Conversation so far:
Why was there a controversy?
Brown's first solo recording did not meet that criterion.
What was the criteria?
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's criterion states that only artists whose first recording had been out for more than 25 years were eligible for induction.
Did many people want to overrule this?
In 2011, a special committee was set up to correct exclusions which might have occurred during the first two years of Rock Hall inductions .
What was the end result?
Bennett, as the Famous Flames' only surviving member, accepted the honor in person in Cleveland on April 14, 2012.
Were they the only ones to bypass the rule through the new committee?
The Famous Flames (Byrd, Bennett, Terry and Stallworth) were inducted in April 2012 alongside other "backing groups.
Anything else you found interesting in this section?
In May 2012, the oldies music magazine Goldmine inducted James Brown & The Famous Flames into their first class of The Goldmine Hall of Fame.
Did they receive any other awards?
CANNOTANSWER.
Who else came to the induction?
Smokey Robinson, who did the induction honors for all of the groups.

Question: What is his significance to have such an honor?
Self-contained rewrite: What is Smokey Robinson's significance to have such an honor of inducting groups into the Goldmine Hall of Fame?