Led by Chairman/CEO Hal David, and with a bevy of legendary tunesmiths in the house, the ribbon was cut at the October 19th opening of the Songwriters Hall of Fame Gallery at L.A.‘s GRAMMY Museum.
Welcoming speeches were given by Hal David, NARAS President Neil Portnow and GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, after which, the ribbon was cut by David, accompanied by SHOF President Linda Moran, Portnow and Santelli. In attendance were SHOF inductees Paul Williams, Lamont Dozier, Mac Davis, Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Jackie DeShannon, Charles Fox and Roger Greenaway , along with SHOF board members John LoFrumento, Irwin Robinson, Karen Sherry, Charlie Feldman, Robbin Ahrold, Mary Jo Mennella, John Titta, Evan Lamberg and Jim Corwin, as well as members of the press and other friends of the SHOF. What followed the cutting of the ribbon were three nights of festivities and magic.
That same night, David and Dozier were joined by Ashford and Simpson, Mac Davis and Paul Williams—who acted as emcee—for a Songwriter Legends-in-the-Round panel, in which each writer sang and spoke about three of their classics. Williams did his “Theme to The Love Boat” “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “The Rainbow Connection.” Dozier’s segment featured “I Can’t Help Myself,” “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “Stop, in the Name of Love.” David did “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” “Raindrops Are Falling on My Head” and “This Guy’s in Love With You,” while Davis picked “Memories,” “In the Ghetto” and “A Little Less Conversation.” Ashford and Simpson focused on “You’re All I Need to Get By,” “Ain’t Nothin’ Like the Real Thing,” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Wednesday, October 20th was a mesmerizing evening with Jimmy Webb, who played such masterworks as “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman” and “Galveston,” and answered questions posed by Paul Grein, veteran journalist and music historian.
Thursday’s Master Class captivated, with Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, writers of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “On Broadway” and many other songs that have become “part of the DNA of several generations.”
Commenting on the SHOF Gallery at The Grammy Museum, Hal David said: “This is the start of the realization of our longtime dream of a bricks and mortar presence for our Hall of Fame. We are most grateful to our friends at The Recording Academy and The GRAMMY Museum for this opportunity to give physical expression to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, one of the country’s premier music cities and home to so many SHOF inductees.”
The new SHOF Gallery is an interactive exhibit incorporating elements of the SHOF Virtual Musuem and highlighted by a booth where the participant can “finish” a song started by songwriting legends the likes of Hal David or Motown great Lamont Dozier.
Go here for video coverage of the Songwriters Hall of Fame Gallery opening at the Grammy Museum!