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Songwriters Hall of Fame

The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) is an American institution founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, music publisher/songwriter Abe Olman, and publisher/executive Howie Richmond to honor those whose work, represent, and maintain, the heritage and legacy of a spectrum of the most beloved English language songs from the world's popular music songbook. It not only celebrates these established songwriters, but is also involved in the development of new English language songwriting talent through workshops, showcases, and scholarships. There are many programs designed to teach and discover new English language songwriters. Nile Rodgers serves as the organization's chairman.[1]

Established

1969

34°02′41″N 118°15′53″W / 34.04472°N 118.26472°W / 34.04472; -118.26472

Music museum

Linda Moran

E Line A Line 
Pico station

songhall.org

The Hall of Fame was formed in 1969, and in 2010, an exhibit was put on display online inside the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.[2] The Hall has no permanent place of residence, and because the awards are not televised, there would be no other digital recording of the event for posterity.[3]


There are numerous examples of collaborating songwriters being inducted in unison, with each person being considered a separate entrant. The inaugural year featured 120 inductees, many of whom had a professional partnership, such as Rodgers and Hammerstein. Burt Bacharach and Hal David followed in 1972. Betty Comden and Adolph Green were selected in 1980, and Leiber and Stoller were inducted in 1985. John Lennon and Paul McCartney were inducted in 1987.[4][5] In the same year, Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Barry Mann, and Cynthia Weil were inducted into the SHOF. Motown's Holland-Dozier-Holland team were honored the following year. Elton John and Bernie Taupin were among those chosen in 1992, and the pop music group the Bee Gees had all three brothers inducted in 1994. In 1995, Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe as well as Gamble and Huff were inducted. John Denver was inducted in 1996. The Eagles' Glenn Frey and Don Henley were co-inductees in 2000. Queen was the first rock band to have all their band members inducted in 2003.[6][7] Five members of Earth, Wind & Fire were in the class of 2010. Four members of Kool and the Gang were honored in 2018. Through 2019, 461 individuals were inducted into the SHOF.


Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was postponed until 2022.[8] The Songwriters Hall of Fame president and CEO, Linda Moran, chose to move the event so that a proper celebration could take place.[9] New 2020 inductees would include Mariah Carey, Chad Hugo, the Isley Brothers, Annie Lennox, Steve Miller, Rick Nowels, William “Mickey” Stevenson, Dave Stewart and Pharrell Williams. Additionally, Jody Gerson of Universal Music Group will be given the Abe Olman Publisher Award and Paul Williams is set to receive the Johnny Mercer Award.[10] On March 8, 2022, the ceremony was officially announced to take place on June 16, 2022, at its longtime location, the Marriott Marquis New York’s Times Square.[11]

1983 –

Howard S. Richmond

1986 – Leonard Feist[14]

[13]

1987 –

Lou Levy

1988 –

Buddy Killen

1990 – & Martin Bandier

Charles Koppelman

1991 – Frank Military & Jay Morgenstern

1992 – Bonnie Bourne

1993 –

Berry Gordy

1994 – Buddy Morris

1995 – Al Gallico

1996 –

Freddy Bienstock

1997 – Gene Goodman

1998 – Irwin Z. Robinson

1999 –

Bill Lowery

2000 –

Julian Aberbach

2001 –

Ralph Peer

2002 – Edward P. Murphy

2003 –

Nicholas Firth

2004 – Les Bider

2005 – Beebe Bourne

2006 –

Allen Klein

2007 – [15]

Don Kirshner

2008 –

Milt Okun

2009 – Maxyne Lang

2010 – Keith Mardak

2012 –

Lance Freed

2017 – [16]

Caroline Bienstock

2022 – [17][18]

Jody Gerson

The Abe Olman Publisher Award is given to publishers who have had a substantial number of songs that have become world-renowned and who have helped to further the careers and success of many songwriters.[12]

1986 –

Jule Styne

1988 – Stanley Adams

1992 – Edward P. Murphy

1996 – & Oscar Brand

Anna Sosenko

1997 –

Thomas A. Dorsey

The Board of Directors Award is presented to an individual selected by the SHOF Board in recognition of his or her service to the songwriting community and the advancement of popular music.[19]

2015 – [21]

Lady Gaga

2019 – [22]

Justin Timberlake

The Contemporary Icon Award was established in 2015 to recognize songwriter-artists who attained an iconic status in pop culture.[20]

Global Ambassador Award[edit]

In 2017, Pitbull was presented the Global Ambassador Award.[23] The award is given to an individual "whose music has true worldwide appeal, crossing genre, cultural and national boundaries".[24]

2004 – (Matchbox Twenty)

Rob Thomas

2005 –

Alicia Keys

2006 –

John Mayer

2007 –

John Legend

2008 – (Goo Goo Dolls)

John Rzeznik

2009 –

Jason Mraz

2010 –

Taylor Swift

2011 –

Drake

2012 –

Ne-Yo

2013 –

Benny Blanco

2014 – (Imagine Dragons)

Dan Reynolds

2015 – (Fun)

Nate Ruess

2016 –

Nick Jonas

2017 –

Ed Sheeran

2018 –

Sara Bareilles

2019 –

Halsey

2022 -

Lil Nas X

2023 -

Post Malone

2024 -

SZA

First presented in 2004 as the Starlight Award, the prize was renamed in 2006 as the Hal David Starlight Award in honor of the SHOF Chairman's longtime support of young songwriters.[25][26] Award recipients are gifted songwriters who are at an apex in their careers and are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs.[27]

1981 –

Chuck Berry

1983 – & Margaret Whiting

Rosemary Clooney

1990 –

Whitney Houston

1991 –

Barry Manilow

1995 –

Michael Bolton

1996 –

Gloria Estefan

1998 –

Diana Ross

1999 –

Natalie Cole

2000 –

Johnny Mathis

2001 –

Dionne Warwick

2002 –

Garth Brooks

2003 –

Clive Davis

2008 –

Anne Murray

2009 –

Tom Jones

2010 –

Phil Ramone

2011 –

Chaka Khan

2014 –

Doug Morris

2016 –

Seymour Stein

2018 –

Lucian Grainge

The Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award is given to musical artists who have had a substantial number of hit songs across a lengthy career, and who, according to the Hall of Fame, "recognize the importance of songs and their writers".[28][29]

1980 – [33]

Frank Sinatra

1981 –

Yip Harburg

1982 –

Harold Arlen

1983 –

Sammy Cahn

1985 –

Alan Jay Lerner

1986 –

Mitchell Parish

1987 –

Jerry Herman

1990 – & Sheldon Harnick

Jerry Bock

1991 – & Adolph Green

Betty Comden

1992 –

Burton Lane

1993 –

Jule Styne

1994 –

Irving Caesar

1995 –

Cy Coleman

1996 – & Hal David

Burt Bacharach

1997 –

Alan and Marilyn Bergman

1998 –

Paul Simon

1999 –

Stephen Sondheim

2000 –

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

2001 –

Billy Joel

2002 –

Carole King

2003 –

Jimmy Webb

2004 –

Stevie Wonder

2005 –

Smokey Robinson

2006 –

Kris Kristofferson

2007 –

Dolly Parton

2008 –

Paul Anka

2009 –

Holland–Dozier–Holland

2010 –

Phil Collins

2011 – & Cynthia Weil

Barry Mann

2013 – & Bernie Taupin

Elton John

2014 –

Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff

2015 –

Van Morrison

2016 –

Lionel Richie

2017 –

Alan Menken

2018 –

Neil Diamond

2019 –

Carole Bayer Sager

2022 – [17][18]

Paul Williams

2023 –

Tim Rice

2024 -

Diane Warren

The Johnny Mercer Award is the highest honor bestowed by the event. It goes to writers already inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for having established a history of outstanding creative works.[30][31][32]

1988 –

Martin Segal

1989 –

Roger Enrico

1990 –

Edgar Bronfman Jr.

1991 – Edwin M. Cooperman

1992 –

Jonathan Tisch

1993 –

Michel Roux

1994 –

Philip Dusenberry

1995 –

Theodore J. Forstmann

1996 –

Sumner Redstone

1997 – Dr. Samuel LeFrak

1998 –

David Checketts

1999 –

Robert Mondavi

2001 –

Iris Cantor

2002 –

Stephen Swid

2003 –

Martin Bandier

2004 – Michael Goldstein

2005 –

Henry Juszkiewicz

2023 -

Anthony Mason

The Patron of the Arts is presented to influential industry executives who are not primarily in the music business but are great supporters of the performing arts.[34]

2012 –

Woody Guthrie

2013 –

Berry Gordy

The Pioneer Award was established in 2012 to recognize the career of a historic creator of an extensive body of musical work that has been a major influence on generations of songwriters.[35][36]

1980 –

Ethel Merman

1981 –

Tony Bennett

1982 –

Dinah Shore

1983 –

Willie Nelson

1984 –

Benny Goodman

1985 –

John Hammond

1987 –

Jerry Wexler

1988 –

Dick Clark

1989 –

Quincy Jones

1990 –

B.B. King

1991 –

Gene Autry

1992 –

Nat King Cole

1993 –

Ray Charles

1994 –

Lena Horne

1995 – & Eydie Gormé

Steve Lawrence

1996 –

Frankie Laine

1997 –

Vic Damone

1998 –

Berry Gordy

1999 –

Kenny Rogers

2000 –

Neil Diamond

2001 – & Emilio Estefan

Gloria

2002 –

Stevie Wonder

2003 –

Patti LaBelle

2004 –

Neil Sedaka

2005 –

Les Paul

2006 –

Peter, Paul & Mary

2012 –

Bette Midler

Named for the former President of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals or teams who are recognized as having done a great deal to further the successes of songwriters.[37]

2010 – Laura Warshauer

2011 –

Kendra Morris

2012 –

Emily King

2013 –

Ben Howard

2014 –

Jack Skuller

2015 –

Jenny O.

2016 –

Shun Ng

2017 –

Katie Pruitt

2018 – [40]

Sylvan Esso

2019 –

Adia Victoria

2003 -

Tony Bennett

2005 –

Bill Medley

2009 –

Andy Williams

2012 –

Ben E. King

The Towering Performance Award is given in recognition of one-of-a-kind performances by one-of-a-kind singers that have recorded outstanding and unforgettable interpretations of songs that have become iconic standards.[42]

1995 – "" (written by Herman Hupfeld)

As Time Goes By

1996 – "" (written by Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill)

Happy Birthday To You

1997 – "" (lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis)

How High The Moon

1998 – "" (written by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé)

The Christmas Song

1999 – "" (written by Bart Howard)

Fly Me To The Moon

2000 – "" (written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons)

All of Me

2000 – "" (recorded by Jimmie Davis)

You Are My Sunshine

2001 – "" (lyrics by Beth Slater Whitson and music by Leo Friedman)

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

2002 – "" (written by George M. Cohan)

You're a Grand Old Flag

2003 – "" (written by George Cory and Douglass Cross)[45]

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

2004 – "" (lyrics by Hal David and music by Burt Bacharach)

What the World Needs Now is Love

2005 – "" (written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil)

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

2006 – "" (lyrics by Katharine Purvis and music by James Milton Black)

When the Saints Go Marching In

2007 - "" (lyrics by Hy Zaret and music by Alex North)

Unchained Melody

2008 – "" (lyrics by Jack Norworth and music by Albert Von Tilzer)

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

2009 – "" (lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Henry Mancini)

Moon River

2010 – "" (written by Paul Simon)

Bridge Over Troubled Water

2011 – "" (written by Ervin Drake)

It Was a Very Good Year

2012 – "" (written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller)

Stand by Me

2013 – "" (written by Sam Cooke)

A Change Is Gonna Come

2014 – "" (lyrics by E.Y. Harburg and music by Harold Arlen)

Over The Rainbow

2015 – "" (written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss)

What a Wonderful World

The Towering Song Award is given to creators of an individual song that has influenced the culture in a unique way over the years.[43][44][29]

2011 –

Hal David

2014 –

Del Bryant

2015 – John A. Lofrumento

2019 –

Martin Bandier

Created in 2011, The Visionary Leadership Award recognizes members of the Hall of Fame Board of Directors who have made a significant contribution in furthering the ongoing mission of the organization.[46][47]

List of Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

List of music museums

Edit this at Wikidata

Official website

at NAMM Oral History Collection (June 12, 2013)

Linda Moran Interview