Congratulations to Randy Newman, a 2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominee! The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation has just announced this year's list of nominees, which includes a diverse list of 15 artists, from Deep Purple to Public Enemy.

"The definition of ‘rock and roll’ means different things to different people, but as broad as the classifications may be, they all share a common love of the music,” says Joel Peresman, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “This year we again proudly put forth a fantastic array of groups and artists that span the entire genre that is ‘rock and roll’.”

Ballots will be sent to an international voting body of more than 600 artists, historians, and members of the music industry. And this year, for the first time in its history, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is offering fans the opportunity to officially participate in the induction selection process. Beginning today and continuing through December 5, the public can vote for the nominees they believe to be most deserving of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The top five artists, as selected by the public, will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2013 inductees. Vote today at rockhall.com.

All inductees are ultimately represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, the nonprofit organization that exists to educate its audiences on the global impact of the rock and roll art form via the museum, as well as its education programs and library and archives.

After starting his songwriting career as a teenager, Newman launched into recording as a singer and pianist in 1968 with his self-title album Randy Newman. His reputation as a songwriter grew quickly, as Judy Collins, Dusty Springfield, Peggy Lee, Harry Nilsson, and Joe Cocker, among others, recorded his work. Throughout the 1970s he released several other acclaimed albums such as 12 Songs, Sail Away, and Good Old Boys. His most recent albums include two volumes of the Randy Newman Songbook, 2008’s Harps and Angels, and the CD/DVD set Live in London, released last year. In addition to his solo recordings and regular international touring, Newman began composing and scoring for films in the 1980s.

The 28th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held in Los Angeles at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on Thursday, April 18, 2013. The show will be broadcast on HBO at a later date.

For more information and to vote on this year's inductees, go to rockhall.com.