On Thursday I had the distinct pleasure, as one of the occasional perks through my employer, to attend the show portion of the 2004 Award & Induction Ceremony at the Songwriters Hall of Fame last Thursday.
It was spectacular. The first performer was Michael McDonald singing new inductees, Norman Whitfield and Barret Strong's I Heard It Through the Grapevine and he nailed it. Brian McKnight did a fine job on Daryl Hall & John Oates Sara Smile. Hall & Oates performed a rousing version of one of their first hits, She's Gone. Garth Brooks movingly performed inductee Don McLean's Vincent and Castles in the Air. McLean himself performed American Pie which provided a good opportunity to see why this is still such a fine sing-along song. Certainly one of the evening's high points.
Shortly after McLean, a stunningly svelte Roberta Flack came on and sang Killing Me Softly With His Song while accompanying herself on piano. McLean was the inspiration for the song, but she was singing it in tribute to inductee Charles Fox, one of the songs composers. Neil Sedaka received the Sammy Cahn Lifetimne Achievement Ward and his hit, Laughter in the Rain (you remember, that paen to sex on wet grass under a tree at the risk of being struck by lightning) was sung very well by Eric McCormack of Will & Grace.
Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty won the Starlight Award for young songwriters and sang a very personal song about his mother's fight against cancer. Stevie Wonder received the Johnny Mercer Award and spoke poignantly about Ray Charles before performing his song Visions with India Arie.
A truly inspiring evening and one to remind all of us that the music we all love starts with a song and that cmposing music is one of mankind's most impressive artistic achievements. The Awards and Induction Ceremony will be aired on Bravo, July 18 at 9 p.m. Don't miss it.
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