BMI Salutes Song Hall Inductees

Posted in News on June 15, 2003

BMI proudly salutes our 2003 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees who were honored June 12 at the 34th Annual Induction Ceremony and Dinner held at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Recipients of this prestigious award included BMI represented songwriter/artists Van Morrison, Little Richard (who was unable to attend), Queen (PRS), Patti LaBelle (Lifetime Achievement Award), Phil Collins (PRS) and RCA Music Group Chairman/CEO Clive Davis (Hitmaker Award). Other honorees included Tony Bennett, who received the first ever Towering Performance Award for "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" which was named Towering Song, Jimmy Webb (Johnny Mercer Award), EMI Music Publishing Chairman/CEO Marty Bandier (Patron of the Arts Award) and BMG Music Publishing Chairman Nicholas Firth (Abe Olman Publishing Award). National Music Publishers Association CEO Ed Murphy, who was the 2002 Abe Olman Award recipient but was unable to attend last year's ceremony, was also honored.

Patron of the Arts Award recipient Marty Bandier (center) is congratulated by Warner/Chappell's Les Bider and BMI's Frances Preston

Other top BMI stars who were in attendance included newcomer Gavin DeGraw, Barry Manilow, and Pink, who paid tribute to Patron of the Arts recipient Marty Bandier with an incredible acoustic version of the Janis Joplin classic, "Me and Bobby McGee."

Roger Taylor of the legendary rock band Queen, Phil Collins and Queen guitarist Brian May

The 34th Annual Induction Ceremony was presented by 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. Founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond, BMI is proud to support the work of the NAPM/SHOF, which is also devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. Over the course of the past 33 years, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees have included Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Sir Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Jim Croce, Hal David and Burt Bacharach, among many, many others.

Gavin DeGraw and BMI's Frances Preston

Tennis pro John McEnroe and Queen's Roger Taylor

Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Patti LaBelle and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Jr.

photos: Gary Gershoff

SOURCENews TAGS Dance Rock Musicworld Hitmaker Industry Awards Songwriters Hall of Fame Artists James Brown Elton John Patti LaBelle Little Richard Barry Manilow Curtis Mayfield Van Morrison Frances Preston Brian Wilson