2007 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Awards Ceremony A Huge Success

THE STARS AND SONGWRITING COMMUNITY CAME OUT TO HONOR THIS YEAR’S INDUCTEES – DON BLACK, JACKSON BROWNE, IRVING BURGIE, MICHAEL MASSER, BOBBY WEINSTEIN AND TEDDY RANDAZZO* -  AND HONOREES DOLLY PARTON, JOHN LEGEND AND DON KIRSHNER

NEW YORK, N.Y. – JUNE 8, 2007 - The 2007 Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) Awards was a smashing success this year as SHOF Chairman/CEO Hal David and President Linda Moran helped induct songwriting heavyweights including Don Black, Jackson Browne, Irving Burgie, Michael Masser, Bobby Weinstein and the late Teddy Randazzo into its hallowed Hall, and saluted honorees Dolly Parton, John Legend and Don Kirshner.

The evening was full of once in a lifetime, special moments. Inductee Don Black was presented with his induction award by three-time Tony Award winner and theater and film composing great Charles Strouse and Black’s gorgeous classic “Born Free” was inspiringly performed by rising jazz star Lizz Wright.  Grammy Award winning singer songwriter Marc Cohn presented and performed for his old friend Jackson Browne, doing Browne’s song “Too Many Angels” proud. Cohn said of his friend, “Jackson is one of the greatest songwriters to grace this industry. He taught me the difference between a song sung by the songwriter and a song sung by an interpreter.” As Browne accepted his honor, he encapsulated what many songwriters there that night must have felt, “Music has been a life-line, a way of healing myself…it’s been the best friend I’ve ever had.”  And Jackson didn’t disappoint the packed house, performing a moving “Lives In The Balance,” a fitting example of how his social and political activism has influenced much of his work.

Industry icon Clive Davis told the packed house the story of how he came to know and befriend inductee Michael Masser as he presented the honor to him last night. Marilyn McCoo of the 70’s hit group The Fifth Dimension, looking lovely as ever, performed a rousing rendition of Masser’s giant song “The Greatest Love Of All.” Masser was magnanimous in his acceptance speech, focusing on how a song had the power to make one’s day a little better, make one feel loved, make the world a bit brighter. Little Anthony honored his old friends the late Teddy Randazzo and songwriting partner Bobby Weinstein with an infectious version of their hit “Goin’ Out Of My Head,” while past SHOF inductee Bill Withers presented to Irving Burgie. Mr. Burgie, humbly and warmly, led the audience in a celebratory rendition of “Day-O,” followed by a standing ovation.

The irrepressible and wonderful Dolly Parton received a roar of approval with a standing ovation as she was introduced by iconic poet Rod McKuen, who told the story of the early days when he and Parton worked together and how they bonded because they both grew up poor. Dolly was honored with the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award, the most prestigious special award of the evening, reserved for previous inductees. After good naturedly entertaining the audience with some jokes about her body and looks, she shared, “Songwriting is my favorite thing to do. It is my private time with God. That’s when I feel closest to God even when the songs I’m writing are just God-awful.” Her phenomenally successful song “I Will Always Love You” was done proud by Broadway singing sensation Idina Menzel, who soared in her riveting and powerful rendition of the song. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Dolly wowed the audience of music lovers with an infectious rendition of her hit “9 to 5,” to which the audience sang along with gusto. Kanye West came out to give props to his friend and label artist John Legend, presenting him with this year’s Hal David Starlight Award. West told the story about how he had discovered John through his cousin, and when he started working with him, was so impressed by his ability to transcend genre, he began taking him to all of his producing sessions with artists like Jay-Z. They couldn’t understand why Kanye would be bringing this unknown, neo-soul artist along until they heard him, at which point they couldn’t get enough of Legend’s soulful, sparkling vocals and arrangements. Legend did a heartfelt solo piano performance of his break out hit “Ordinary People.”

The bubbly and extraordinarily talented SHOF inductee Neil Sedaka presented to and performed for Don Kirshner who received the first ever Abe Olman Publisher Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Music Industry. Kirshner received accolades not only from Sedaka, but from two of the other songwriters he inspired and nurtured in the old Brill Building days – Tony Orlando and Toni Wine, who told of how, without Don, they and many other songwriters wouldn’t have succeeded. Orlando recollected “Don used to say, ‘Song first, writer first, it all begins with them.’” Mr. Kirshner echoed that sentiment in his acceptance, when he explained, “Songs become our best friends, become points of light [we] come to for our memories,” while dedicating his award to his “lovely bride, Sheila.” Sedaka gave the audience a treat as he performed his own massive 1962 and 1976 hit “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.”

This year’s Towering Song – “Unchained Melody” – was written by Hy Zaret (lyrics) and the late Alex North (music). Mr. Zaret, not well enough to attend the awards ceremony, filmed a video of his acceptance speech and the “Inside The Actor’s Studio” creator/host James Lipton presented the honor to Hy. The iconic song was performed by New Orleans’ Nigerian/American songstress, Ledisi, who blew the doors off with her big voice and passionate rendition.

All in all, it was a very special night for songwriters, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and those lucky enough to witness it. As Hall of Fame Chairman/CEO Hall David eloquently put, “Our songs are the mirror of our lives. Through them, we share the wide range of human emotion and experience; we narrate our journeys, our history, our struggles and our achievements.  We use our songs to break down barriers and bring people from all walks of life – and all corners of our world – together, as one.”