The Songwriters Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond to honor those whose work represents a spectrum of the most beloved songs from the world's popular music songbook. It not only celebrates these established songwriters, but is also involved on the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. There are many programs designed to teach and discover new songwriters.
The Hall of Fame only existed as an online virtual collection until 2010, when it was first put on display as a physical gallery inside The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. With an under-construction basement installation at the Brill Building in New York, the Hall doesn't have a permanent place and the awards aren't televised.
Through 2010, 383 individuals had been inducted into the SHOF. The British rock band Queen was the first band to be inducted in 2003.
The Abe Olman Publisher Award is given to publishers who have had a substantial number of songs that have become world-renowned and who have helped to further the careers and success of many songwriters.
1983 – Howard S. Richmond1986 – Leonard Feist1987 – Lou Levy1988 – Buddy Killen1990 – Charles Koppelman & Martin Bandier1991 – Frank Military & Jay Morgenstern1992 – Bonnie Bourne1993 – Berry Gordy1994 – Buddy Morris1995 – Al Gallico1996 – Freddy Bienstock1997 – Gene Goodman1998 – Irwin Z. Robinson1999 – Bill Lowery2000 – Julian Aberbach2001 – Ralph Peer2002 – Edward P. Murphy2003 – Nicholas Firth2004 – Les Bider2005 – Beebe Bourne2006 – Allen Klein2007 – Don Kirshner2008 – Milt Okun2009 – Maxyne Lang2010 – Keith Mardak2012 – lance FreedThe Board of Directors Award is presented to an individual selected by the SHOF Board in recognition of his or her service to the songwriting community and the advancement of popular music.
1986 – Jule Styne1988 – Stanley Adams1992 – Edward P. Murphy1996 – Anna Sosenko & Oscar Brand1997 – Thomas A. DorseyThe Contemporary Icon Award was established in 2015 to recognize songwriter-artists who attained an iconic status in pop culture. The American singer Lady Gaga was the first artist ever to win the award.
2015 – Lady GagaThe Hal David Starlight Award honors young artists who have already made an impression on the music industry.
2004 – Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty)2005 – Alicia Keys2006 – John Mayer2007 – John Legend2008 – John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls)2009 – Jason Mraz2010 – Taylor Swift2011 – Drake2012 – Ne-Yo2013 – Benny Blanco2014 – Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons)2015 – Nate Ruess (Fun)2016 – Nick Jonas2017 - Ed SheeranThe Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award is specifically tailored for artists or "star makers" in the music industry who have been responsible for a substantial number of hit songs for an extended period of time, and who recognize the importance of songs and their writers.
1981 – Chuck Berry1983 – Rosemary Clooney & Margaret Whiting1990 – Whitney Houston1991 – Barry Manilow1995 – Michael Bolton1996 – Gloria Estefan1998 – Diana Ross1999 – Natalie Cole2000 – Johnny Mathis2001 – Dionne Warwick2002 – Garth Brooks2003 – Clive Davis2008 – Anne Murray2009 – Tom Jones2010 – Phil Ramone2011 – Chaka Khan2014 – Doug MorrisThe Johnny Mercer Award is the highest honor bestowed by the event. It goes to writers already inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for having established a history of outstanding creative works.
1980 – Frank Sinatra1981 – Yip Harburg1982 – Harold Arlen1983 – Sammy Cahn1985 – Alan Jay Lerner1986 – Mitchell Parish1987 – Jerry Herman1990 – Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick1991 – Betty Comden & Adolph Green1992 – Burton Lane1993 – Jule Styne1994 – Irving Caesar1995 – Cy Coleman1996 – Burt Bacharach & Hal David1997 – Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman1998 – Paul Simon1999 – Stephen Sondheim2000 – Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller2001 – Billy Joel2002 – Michael Jackson2003 – Jimmy Webb2004 – Stevie Wonder2005 – Smokey Robinson2006 – Kris Kristofferson2007 – Dolly Parton & Milliea Taylor McKinney2008 – Paul Anka2009 – Holland–Dozier–Holland2010 – Phil Collins2011 – Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil2013 – Elton John & Bernie Taupin2014 – Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff2015 – Van MorrisonThe Patron of the Arts is presented to influential industry executives who are not primarily in the music business but are great supporters of the performing arts.
1988 – Martin Segal1989 – Roger Enrico1990 – Edgar Bronfman Jr.1991 – Edwin M. Cooperman1992 – Jonathan Tisch1993 – Michel Roux1994 – Philip Dusenberry1995 – Theodore J. Forstmann1996 – Sumner Redstone1997 – Dr. Samuel LeFrak1998 – David Checketts1999 – Robert Mondavi2001 – Iris Cantor2003 – Martin Bandier2004 – Michael Goldstein2005 – Henry JuszkiewiczThe Pioneer Award was established in 2012 to recognize the career of a historic creator of an extensive body of musical work that has been a major influence on generations of songwriters.
2012 – Woody Guthrie2013 – Berry Gordy2014 – Milliea Taylor McKinneyNamed for the former President of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals or teams who are recognized as having done a great deal to further the successes of songwriters.
1980 – Ethel Merman1981 – Tony Bennett1982 – Dinah Shore1983 – Willie Nelson1984 – Benny Goodman1985 – John Hammond1987 – Jerry Wexler1988 – Dick Clark1989 – Quincy Jones1990 – B.B. King1991 – Gene Autry1992 – Nat King Cole1993 – Ray Charles1994 – Lena Horne1995 – Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gormé1996 – Frankie Laine1997 – Vic Damone1998 – Berry Gordy1999 – Kenny Rogers2000 – Neil Diamond2001 – Gloria & Emilio Estefan2002 – Stevie Wonder2003 – Patti LaBelle2004 – Neil Sedaka2005 – Les Paul2006 – Peter, Paul & Mary2012 – Bette MidlerAbe Olman was an American songwriter and music publisher. He was later director of ASCAP, and a founder of the Songwriters Hall of Fame which, in 1983, named the Abe Olman Publisher Award. In his honor, the Abe Olman Scholarship is given out each year by his family in the interest of encouraging and supporting the careers of young songwriters.
1990Nancy Magarill & H. Sefus Henderson (ASCAP)April Higuera (BMI)Emil Trombino, Sal Trombino & Walter Zelinski (SHOF)Thomas Kjellberg (SGA)
1991Nanette Maxine Brown (ASCAP)Dee Ann Macomson (SGA)Ellen O’Brien & Rich Campbell (SHOF)Pantera Saint-Montaigne (BMI)
1992Mark Batson (BMI)Lorraine Ferro & Stephanie Lewis (SHOF)Darren Quinlan (ASCAP)David Stewart (SGA)
1993Ilene Angel (SHOF)Gregory Cohen & Matthew Lewis (BMI)Mike Flynn (SGA)Anika Peress (ASCAP)
1994Jazmin Jackson (ASCAP)Rebecca Martin (BMI)Amy Powers & Stephanie Salzman (SHOF)Alan Wolpert & Bill Pitzonka (SGA)
1995Mike Blaxill (BMI)Janie Coulter & Barry Wittenstein (SHOF)Tina de Varon (ASCAP)Caroline Horn (SGA)
1996Cara Beckenstein (SGA)Tamara Feinman (SESAC)Nicole Johnson (BMI)Pilley (ASCAP)Liz Queler (SHOF)
1997Stephanie Cooke (ASCAP)Amanda Green (SHOF)Lauren Kinhan (SESAC)Dan Siegler (BMI)Richard Winter (SGA)
1998Chris Alastair (ASCAP)Chris Moore (BMI)Ivy Markaity (SESAC)Clare Cooper (SGA)Sandy Fredrickseon (SHOF)
1999Mike Errico (SHOF)Delilah Harris (SESAC)Natasha Ming (BMI)Jean Norris (ASCAP)Stephen Rosenthal (SGA)
2000Angela Ai (SHOF)Jabe Beyer (SESAC)Edie Carey (BMI)James Day (ASCAP)Nina Mankin (SGA)
2001Sophia Ramos Dupre (SESAC)Tabitha Fair (BMI)Carrie FitzGibbon (SHOF)James Glasco (ASCAP)Stephen Goldfinger (SGA)
2002Colin Brooks (SESAC)Elizabeth Jordan (SHOF)Lee Kweller (SGA)Johnny Rodgers (ASCAP)John Stephens (aka
John Legend) (BMI)
2003Janice FitzGerald (SHOF)Karen Jacobsen (SESAC)Michael McLeod (SGA)Jeanine Smith (BMI)Meleni Smith (ASCAP)
2004Bliss: Kiirsten Moore (BMI)David Ippolito (SGA)Michele Jaffe (SHOF)Lori McKenna (ASCAP)Sofia-Jay: Jay & Jennifer Lyons (SESAC)
2005Laurel Barclay &
Matt Katz-Bohen of Daddy (SESAC)Loretta Collins (SGA)Kiara Duran (NAPM)Morley Kamen (ASCAP)Sylvia Tosun (BMI)
2006Cassandra KubinskiSummer JohnsonWes HutchinsonAnnie DinermanSusan Cagle
2007Dan FerrariJayms MadisonAlice SmithJodi ShawAdam Falcon
2008Galia AradLinda KiralyReeve CarneyWatt WhiteShelly Bhushan
2009Madi DiazMichael GrubbsApril SmithKirsten ThienNatalie Warner
2010Gabriella CaspiKeli PriceComic Book HeroesRebecca JordanChris Tedesco
2011Erin ChristineMarkeisha EnsleyRachel BrownNenna Yvonne & Daniel WisniewskiJason Kingston
2012Shea RoseJody MulgrewBebe RexhaJeremy CurrentLyle Divinsky
2013Amy AllenRo JamesEmily WarrenKat EdmonsonTyler Lyle
2014Cobaine IvorySydney WayserTravis NilanClaire WilkinsonAudra Mae
Created In 2009, The Holly Prize is a tribute to the legacy of Buddy Holly, a SHOF inductee. The award recognizes and supports a new "all-in songwriter" — an exceptionally talented and inspired young musician/singer/songwriter whose work exhibits the qualities of Holly's music: true, great and original. The Holly Prize is administered and juried by the SongHall.
Ben HowardEmily KingJack SkullerJenny O.Kendra MorrisLaura WarshauerShun NgAnnounced in 2011, along with a collaboration between the Songwriters Hall of Fame and NYU Steinhardt's Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, the NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award is presented to a music composition student whose work holds great potential for success in the field, and embodies the art, craft, individuality and qualities of communication of the best songwriting.
AJ SmithDavid MarenbergMonica CialonaShan GaoTiger DarrowThe Towering Performance Award is given in recognition of one-of-a-kind performances by one-of-a-kind singers that have recorded outstanding and unforgettable interpretations of songs that have become iconic standards.
2005 – Bill Medley2009 – Andy Williams2012 – Ben E. KingThe Towering Song Award is given to creators of an individual song that has influenced the culture in a unique way over the years.
1995 – "As Time Goes By" (written by Herman Hupfeld)1996 – "Happy Birthday To You" (written by Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill)1997 – "How High The Moon" (lyrics by Nancy Hamilton and music by Morgan Lewis)1998 – "The Christmas Song" (written by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé)1999 – "Fly Me To The Moon" (written by Bart Howard)2000 – "All of Me" (written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons)2000 – "You Are My Sunshine" (recorded by Jimmie Davis)2001 – "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" (lyrics by Beth Slater Whitson and music by Leo Friedman)2002 – "You're a Grand Old Flag" (written by George M. Cohan)2003 – "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" (written by George Cory and Douglass Cross)2004 – "What the World Needs Now is Love" (lyrics by Hal David and music by Burt Bacharach)2005 – "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil)2006 – "When the Saints Go Marching In" (lyrics by Katharine Purvis and music by James Milton Black)2008 – "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" (lyrics by Jack Norworth and music by Albert Von Tilzer)2009 – "Moon River" (lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Henry Mancini)2010 – "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (written by Paul Simon)2011 – "It Was a Very Good Year" (written by Ervin Drake)2012 – "Stand by Me" ( written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller)2013 – "A Change Is Gonna Come" (written by Sam Cooke)2014 – "Over The Rainbow" (lyrics by E.Y. Harburg and music by Harold Arlen)2015 – "What a Wonderful World" (written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss)Created in 2013, The Visionary Leadership Award recognizes members of the Hall of Fame Board of Directors who have made a significant contribution in furthering the ongoing mission of the organization.
2013 – Hal David2014 – Del Bryant2015 – John A. Lofrumento