Inductees: Nick Ashford | Michael Jackson | Barry Manilow | Randy Newman | Valerie Simpson | Gordon Sumner p/k/a Sting
Special Awards Recipients: Carole King | Stevie Wonder | Stephen Swid | Ed Murphy | Garth Brooks | "You're A Grand Old Flag"
The National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame, the organization dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, returns for its highly anticipated 33nd annual induction and awards dinner, scheduled for Thursday, June 13 at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. At a kick-off event in New York City, Songwriters Hall of Fame Chairman/CEO Hal David announced this year's inductees, which include Gordon Sumner p/k/a Sting, Michael Jackson, Randy Newman, Barry Manilow and Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson.
"The Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards & Dinner is so important because it's a time when some of the premier songwriters in the world come together to honor their own," commented Hal David. "That kind of camaraderie creates a very special night and we're looking forward to another great event this year."
At each kick-off event for the Songwriters Hall of Fame, gifted and promising songwriters are awarded a scholarship called the Abe Olman Publisher's Award for Excellence in Songwriting, named for one of the founding members. This year's winners and songwriters to watch include Johnny Rodgers, John Stephens, Elizabeth Jordan, Colin Brooks and Lee Kweller.
