Songwriters Hall of Fame Announces 2010 Nominations

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.

May the Muse remain with all these worthy nominees…

Songpitch.ca To Launch Soon

The Songwriters Association of Canada and Astral Media Inc. recently announced the launch of a brand new Web portal for songwriters and composers across Canada.

The portal will revolutionize the music industry. It enables songwriters across the country to share their compositions, receive advice from industry professionals and offer their creations for sale to music buyers for television, film and other media. The new portal will also make it possible to replace the traditional practice of mailing CD demos to songwriters, musicians, agents and distributors.

Songwriters Eddie Schwartz, Jim Vallance, Greg Johnston and Marc Jordan, known for their songs performed by artists such as Pat Benatar, Diana Ross, Hilary Duff, Backstreet Boys, Bryan Adams and Olivia Newton John, are just some of the prominent industry members who will provide free, personalized feedback to songwriters who upload their songs to the platform.

"The launch of this new portal is in keeping with Astral Media's creative and innovative spirit. Thanks to our work over the past few years with the Songwriters Association of Canada, we can have an immediate and significant impact on the careers of thousands of songwriters, aspiring and emerging artists and music program students across the country," said Jacques Parisien, Group President, Astral Media Radio and Astral Media Outdoor.

"When aiming to have a significant and immediate impact on emerging talent, aspiring and established artists, you must start at the bottom of the Canadian radio industry's food chain. That is, to start with the songwriters. The Songwriters Association of Canada and Astral Media both know that it all starts with a song. Thanks to this partnership with Astral Media, a songwriter from any region of the country will have access to the industry's senior decision makers as well as the advice of Canada's most prolific songwriters," added Don Quarles, Executive Director of the Songwriters Association of Canada.

To learn more about the new portal and how it works, visit www.songpitch.ca.

The Songwriters Association of Canada is dedicated to the advocacy and education of Canadian songwriters and devoted to developing and nurturing songwriting communities across the country. Astral Media is one of Canada's leading media companies, active in specialty and pay television, radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media.

When it’s live and I try it… I’ll let you know how the Muse works within this site, but I am looking forward to it… may the Muse be with you.