The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s class of 2001 will include Aerosmith [ tickets ], Solomon Burke, the Flamingos, Michael Jackson, Queen, Paul Simon, Steely Dan and Ritchie Valens. Rolling Stone editor and publisher Jann Wenner revealed the new inductees during a live Tuesday morning (12/12) broadcast on VH1.

Simon and Jackson appeared on Rock Hall ballots as solo artists for the first time this year, but each previously had been inducted as a part of a group. Pop and R&B ground-breaker Jackson entered the Hall in 1997 with the Jackson 5, and singer-songwriter Simon was inducted in 1990 for his work in Simon and Garfunkel.

Blues rockers Aerosmith--a band that is still churning out hits after three decades--and theatrical rock band Queen had appeared on Rock Hall ballots for 2000, but failed to garner enough votes for entry at that time. Brainy jazz-rock band Steely Dan, pioneering doo-wop act the Flamingos, soul music trend-setter Solomon Burke, and Ritchie Valens--who died at 17 years old shortly after the release of “La Bamba” --had appeared on at least two previous Rock Hall ballots.

Inducted in the Rock Hall’s “Side-men” category were Johnny Johnson and James Burton. Johnson’s piano style is considered by many to be a basic building block of rock music. He played for Chuck Berry from the mid-‘50s through the 1970s, and contributed to the arrangements of most of Berry’s major hits.

Burton, a country music guitarist, toured and recorded with Elvis Presley and Rick Nelson, but is probably best known for his work on the track “Suzie-Q," sung by Dale Hawkins. His “chicken pickin’” guitar style produced staccato-sounding, single-string riffs and solos.

Chris Blackwell, who founded Island Records in 1959, will be the Rock Hall's 2001 "Non-Performer" inductee. Island’s success stories include Bob Marley, U2, Steve Winwood and Tom Waits.

Artists become eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their first record. The award aims to recognize the contributions of people "who have had a significant impact over the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock and roll," according to the Hall's literature. About 1,000 rock experts make up the voting panel. A special selection committee elects inductees in the "Non Performer" and "Side-men" categories.

To be inducted into the Hall, a performer must receive at least 50 percent of the vote, and even then, the Hall typically limits the number of inductees per year to seven or fewer. Winners are usually revealed in December, and induction ceremonies take place early the following year.

Though the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Cleveland, induction ceremonies typically take place in New York. The Sixteenth Annual Induction Ceremony will take place on March 19th at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. VH1 will telecast the ceremony on March 21.