Prince, Bob Seger, and Traffic were among those getting in the hall of fame.

NEW YORK (AP) – With nimble dance steps, blistering guitar and a trio of 1980s-era hits, Prince extended his purple reign to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday.

Detroit rocker Bob Seger, California singer-songwriter Jackson Browne and ex-Beatle George Harrison also joined the hall at its annual induction ceremony, along with ZZ Top, Traffic and the Dells.

Dressed in a white suit Prince brought the normally staid crowd to its feet with some vintage funk-rock. He played three of his hits: “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Sign O’ the Times” and “Kiss.”

A restless perfectionist, the Minneapolis-based singer often played every instrument on his discs. He said he was preoccupied early in his career with maintaining his freedom.

Prince was inducted by outrageous rappers OutKast and soulful singer Alicia Keys, who said Prince influenced them as they grew up.

Seger, who still lives in the Detroit area, burst from regional to national fame with the hits “Night Moves,” “Old Time Rock & Roll” and “Like a Rock,” the latter a longtime Chevy commercial theme.

Browne co-wrote “Take it Easy” for the Eagles, then was successful on his own with “Doctor My Eyes,” “The Pretender” and “Running on Empty.”

The “No Nukes” concert organizer has mixed the political with the personal throughout his career.

Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, two fellow members of the Traveling Wilburys, were on hand to salute Harrison. The guitarist joins John Lennon and Paul McCartney as Beatles also honored by the Rock Hall as solo artists.

Hirsute blues-rockers ZZ Top were an early MTV staple with the boogie hits, “Legs” and “Sharp-Dressed Man,” helped by the presence of little-dressed women in their videos.

Traffic featured teen prodigy organist Steve Winwood, who later went on to solo success. The pastoral, jazzy Traffic had hits with “Glad” and “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys.”

The Dells, a vocal harmony quintet that hit with “Oh What a Night” in 1955, were the inspiration for the film “The Five Heartbeats.” With only one personnel change, a group formed in high school is still performing together more than 50 years later.

Highlights of the awards ceremony will be shown on VH1 on Sunday.

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On the Net:

http://www.rockhall.com/

AP-ES-03-15-04 2204EST