NEW YORK, N.Y. - APRIL 16, 2001 - The National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame, the organization dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, returns for its highly anticipated 32nd annual induction and awards dinner, scheduled for Thursday, June 14 at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers. This year's inductees include Dolly Parton, songwriter Diane Warren, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton and singer/songwriter Paul Williams. Billy Joel will receive the Johnny Mercer Award, Gloria & Emilio Estefan will receive a Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award and Ralph Peer of Peer Music, will receive the Abe Olman Publisher Award. The classic "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" will receive the Towering Song Award. Iris Cantor will receive the Patron of the Arts Award.
Just announced is the recipient of the Hitmaker Award, which will be presented to Dionne Warwick, one of the most distinctive voices in popular music history. Ms. Warwick's honor is especially significant for SHOF Chairman Hal David who, in collaboration with Burt Bacharach, wrote many of Dionne Warwick's biggest hits over the years, including "Do You Know The Way To San Jose," "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," "Walk On By," and "What The World Needs Now Is Love," to name a few. Scheduled to present or perform at this year's event are Emmylou Harris, who will perform for inductee Dolly Parton; Clive Davis, who will present the award to Diane Warren; Willie Nelson, who in addition to being honored himself, will also perform "Rainbow Connection" for inductee Paul Williams; Marc Anthony, who will perform "An Innocent Man" for Johnny Mercer Award winner Billy Joel; Whitney Houston, who will present for and Luther Vandross, who will perform for Hitmaker Award winner Dionne Warwick and Jon Secada, who will perform for Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award winners Gloria & Emilio Estefan.
Presiding over the event was Chairman Hal David, one of the most respected songwriters. David has had virtually every major award bestowed upon him that the music industry has to offer, including 20 gold records, a Grammy, the NARM Presidential Award, the coveted Songwriters Hall of Fame Johnny Mercer Award, the prestigious Grammy Trustees Award by the NARAS organization and the esteemed British Ivor Novello Award (the first non-British person to ever receive it). He has penned numerous classics, including "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head," "This Guy's In Love With You," "Walk On By" and "What The World Needs Now Is Love," to name just a select few.
"This event represents such a special night in the music industry, where great songwriters get to honor their peers," commented Hal David, Chairman of the National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame. "It embodies what this organization celebrates about the songwriter, a key link in the musical process and without which our lives wouldn't nearly be as rich. I look forward to all of us gathering again this year."
The stars shone brightly at last year's event, as some of the greatest talents in the music world shared the same stage, and the same microphone, in a joyous and rocking celebration of the power and importance of song. Superstars the likes of Paul McCartney, James Brown, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Neil Diamond (who was given a Lifetime Achievement Award), Carole King, Ben E. King, Aaron Neville (who earlier sang a tribute to Hitmaker award winner Johnny Mathis), Bobby Womack, Sean Puffy Combs, Isaac Hayes, Hanson, Kim Catrall, Keely Smith, Phoebe Snow, and Jill Sobule gathered together, making the night one of the most memorable in music industry history.