by Mike Goldstein, AlbumCoverHallofFame.com
This latest class of honorees in the 6 major categories - as voted on by a world-wide panel of music, art and marketing experts in the area of album cover art & packaging - represents the "who's who" of creative and production talent, with many recognized names from the fine art and design world.
Since officially launching the site in 2012, we’ve inducted five classes of Inductees based on the results from the group’s yearly surveys (the initial three classes focused on nominees who began their careers as album cover artists between the years 1960 – 1975, 1976 – 1990 and from 1991 – present, while the last two years’ voting looked at all producers active any time since 1960). Hundreds of additional biographies were added for consideration by the esteemed panel of writers, curators of galleries (retail and online) that focus on album cover imagery, art/design museum curators and music marketing experts.
As mentioned previously, this year’s Class allowed for the consideration of any talent not previously inducted into the ACHOF. The people under consideration this year are people who BEGAN their careers in the field at any time during the period the ACHOF focuses its attention on (1960 – present). As you can figure, this was a very long list, but after a research, nominating and voting process that began in September and ended in mid-November with our final vote, the ACHOF Voting Panel has selected a list of individuals and companies that very clearly represent the best examples of a large number of talented men, women and teams who’ve cumulatively created and published a huge portfolio of memorable album cover images and record packages.
Through the ongoing efforts of those who support of this Hall of Fame, our goal continues to be to recognize the contributions of those who have had a significant impact in the ongoing development and advancement of rock and roll album cover-related art direction, illustration, photography and package design, as well as the record labels and musical acts who've supported great work in the field. Based on each inductee's body of work in the field, we feel that their talents have exemplified the best possible efforts made to package and promote their clients' recorded music, and so we're privileged to have been able to include them in this year's poll and, ultimately, our lists of honorees.
I’d also like to note that this year’s voting was rather unique in that two individuals - Art Director/Designer Craig Butler and Art Director/Illustrator Geoff Halpin – were inducted in two categories (how multi-talented of them!). Also, we had a tie in the “Musical Acts with a long-standing commitment to great Album Cover imagery” category, with Earth, Wind & Fire and R.E.M. both getting the same number of votes, so we’re pleased to add both to our list of inductees this year.
We’ve divided the Inductees into their respective categories so that our readers can get to know each winner individually and within their group of peers. Below, you'll find a summary of the winners in each category:
Album Cover Photographer Inductees - Richard E. Aaron, George DuBose, Ross Halfin, Don Hunstein, and Trevor Key
Album Cover Illustrator Inductees (inc. those specializing in logos and typography) - Geoff Halpin, David Juniper, Victor Moscoso, Shusei Nagoka and John Pasche
Album Cover Designer Inductees - Craig Butler, David Costa, Hugh Gilmour, Carl Glover and Geoff Halpin
Album Cover Art Director Inductees - Gary Burden, Craig Butler, Art Chantry, Gail Marowitz and Tony Wright
Inducted Record Labels - Merge, Polydor/Polygram and Stax/Volt
Inducted Musical Acts with a long-standing commitment to great Album Cover imagery - The Clash, Earth Wind & Fire (Tie), Genesis and R.E.M. (Tie)
A more-detailed document that includes samples of each Inductees album cover credits, along with links to their respective web sites, can be found on the ACHOF site at
https://albumcoverhalloffame.wordpress.com/achof-nominee-inductee-menu-page/achof-class-of-2017-inductee-intro-page/
Qualified individuals become eligible for induction 5 years after the publication of their first record album, CD, DVD or digital album cover image. Please note that some names will be seen in more than one category, as it is that certain individuals serve in more than one role in a project. Inductees are listed alphabetically.
Going forward, the Voting Panel – currently consisting of over 75 experts in the fields of packaging design, illustration, photography and music product marketing – will continue the process each year (beginning again in Summer 2018 to nominate the next class of Inductees representing those whose works were published any time during the period of 1960 – present) by selecting nominees in each of the featured categories for consideration by both that voting body and those nominees that receive the most total votes in their respective categories will be inducted. Panel members discussed the possibility of opening some aspect of next year’s voting to the public – we’ll notify fans and the press once any decisions have been made regarding this effort.
To see a list of all of the current inductees to the Album Cover Hall of Fame, please visit - https://albumcoverhalloffame.wordpress.com/achof-nominee-inductee-menu-page/achof-inductee-list-main-page/
Thanks again to all of the members of the Voting Panel who participated this year – this couldn’t be done without your continued support.
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