Musician Turns Down Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction

Music is one of the most subjective art forms available, but some artists transcend genre boundaries and leave a lasting impact on generations of fans and artists.

One such musician was set to be involved in the annual induction ceremony alongside names like Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper and Outkast, but they've turned down the invitation.

“People have been asking: NO I won’t be there,” said legendary bassist and studio musician Carol Kaye.

"I am declining the RRHOF awards show...turning it down because it wasn’t something that reflects the work that Studio Musicians do and did in the golden era of the 1960s Recording Hits.”

Kaye took issue with the "Wrecking Crew" name that has been applied to her rand some of her contemporaries - studio musicians who were the backbone of the hit songs of the 1960's.

“I was never a ‘wrecker’ at all,” she adamantly claimed.

“Please know our only name was Studio Musicians, not the name a drummer made up for his own quest for fame," she added, referring to Hal Blaine - the drummer who created the "Wrecking Crew" nickname.

Kaye also seemed to be upset that she was being singled out for induction instead of everyone as a group.

“You are always part of a TEAM, not a solo artist at all,” Kaye said in her post.

"I refuse to be part of a process that is something else rather than what I believe in, for others’ benefit and not reflecting on the truth — we all enjoyed working with EACH OTHER. There’s more to it than meets the eye, just so you know.”

Kaye has been upset by previous homages intended to honor her. In 2020, she was upset over a character based on her in the hit series "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," saying the show characterized her as a "cartoon."

"My life is not a joke. Nobody contacted me. I didn’t know a thing about it," Kaye said about the show's tribute.

"I thought that was pretty bad — kind of like slander. … Don’t get me wrong, I have a sense of humor … but I am a professional. This is like a putdown to me.”

During her illustrious career, Kaye worked with some of the greatest names in music history including Quincy Jones, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand and Elvis Presley.