Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston among first R&B Hall of Fame inductees

Tragic superstars Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston are set to be immortalised with inductions into a brand new R&B Music Hall of Fame.

Plans for the Official R&B Music Hall of Fame Museum were announced this week (begs15Oct12) to honor those who have made notable contributions to the music genre.

The inaugural class of 2013, which features 25 inductees, will also include Aretha Franklin, James Brown, The Temptations, Otis Redding, The O'Jays and Gerald Levert.

A special induction ceremony will take place on 5 May (13) in Cleveland, Ohio.

Civil rights activist-turned-political pundit Reverend Al Sharpton will also be recognized at the event with the Ron Banks Humanitarian Award for his longterm support to soul and R&B artists in need.

Construction on the proposed R&B Music Hall of Fame Museum is expected to begin next summer (13) once organisers settle on a city to call home.

R&B is the latest genre to land its own Hall of Fame - a similar honor is planned for American Pop, while locals in Tennessee will celebrate the state's musical success next month (Nov12) when Elvis Presley and ZZ Top are inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.