News November 6, 2019

Patti Smith, R.E.M., Outkast & more nominated for Songwriters Hall of Fame

Some of the most iconic songwriters of the modern age are up for recognition, with the Songwriters Hall of Fame announcing the nominees for its class of 2020.

While the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tends to make the headlines for a variety of infamous reasons each year, its less-publicised predecessor often gets overlooked. Now, the Songwriters Hall of Fame have unveiled the list of nominees who will go on to make up their class of 2020.

As Billboard reports, the nominations for next year’s inductees into the the Songwriters Hall of Fame have today been unveiled, and include some of the most influential and prolific names to ever feature in modern music.

Kicking things off with the non-performing songwriters category, this year sees the likes of Motown icon William “Mickey” Stevenson, Rick Nowels, Jerry Fuller, and the partnership of L. Russell Brown and the late Irwin Levine all up for recognition.

Check out The Neptunes’ production of N.E.R.D.’s ‘Rock Star’:

Most notably, the category also includes a nomination for Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams, the US duo known professionally as The Neptunes.

Having kicked things off in the early ’90s, the pair truly came to public attention in the early ’00s, thanks to their work with Britney Spears, Jay-Z, and No Doubt, while they also served as members of N.E.R.D..

On the performing side of things, it’s a veritable who’s-who of big names, including 2019 nominee Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, The Isley Brothers, Journey, Eurythmics, Outkast, and R.E.M., while Steve Miller, David Gates, The Beach Boys’ Mike Love, and the Bluesfest-bound Patti Smith round out the nominees.

Following on from a year which saw the likes of Missy Elliott serving as the first female rapper inducted into the hall of fame, in addition to other names like Justin Timberlake, Cat Stevens, and more, you can be sure that this year’s ceremony will be a big one.

Songwriters are made eligible for the hall of fame after having written hit songs for at least 20 years, with the official induction ceremony for the class of 2020 taking place in New York City on June 11th, 2020.

Six songwriters or songwriting groups will officially be inducted on that date, with voters able to vote for three non-performing songwriters and three performing songwriters until December 16th.

Check out ‘One Sweet Day’ by Mariah Carey:

2020 Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees:

Songwriters

Lynn Ahrens / Stephen Flaherty
Tommy Boyce (d) / Bobby Hart
L. Russell Brown / Irwin Levine (d)
Sonny Curtis
Kye Fleming / Dennis Morgan
Jerry Fuller
Tony Macaulay
Bob McDill
Chad Hugo / Pharrell Williams, p/k/a The Neptunes
Roger Nichols
Rick Nowels
William “Mickey” Stevenson

Performing Songwriters

Mariah Carey
Gloria Estefan
David Gates
Vince Gill
Ernie Isley / Marvin Isley (d) / O’Kelly Isley (d) / Ronald Isley / Rudolph Isley d), Chris Jasper, p/k/a The Isley Brothers
Jonathan Cain / Steve Perry / Neal Schon, p/k/a Journey
Annie Lennox / David Stewart
Mike Love
Steve Miller
André “André 3000” Benjamin / Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, p/k/a Outkast
Bill Berry / Peter Buck / Mike Mills / Michael Stipe, p/k/a R.E.M.
Patti Smith

Bluesfest 2020

Lenny Kravitz
Jimmie Vaughan (Exclusive)
The Waterboys (Exclusive)
Eagles Of Death Metal
Ani Difranco
Amadou & Mariam
The Allman Betts Band
Zucchero (Exclusive)
Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles
Yola
Tal Wilkenfeld
Joachim Cooder (Exclusive)
Steve ‘n’ Seagulls (Exclusive)

Joining…

Dave Matthews Band
Crowded House
Patti Smith And Her Band
George Benson
Brandi Carlile
John Butler
Xavier Rudd
The Cat Empire
Morcheeba
John Prine
Jenny Lewis
Frank Turner
John Mayall
Buffy Sainte-Marie
The Marcus King Band
Walter Trout
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Greensky Bluegrass
Larkin Poe
The War & Treaty