PRINCE, GEORGE HARRISON, ZZ TOP, JACKSON BROWNE, BOB SEGER, DELLS, TRAFFIC ARE IN THE HALL

Prince, the late George Harrison and doo-wop legends The Dells are among the artists who’ll be 2004 Inductees in the “Performer” category.

Also being inducted: politically charged singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, Detroit rock legend Bob Seger, Texas blues beards ZZ Top and U.K. psychedelic rockers Traffic.

Among those on the ballot who didn’t make the final cut are Patti Smith, The Stooges, Sex Pistols, Gram Parsons, John Mellencamp, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The “5” Royales and Black Sabbath.

The announcement was made today by the Foundation’s Suzan Evans, Executive Director of the Foundation.

The 19th Annual Induction Ceremony will be held Monday, March 15 in New York at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel:

The German-born Browne is among the most renowned singer-songwriters to emerge from the West Coast scene in the early '70s, penning such classics as “Doctor My Eyes” and “Running on Empty.”

The Dells first recorded in 1953 and still perform today with most of their original members. Having hit the charts in every decade since their inception with songs like "Oh What a Night" and "Stay in My Corner," they're true standard-bearers of the seminal doo-wop form.

Following his stellar contributions to the Beatles as singer, songwriter and lead guitarist, Harrison embarked on a solo career that included the landmark album All Things Must Pass and such songs as "What Is Life," "My Sweet Lord" and his version of "Got My Mind Set on You." He also established himself as a producer of music and films and as a humanitarian on the world stage, organizing and performing in The Concert for Bangla Desh, among other benefits.

A firebrand singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Prince has followed his own path since his self-produced bow at the tender age of 20. Since that time, he has fused virtually every imaginable pop form—including, but not limited to, funk, soul, rock, psychedelia, power-pop and techno—in genre-smashing classics like "Purple Rain," "1999," "When Doves Cry," "Kiss," "Raspberry Beret" and "Nothing Compares 2 U." The only question now is under what name he’ll be inducted.

Detroit institution Seger began scoring hits in the mid-'70s, achieving nearly 20 Top 40 singles in the ensuing decade. Honoring the soulful tradition of the music that inspired him in his formative years, Seger hit a nerve with songs like "Old Time Rock and Roll," "Like a Rock," "Rock and Roll Never Forgets," "Night Moves" and the garage-band anti-war anthem, “2 + 2=?.”

U.K. band Traffic were a key link between the British Invasion of the '60s and the burgeoning "progressive" scene of the following decade. Led by the multi-talented Stevie Winwood, the group blended rock, jazz, blues and folk on such influential recordings as “Dear Mr. Fantasy,” “Paper Sun” and “You Can All Join In” and albums such as John Barleycorn Must Die and The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys.

Texas trio ZZ Top's adrenaline-boosted rock is an anodyne of boogie, blues and hard rock. Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard hit their commercial stride in the '70s, but scored in the generally guitar-phobic '80s with stylish, playful videos and continue barnstorming stages to this day. The band's hits include "Sharp Dressed Man," "La Grange," "Cheap Sunglasses," "Gimme All Your Lovin'" and "Legs."

Commented Evans: “These inductees represent many influential genres of rock and roll, including pop, funk, soul, boogie and psychedelia. We expect this year’s show to be unique and exciting with highly anticipated moments.”

Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. The Foundation's nominating committee, composed of rock and roll historians, selects nominees each year in the "artist" category. Ballots are then sent to an international voting body of about 700 rock experts.

The honoree in the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Non-Performer Category will be announced shortly.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was formed in 1983 and the first induction ceremony was held in 1986. All inductees are represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum, in Cleveland OH.