Songwriters Hall of Fame announces 2010 nominations

October 16, 4:42 PMManhattan Local Music ExaminerJim Bessman

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John Mellencamp (Photo credit: Elaine Mellencamp)

The nominations for the 2010 Songwriters Hall of Fame (SongHall) induction ceremony have been announced, with ballots in the mail to the SongHall voting membership.

Songwriter nominees are in two categories—Non-Performing and Performing.

The nominees in the Non-Performing Songwriter category--with two representative song credits—are:

• Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart--The Monkees’ hits “Last Train To Clarksville” and “Valleri”
• Jackie DeShannon--“Put A Little Love In Your Heart” and Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes”
• Luther Dixon--The Crests’ “Sixteen Candles” and The Shirelles’ “Soldier Boy”
• David Foster--Chicago’s "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and Peter Cetera’s "The Glory of Love"
• Mark James--Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” and B.J. Thomas’s “Hooked On A Feeling”
• Robert John “Mutt” Lange--Def Leppard’s “Photograph” and Bryan Adams' “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You”
• Johnny Mandel--“Suicide Is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H*)” and Tony Bennett’s “The Shadow Of Your Smile”
• Jerry Ragovy & Bert Berns--Janis Joplin’s “Piece Of My Heart” and Miriam Makeba’s “Pata Pata”
• Harvey Schmidt & Tom Jones--Ed Ames’ “My Cup Runneth Over” and “Try To Remember” from The Fantasticks
• Billy Sherrill--Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” and David Houston’s “Almost Persuaded”
• Joe South--“Games People Play” and Lynn Anderson’s “ I Never Promised You A Rose Garden”
• Paul Vance & Lee Pockriss--Perry Como’s “Catch A Falling Star” and Brian Hyland’s “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini."

Nominees in the Performing Songwriter category are:

• Bono (Paul Hewson)/The Edge (David Evans)/Adam Clayton/Larry Mullen (U2)--“Beautiful Day” and “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For”
• Garth Brooks--“If Tomorrow Never Comes” and “The Thunder Rolls”
• Leonard Cohen--“Bird On A Wire” and “Suzanne”
• Elvis Costello--“Alison” and “Pump It Up”
• Dion DiMucci--“Donna The Prima Donna” and “Runaround Sue”
• David Gates (Bread)--“Baby I'm-a Want You” and “Everything I Own”
• Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)--“Moonshadow” and “Peace Train”
• Tommy James--“Crimson And Clover” and “Mony, Mony”
• John Mellencamp--“Jack And Diane” and “Pink Houses”
• Lou Reed--“Sweet Jane” and “Walk On The Wild Side”
• Leon Russell--“Superstar” and “Tight Rope”
• Maurice White/Philip Bailey/Verdine White/Larry Dunn/Al McKay (Earth, Wind and Fire)--“September” and “Shining Star."

SongHall voting members will now select three nominees from the Non-Performing category, and two from the Performing category. Ballots are due back by Dec. 11, with the new slate of inductees to be announced next year.

Last year’s songwriter inductees were Eddie Brigati, Gerome Ragni, Stephen Schwartz, James Rado, Galt Mac Dermot, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Roger Greenaway, Roger Cook, Felix Cavaliere, Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi.

Founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond, The Songwriters Hall of Fame celebrates songwriters, educates the public with regard to their achievements, and produces professional programs devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships.

Inductees have included such Tin Pan Alley era legends as Mercer and Irving Berlin, rock icons like Bob Dylan and John Fogerty, rhythm-and-blues greats such as James Brown and Curtis Mayfield, country stars including Kris Kristofferson and Dolly Parton, and contemporary pop tunesmiths like Jimmy Webb and Hal David and Burt Bacharach.

David also serves as the SongHall’s Chairman/CEO.

Each year, a Nominating Committee selects candidates for induction into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. Only writers who have actually been engaged in the profession for a minimum of 20 years--and who have written an extensive catalogue of hits--are eligible.

More information regarding the SongHall, including full biographies of the inductees and this year’s nominees, is available at the Songwriters Hall of Fame's Virtual Museum at the SongHall's web site.
 

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