This year’s Towering Song will be “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” written by George C. Cory, Jr. & Douglass Cross and published by Colgems-EMI Music Inc. In connection with the Towering Song, the Songwriters Hall of Fame is presenting a new award, the Towering Performance Award.
The Towering Song Award goes to the writers and publishers of the song, while the Towering Performance Award is given to the artist who has one the quintessential performance on that song. The first recipient of the Towering Performance Award is Tony Bennett, for his timeless rendition of this year’s towering song.
“The Towering Performance Award has been established to recognize one of a kind performances by one of a kind singers,” commented SHOF Chairman, Hal David. “For our first presentation of this award, we feel that Tony Bennett is the perfect choice. Tony Bennett is a songwriter’s singer, who has recorded outstanding and unforgettable interpretations of many pop songs which have become standards. He is one of the best examples of the true marriage of song and singer, and all of us at the Hall of Fame look forward to applauding his unique artistry.”