Vote for your favorite gospel organists in Hammond Organ USA's inaugural Hall of Fame ballot

From Hammond Organ USA- Hammond Organ USA announces the formation of a Hall Of Fame to commemorate the Pioneers who have advanced (and continue to advance) the musical legacy of Laurens Hammond's iconic instrument.

We want Hammond fans worldwide to help in the selection process, by choosing and voting from a list of over 100 candidates, casting your choices on Hammond's official Facebook Hall of Fame page.

Voting begins October 6 and ends on November 30, 2013. The top 25 will then be referred to our Blue-Ribbon Panel of music industry journalists, artists and executives who will confirm and elect the "freshman class".

The Hammond Hall of Fame finalists will be inducted at a special ceremony/concert to be held at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel during the Winter NAMM show in January 2014.

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The Hammond organ is a pillar of church culture. Regardless of the instrumentation featured on gospel recordings, the church signature sound is completed by the Hammond Organ. Whether the model is the A,B,C,L or M that churchy sound can only from a Hammond organ or module. 

Of course, no Hammond setup is complete without a Leslie rotary speaker. The combination of the two are incredible and have changed the way the world enjoys music. Some of the most innovative sound pioneers have played gospel music. For example, the way Billy Preston stood up and improvised on the pedals is unlike any other! Artists like Preston,Moses Tyson, Jr., Wendell Lowe and Ralph Lofton have shifted the organ from the background accompaniment to a solo instrument. 

The dean of jazz organ, Jimmy Smith stands as the quintessential solo organist. Contemporary artists like Joey Defrancesco keep the jazz solo tradition alive. The organ doesn't belong to the church but that humming Leslie sound sure will bring Sunday morning to mind in a hurry! 

Musicians like Chester Thompson and Booker T. Jones captivated listeners of all genres with R&B and soul bands throughout the country. Even the most casual music lovers know "Green Onions" when they hear it. As far as Thompson goes, His work with Santana was probably his most popular work, being featured on many the group's greatest hits! 

These incomparable artists in their own right form the first class of Hammond Organ USA Hall of Fame nominees 2013. To assemble the first class of Hammond Hall of Fame honorees, Hammond Organ USA is employing the power of social media. The entire voting process will play out via the Hammond Organ USA page on facebook. 

Scroll through the name cards below to see the names of some of the greatest names to ever grace the organ bench. 

VOTE HERE