Jamming: Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Peter Wolf and Lauryn Hill

The three men led a rousing jam session on stage singing The Beatles' Let It Be, and were joined by guitarist Eric Clapton, singer Bonnie Raitt, recent Grammy winner Lauryn Hill, soul legend Wilson Pickett and U2's lead singer Bono.

However, tragedy cast a shadow over the event - with the recent deaths of Springfield and Sir Paul's wife Linda from breast cancer, and illness preventing funk star Curtis Mayfield from attending.

Sir Elton John inducted Dusty Springfield, and spoke of how he had joined her fan club in his youth and stuck her pictures on his bedroom wall.

"Every song she sang, she claimed as her own," he said.

The Hall of Fame honour was announced in November and Ms Springfield had hoped to attend the ceremony herself, despite the illness she had battled for years.

But she died at her home in Henley-on-Thames on 2 March at the age of 59. Hundreds of fans and friends crammed the streets of the Oxfordshire town for her funeral on Friday.

Tribute to Linda McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney: Paid tribute to Linda

Sir Paul McCartney made his second appearance in the Hall Of Fame. He is already recognised for his career in The Beatles.

He was joined onstage by his daughter Stella, and paid tribute to his wife Linda, who died from breast cancer last year.

"I would like my baby to share this with me. She wanted this," he said.

Fashion designer Stella made her own mark - wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the motto "about time" with an expletive attached.

Bruce Springsteen was also honoured, and joined with his E Street Band for a brief set of 1970s classics. Next month they start their first tour in a decade.

No award for Springsteen's band

Bruce Spingsteen: Remembered his late father

He was inducted by Bono, and paid tribute to his late father, with whom he had a difficult relationship.

"If everything had gone great between us, what would I have written about? I tried to write happy songs in the early 90s, but the people didn't like it," he said.

However, the band cannot share the glory with Springsteen - they did not receive a billing on one of his records until 1986, and in the Hall of Fame's eyes have not been recording for the necessary 25 years.

"It's a misguided policy," said the band's drummer Max Weinberg.

Mayfield misses show

Billy Joel: Now concentrates on classical work

Curtis Mayfield was inducted, but had to stay away from the ceremony. He was left a quadriplegic in a 1990 stage accident, and he recently had his left leg amputated.

But his family said the Superfly singer - who also suffers from diabetes - was determined not to let illness beat him. He is working with Lauryn Hill on a duet for a new movie, Mod Squad.

Rock veteran Billy Joel embraced Ray Charles on stage, and said he learned his music from Charles, Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett.

He continues to perform, but he has not written a pop song in more then five years. He is now concentrating on classical composing.

"I know I've been referred to as derivative. I'm damn guilty. If everyone who is derivative was excluded from this institution, there wouldn't be any white people here," he said.

Beatles producer Sir George Martin was also inducted at the ceremony as a "non-performer".

Rock institution

Wilson Pickett on stage with Bruce Springsteen

The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was set up in 1983 to honour musicians and other people who have made "a significant impact over the evolution, development and perpetuation of rock and roll".

Musicians need to have had a career of over 25 years, while songwriters, producers, journalists and disc jockeys are also eligible if they "have had an impact on the development of rock and roll".

Among the first inductees - in 1986 - were Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, James Brown and Little Richard.

The foundation's voting body consists of 1,000 rock experts, and inducts between five and seven members each year.

Other British acts honoured include David Bowie, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and John Lennon. The Animals, Cream, The Who, The Kinks and Fleetwood Mac are also listed.

Inductees are featured in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame museum in Cleveland, Ohio, which exists to "preserve, exhibit and interpret the living heritage of rock and roll".