February 2010


Leonard Cohen, Jackie DeShannon, David Foster, Johnny Mandel and Earth, Wind & Fire's Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame this year, SHOF Chairman/CEO Hal David announced today.

The organization, which is dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, returns for its highly anticipated 41st annual induction and awards dinner, scheduled for Thursday, June 17 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Special award honorees will be announced at a later date.

"Our 2010 inductees are truly representational of the heart and soul of the world's Popular Music soundtrack," commented Chairman/CEO Hal David. "We are looking forward to another memorable evening where we honor their extraordinary accomplishments."




Earth, Wind & Fire:

Earth, Wind & Fire is one of the most innovative and commercially invincible contemporary Pop / R&B music forces of the 20th century. Members Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay are known for their signature sound of fusing Pop, R&B, Rock, Latin, Funk, Jazz and African Music to win numerous awards.

Earth, Wind & Fire has received 20 Grammy nominations; winning six as a group and its founding members, Maurice White and Philip Bailey, winning two awards each. The band was also awarded the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Signature Governor's Award.

Earth, Wind & Fire have earned more than 50 Gold and Platinum albums and have sold over 90 million albums worldwide. They have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (2000) and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1995). The music industry and fans have bestowed Lifetime Achievement honors from ASCAP (Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award - 2002), NAACP (Hall of Fame - 1994) and the BET Awards (Life Time Achievement Award 2002).

Two Earth, Wind & Fire classic songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame: "That's The Way of The World" (2004) and "Shining Star" (2007). Earth, Wind & Fire have 12 American Music Awards nominations and four awards. The band is also known as having been the first African-American performers to sell out Madison Square Garden and to receive the MSG Gold Ticket Award. President Obama invited the band to perform at the White House for the first social event of the new administration.

Through the decades their songs have been covered by recording artists such as Jerry Garcia Band, D'Angelo, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan and many others.

About The Songwriters Hall of Fame:

The Songwriters Hall of Fame celebrates songwriters, educates the public with regard to their achievements, and produces a spectrum of professional programs devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. Over the course of the past 41 years, some key Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees have included Desmond Child, Loretta Lynn, John Sebastian, John Fogerty, Isaac Hayes and David Porter, Steve Cropper, Dolly Parton, Richard and Robert Sherman, Bill Withers, Carole King, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Sir Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Hal David and Burt Bacharach, Jim Croce, Phil Collins, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Jimmy Webb, Paul Williams, Van Morrison, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Cy Coleman and many, many others. The Songwriters Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond.


http://www.prnewswire.com...74202.html

About time!

They certainly deserve it

Identity said:

Amen! They deserve it! One of my all time favorite bands! Can't feel down listening to one of their grooves!

More than deserving.

SoulAlive said:

N2thelight said:

Congrats to the baddest R&B band of all time...It's time for another reunion performance. It's been ten years since their impromptu Rock Hall throwdown. Maybe this time they'll see time is short, & they need to record a new album before it's too late...It's been 30 years too long.

Earth, Wind & Fire was formed in Chicago, in 1969 and led by founder Maurice White. the Elements of the Universe. This group Brilliant... I'm so happy for them..