NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Bryan Adams, R.E.M., Blondie, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Heart and The Doobie Brothers are among the nominees for the 2023 part of a dazzling list of talented acts who left their mark on country, pop, rap, Broadway, post-punk, Latin and New Jack Swing.
The ballot includes the musical theater duo of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who wrote 鈥淩agtime鈥� and 鈥淎nastasia,鈥� as well as soul-jazz vocalist Sade, whose 1980s soft rock hits include 鈥淪mooth Operator鈥� and 鈥淭he Sweetest Taboo.鈥�
Two veteran rock stars are also nominees: Patti Smith 鈥� whose songs include "Because the Night" and 鈥淒ancing Barefoot鈥� 鈥� and Steve Winwood, whose hits include 鈥淗igher Love鈥� and 鈥淩oll With It.鈥� Vince Gill is once again a nominee, having first made the ballot in 2018.
Eligible voting members have until Dec. 28 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees from the songwriter category and three from the performing-songwriter category. The Associated Press got an early copy of the list.
Jeff Lynne of ELO, who penned 鈥淢r. Blue Sky鈥� and 鈥淓vil Woman,鈥� faces off against the 鈥淟osing My Religion鈥� R.E.M. quartet led by Michael Stipe, as well as sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, who showed women could rock hard with songs like 鈥淏arracuda鈥� and 鈥淐razy On You.鈥�
Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke are eligible for the hall as Blondie, who gave us the New Wave hits 鈥淐all Me鈥� and 鈥淩apture,鈥� and Snoop Dogg would join such rappers as Missy Elliott and Jay-Z should he make the cut. Estefan is credited for popularizing Latin rhythms with such crossover smashes as "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" and 鈥淟et's Get Loud.鈥�
Two classic rock icons compete as Adams 鈥� with radio staples like 鈥淪ummer of '69鈥� and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" 鈥� contends with The Doobie Brothers and their always-in-rotation "Listen to the Music" and "Long Train Running."
Nominees who work behind the scenes include Glen Ballard, who helped write Alanis Morissette鈥檚 monster 1995 album 鈥淛agged Little Pill鈥� and was involved in the recording and writing of Michael Jackson鈥檚 albums 鈥淭hriller,鈥� 鈥淏ad鈥� and "Dangerous."
Veteran songwriter Tom Snow, who worked with Olivia Newton-John, Barbra Streisand, Cher, The Pointer Sisters and co-wrote 鈥淟et鈥檚 Hear It for the Boy鈥� from the movie 鈥淔ootloose,鈥� is also eligible. 鈥淔ootloose鈥� connects another nominee, Dean Pitchford, who collaborated on the score, which went to No. 1 on the Billboard album charts, knocking off 鈥淭hriller鈥� in 1984.
The nominee list includes Teddy Riley, the singer, songwriter, and producer credited with creating New Jack Swing and its top anthems like Bobby Brown's 鈥淢y Prerogative鈥� and Keith Sweat's 鈥淚 Want Her," and Liz Rose, who co-wrote many songs with Taylor Swift, including 鈥淵ou Belong with Me,鈥� 鈥淭eardrops on My Guitar鈥� and 鈥淲hite Horse.鈥�
There's also country songwriter Dean Dillon, who wrote songs with Toby Keith, George Strait and Lee Ann Womack; pop songwriter Franne Golde, behind such hits as Jody Watley鈥檚 鈥淒on鈥檛 You Want Me鈥� and 鈥淣ightshift鈥� by the Commodores; and the duo of Bobby Hart and Tommy Boyce, who penned many of The Monkees' hits.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating the popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.
Some already in the hall include Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins.
___
Online:
___
Mark Kennedy is at
Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
