Sade Adu,Snoop Dogg,Gloria Estefan, Electric Light Orchestra mastermindJeff Lynne, Alanis Morrisette collaborator Glen Ballard, New Jack Swing icon Teddy Riley and Taylor Swift collaborator Liz Rose will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization’s 52nd annual Induction and Awards Gala. The event is scheduled for Thursday, June 15, at its longtime home, the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York.
Between them, the songwriters are credited with hits such as “Smooth Operator,” “Man In the Mirror,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Mr. Blue Sky,” “My Prerogative,” and “You Belong With Me” — a partial list of their hits appears below. Additional special award honorees will be announced soon.
SHOF ChairmanNile Rodgerssaid, “The music industry does not exist without songwriters delivering great songs first. Without them there is no recorded music, no concert business, no merch . . . nothing, it all starts with the song and the songwriter. We are therefore very proud that we are continually recognizing some of the culturally most important songwriters of all time and that the 2023 slate represents not just iconic songs but also diversity and unity across genres, ethnicity and gender, songwriters who have enriched our lives and, in their time, literally transformed music and the lives of billions of listeners all over the world.”
Blondie, R.E.M., the Doobie Brothers, Patti Smith and Steve Winwood were among the nominees who were not inducted this year (see the full list of nominees here.)
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create music around the world. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first significant commercial release of a song.
Last year, the ceremony — which is one of the most unique and star-studded in the music industry —returned after a three-year hiatusdue to the pandemic. Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), the Isley Brothers, Steve Miller, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo (the Neptunes), Rick Nowels, and William “Mickey” Stevensonwere inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. SongwriterPaul Williamsreceived the prestigiousJohnny Mercer Award, Universal Music Publishing Chairman-CEOJody Gersonreceived theAbe Olman Publisher Award, and rapperLil Nas Xreceived theHal David Starlight Award — the first rapper to receive that honor since Drake.
Sade Adu p/k/a Sade:
* Smooth Operator * No Ordinary Love * The Sweetest Taboo * By Your Side * Is It A Crime
Glen Ballard:
* Man In The Mirror * You Oughta Know * Hold On * The Voice Within * The Space Between
Calvin Broadus Jr. p/k/a Snoop Dogg:
* Drop It Like It’s Hot * Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang * Young, Wild & Free * Gin & Juice * Next Episode
Gloria Estefan:
* Anything For You * Don’t Wanna Lose You * Words Get In The Way * Rhythm Is Gonna Get You * Let’s Get Loud
Jeff Lynne:
* Mr. Blue Sky * Don’t Bring Me Down * Evil Woman * Livin’ Thing * Telephone Line
Teddy Riley:
* Make It Last Forever * I Want Her * Just Got Paid * I Like * My Prerogative
Liz Rose:
* You Belong With Me * Crazy Girl * Girl Crush * All Too Well * White Horse