More than 50 years after topping billboard charts with its iconic hit single, American Woman, and 38 years after becoming eligible, Canadian rock legends The Guess Who have never been nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio (www.rockhall.com). Now a Winnipeg based group, GuessWho4TheHall, seeks to correct that oversight by launching a national public awareness campaign featuring an open letter to the RRHoF supported by an online petition with a goal to collect over one million fan signatures via change.org. by early February.
Distinctly Canadian, The Guess Who lit the way for countless other Canadian artists to follow in their footsteps. Hailing from the north end of Winnipeg as a garage band, they tallied dozens of hit singles and sold more albums in 1970 than any other band in the world. The Guess Who made an invaluable contribution to Canada’s music culture and influenced entire generations of future Canadian rockers.
“It’s time for a grateful nation to return the favour”, says Jenny Motkaluk, Executive Director of GuessWho4TheHall.
Motkaluk and the GuessWho4TheHall campaign are inviting Canadians and all music fans around the world to show their support for The Guess Who by signing an online petition that will be presented to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in February as part of an Open Letter urging their induction.
GuessWho4TheHall is also mounting a robust social and traditional media blitz across the country to raise awareness for the cause and promote signing of the petition. A campaign website has been established at https://guesswho4thehall.com/. Numerous Canadian celebrities and community leaders have already pledged their support and are becoming actively involved.
The GuessWho4TheHall online petition can be accessed at https://www.change.org/p/the-rock-and-rollhall-of-fame-guess-who-4-the-hall or via the GuessWho4TheHall website.
“And where better to kick off our national campaign than right here in Winnipeg,” adds Motkaluk, a Winnipegger and long-time fan.
“The support has been overwhelming already. There’s a huge sense of pride across this country to bring long overdue recognition to the band that put Canada on the Rock and Roll map!”
“We can do this.”