rock and roll and expose all of these elements to the world. Country Joe and The Fish’s innovative and inspirational dedication to taking folk music, adding other musical elements, plus making it necessary for every musician that followed them have the basic element of folk, blues and a roster of great musicians in their creative process is why they should be considered for induction into the 2004 class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Each generation will always seek out the best music of their day but they will always credit their playing to past influences. Country Joe and The Fish have proven their commitment to popular rock music by continuing to play and create new music to this day. Each generation’s greatest lyricist and musicians constantly cite Country Joe and The Fish as major influences. Country Joe and The Fish showed there were no limits to the creative process and no social topic was off limits. The music of Country Joe and The Fish recorded a time in American history when young people were seeking answers to questions about America’s involvement in the Vietnam War, question authority and contributing to a revolution of changing social times. The band performed at the first ever 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, the first Woodstock Music and Arts Fair in 1969, they have played the Fillmore West and all other types of special performances and festivals over the years in different lineups and solo endeavors. All of the musicians associated with Country Joe and The Fish have become ambassadors and historians from that time period and their music is still just as important today as it was back then. The events of September 11, 2001 made this generation of young people turn to the music of the sixties to desperately find the same message and comfort that Country Joe and the Fish provided for the sixties generation of young people, through their humor, commentary and innovative sounds. Country Joe and The Fish’s music, their ability to remain timeless, their ability to comfort in times of social and political turmoil, their ability to entertain, educate, inspire and influence are why I would like to respectfully request to the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation that you take into consideration inducting Country Joe McDonald, Barry Melton, David Cohen, Bruce Barthol and Gary "Chicken" Hirsh, as well as all other contributing members of COUNTRY JOE AND THE FISH into the 2004 class of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. If not for Country Joe and The Fish, I would never have picked up a guitar and become influenced to play. Thank you very much for your time.
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