The Hal David Starlight Award, created in 2004, was renamed in honor of the SHOF Chairman for his longtime support of young songwriters. The Hal David Starlight Award recipients are gifted songwriters in the early years of their careers who are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs. John Legend joins the prestigious company of Rob Thomas, Alicia Keys and John Mayer as past recipients of the Hal David Starlight Award.

The astounding success of John Legend comes as no surprise to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2002, the Hall recognized the then-named John Stephens, awarding him with its Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting as the BMI-sponsored artist that year. He had already been attracting attention in Philadelphia, where he was going to the University of Pennsylvania, making his own music and, eventually, playing and writing with such artists as Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Twista and Janet Jackson. West, a collaborator and friend since the two were introduced in 2001, became a John Legend champion, signing him in 2003 as the first artist to his G.O.O.D. Music, Columbia Records-distributed label.

In 2004, Legend stepped into the solo spotlight as a premier singer-songwriter-pianist-performer in his own right with his debut album Get Lifted. Driven in part by the hit singles "Ordinary People" and "Used To Love U," Get Lifted was a critical and commercial triumph, earning Legend eight Grammy nominations. He took the statue home for Best New Artist, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance ("Ordinary People") and Best R&B album, and Get Lifted went on to sell more than three million copies worldwide. No stranger to winning Grammys, this year he claimed his fourth and fifth Grammy award for Best R&B Vocal Performance for his most recent album, Once Again, and for Best R&B Performance by a Duo Or Group for his collaboration with Van Hunt and Joss Stone on the Sly Stone Tribute album, Family Affair.

Commenting on the award to Legend, Hal David said, “John Legend is an outstanding, talented songwriter. He is well-deserving of the Starlight Award, not only shining as a writer with a unique vision, but as an expressive performer as well. We recognized John’s talent in his earlier years, and we are now pleased to honor him with this prestigious award.”

Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame begin at $1000 each, and are available through Buckley Hall Events, (212) 573-6933. Net proceeds from the event will go towards the Songwriters Hall of Fame programs.

The two first met in their adopted hometown of Philadelphia where Legend was attending college and Tozer was hustling up sessions and gigs. When a mutual friend invited John Legend — then known as John Stephens — to an informal jam, the duo bonded. “I thought, ‘This guy is pretty good’,” recalls Tozer.

Tozer was soon co-writing and producing with the artist and mailing out indie CDs from his apartment. Armed with an industry directory, he cold-called record labels. “People knew it was going on,” remembers Tozer. “We had good songs.” When John Stephens was inked to Kanye West‘s production company, Tozer remained an integral member of the team behind the artist now known to the world as John Legend.

Signed to powerhouse publisher Famous Music, Tozer has also inked an across-the-board production deal with Sony, encompassing all of their labels. In addition to his ongoing relationship with Legend, he has created songs and tracks with Heather Headley, Estelle and Natasha Bedingfield.

His late start notwithstanding, Tozer has clearly made up for lost time. “My friend found a five-page letter I sent him in the summer of 1996,” laughs the tunesmith. “I said I’d started writing lyrics and music, but I wrote, ‘Nothing I would ever play for anybody’.”

In the days surrounding the release of Get Lifted (Sony Music), every major music publication seemed to weigh-in with a breathless review. Citing tracks like " Used to Love U," "Number One" and the disarming "Ordinary People," Rolling Stone called Legend's music "mannered, even elegant," while the New York Times described his voice as "supple and bold, echoing the gliding, curving lines and impulsive dynamics of Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder, the rasp of Otis Redding and the falsetto of Al Green." Vibe magazine gave Get Lifted its highest rating, writing that the album "advances the kind of genre-pushing spirit that made D'Angelo's 'Brown Sugar' so sweet."

Had the hosannas stopped there, Legend's status as one of the year's most talked-about newcomers would have been secure. But just weeks after his CD hit stores, the singer received an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding New Artist (the award show airs on Fox on March 25). Legend has handed a similar vote of industry confidence when he was invited to perform at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards Show, singing "I'll Take You There" alongside Mavis Staples in a special tribute to r&b music.

Released in the waning weeks of 2004, Get Lifted hit the charts running, debuting as the #7 album in the country and the #1 R&B/Hip Hop album on the Billboard tallies. Fueled by the singles "Ordinary People" and featuring guest appearances by Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, the album was the highest-charting debut recording the week of its release.

The media buzz begged the question: Just who is John Legend? Though often described as a protégé of urban pop wunderkind Kanye West, the record shows Legend is very much his own man. Far from being some sequestered studio artist, Legend built a loyal following performing in New York nightclubs and selling his own independently produced CDs. While still in his teens, he was tapped to play piano on Lauryn Hill's 1998 track, "Everything Is Everything." Before long, he was an in-demand session musician, playing and occasionally writing for such contemporary heavyweights as Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson, Slum Village and countless others.

In 2002, he received the BMI-sponsored Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting, given annually by the Songwriters Hall of Fame to honor five young composers and lyricists.

An Ohio native, Legend began playing gospel piano at age 5. Confidence was never a problem. "I used to watch Michael Jackson on television … I figured I could do what he was doing," Legend said in a recent interview.

Some 20-odd years later, the singer, songwriter, keyboardist, producer and arranger is fulfilling the promise of his childhood.

BMI's Del Bryant congratulates Abe Olman Scholarship winner John Legend at the 2002 presentation

Although a newcomer, Legend is no stranger to the urban music scene. Considered the first major breakout star of 2005, he is the vocal prodigy of fellow BMI hip-hop star Kanye West, who makes an appearance on Get Lifted, as do Snoop Dogg and violinist Miri Ben-Ari.

Legend (right) is pictured at the 2004 BMI Urban Awards with Kanye West and Miri Ben-Ari

Born John Stephens in Springfield, OH, the 26-year-old musician was definitely an early starter. He began studying classical piano at five and, under the tutelage of his late grandmother, he sang gospel music and played piano at the Pentecostal Church by age seven. He graduated from high school when he was only 16. His first big break came in 1998 while attending the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he met Lauryn Hill's back-up singer, Tara Watkins, who brought John to one of Lauryn's recording sessions in New Jersey. After hearing John's demo, Hill invited him to play on her hit single, "Everything is Everything" from her multiple Grammy-winning CD The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Since then, Legend has appeared on various recordings, including on West's, as well as on albums by Alicia Keys, Twista, Talib Kweli and others. Critics have hailed him as the "soul savior," both for his singing and his songwriting, which defies the cookie-cutter norm of today's urban music.

The sampler, prepared in partnership with CD manufacturer Disc Makers, features 17 artists selected by BMI Writer/Publishers Relations staffers in the Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York areas. Featured artists are goneblind, recently signed to Road Runner Records; rockers Army of Freshman, Echo 7, Goldspot, GTO, Huver and Ingram Hill; Neo-Soul mates Julie Dexter, Jonz, Raiz, John Stephens and Tasha Taylor; Gospel artist Christopher Lewis; Hip-Hop’s Major KeyZ; and pop rockers Joshua Bennett and Mason Jennings.

The Sampler was a collaboration among various BMI Writer/Publishers departments. Four artists were chosen by the New York staff, three by Los Angeles and nine are represented by the BMI Atlanta staff. Future samplers will include songwriters in the country and Latin genres. Approximately 1500 copies of the CD will be distributed to record and publishing company executives, managers, agents and others interested in new talent.

John Stephens

Aaron Brotherton

Mieka Pauley

Coral

photos: Eric Miller

Sting

Michael Jackson

Barry Manilow

"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, the Songwriters Hall of Fame also honors five gifted young composers and lyricists with the Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting. Named for one of the NAPM/SHOF's founding members, the scholarship awards $1,200 to each winner chosen from songwriter programs sponsored by BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, SGA and the NAPM itself. BMI songwriter John Stephens is among this year's winners and is seen here being congratulated by BMI's Del Bryant.

photo: Robbin Ahrold

The National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The NAPM/SHOF is also devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships.

Over the past 32 years, the Songwriters Hall of Fame has honored such legendary songwriters as Burt Bachrach, Jim Croce, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Sir Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield and many, many others.

Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame are $750 each and are available through Buckley Hall Events at (212) 573-6933. Net proceeds from the event will go towards various Songwriters Hall of Fame programs.

John Stephens (Winner of the Abe Olman Scholarship)
John Stephens, a 22 year-old songwriter/musician from Spingfield, OH, was definitely an early starter. He's been studying classical piano since he was five and, under the tutelage of his late grandmother, he's been singing gospel music and playing piano at the Pentecostal Church since he was seven. He graduated from high school when he was only 16.

While attending the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, he directed Counterparts, one of the nation's top collegiate acapella groups and was also Director of Music at the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Scranton, PA. In the spring of 1998, Lauryn Hill's back-up singer and fellow parishioner Tara Watkins asked John to join her at one of Lauryn's recording sessions in New Jersey. After hearing John sing and play piano, Hill invited him to contribute to her hit single, "Everything is Everything" from her multiple Grammy-winning CD The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Since then, John has been seriously pursuing his songwriting and recording career. Along with guitarist/songwriter/producer Dave Tozer, he's been writing songs and performing at various clubs around the East Coast. He's also appeared as a vocalist or pianist on CDs by Faith Evans, Pras and Scarface.

When asked to describe his music, John says: "It's a essentially a mix of classical soul and the hard-driving rhythms of hip-hop."