My Letter about Paul Revere & The Raiders and the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

Dear Mr. Wenner:

I hope this letter finds you well and that you will take the time to read this letter in the spirit in which it is written. By the time we reach adulthood our views are pretty well formed as a result of our upbringing and early life experiences. Whether political, social, religious or simple likes and dislikes, most of us aren’t as open to other points of view as much as we think we are. As a lifelong musicologist of sorts I am so glad that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been established and continues to recognize many pioneering contributors to popular music. Unlike other sports Halls Of Fame, music is much more subjective. Besides the number of records sold and chart positions you can really only judge by personal feelings.

It is my wish that you will seriously consider adding Paul Revere and the Raiders to the ballot. The Hall Of Fame has an amazing committee of voters and it would be a great injustice if this most influential group did not ever have a chance to be voted in. Isn’t our society built on the democratic principal and having the people speak. This freedom is the reason Rolling Stone has been able to make the indelible mark on our society that it has.

The only real obstacle that I can see with the amazing group is their costumes and the fact that they had amazing sense of how to entertain that some may view as “uncool.” This band’s classic line-up of Mark Lindsay, Paul Revere, Phil ‘Fang” Volk, Drake Levin & Mike Smith were as formidable a band as America had in the 1960s. Besides the enormous commercial success, their serving as Dick Clark’s TV house band helped launch a million other bands. They have many attributes in common with many other acts already inducted into the Hall Of Fame but for some reason these have either been not investigated or ignored. Please take note of the following:

-) Girl groups and vocal groups didn’t write any of their songs and any were largely producer driven acts yet they are given more credibility than the Raiders. Mark Lindsay wrote and produced many of the group’s songs and all the members have written part of the catalogue.

-) The Coasters, arguable of the greatest vocal group ever, had routines and humor was also a big part of their legacy. All the Motown groups had steps as part of their routines. In fact the Raiders did steps while playing instruments.

-) Paul Revere and The Raiders were the first rock group signed to Columbia Records, who were not a rock and roll label in those days. Had it not been for the success of this band maybe Columbia wouldn’t have pressed on signing rock acts and how many great artists and records may never had the chance to see the light of day.

-) Paul Revere And The Raiders hold the world record with over 750 musical performances on TV and many have noted in various books, including Clive Davis who said the group “helped pave the way for other successful rock and roll TV shows including Midnight Special and eventually MTV.”

-) Paul Revere And The Raiders had 23 consecutive chart hits between 1962 and 1974, a run that very few groups have even come close to.

-) Most importantly, Paul Revere And The Raiders were a real functioning band for years before they reached national prominence. These five musicians played little dances, roller rinks and teen clubs and built a reputation as a live act well before they ever made it on television. Paul Revere and the Raiders are as organic a group as you can ever get. I humbly ask that you add Paul Revere And The Raiders to the ballot for next year’s Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame vote.

Sincerely,
Gary Borress
GB Music Ltd.