Johnny Mercer Award

When Stevie Wonder began recording in 1962, he was only 11 years old. Over the past 40 years, Wonder has been one of the most admired musicians and songwriters in contemporary music. In 1965, he began a run of U.S. Top 40 hits that continued unbroken for over six years. By 1971, he had pioneered the use of the synthesizer in black music on both Where I'm Coming From and Music Of My Mind, and helped usher in a new era of soul/R&B. His albums Talking Book, Innervisions,and Songs In The Key of Life gave us some of the more enduring songs like "Superstition," "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life," "Living For The City" and "Higher Ground." In 1982, he composed the soundtrack music for the film The Woman In Red, which yielded his biggest-selling single to date, "I Just Called To Say I Loved You." Wonder's status as an elder statesman of black music, and a champion of black rights, was boosted by his campaign in the early 80’s to have the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrated as a national holiday in the USA. This request was granted by President Reagan, and the first Martin Luther King Day was celebrated on January 15, 1986 with a concert at which Wonder topped the bill. His collaborations with other artists included work with Paul McCartney, which produced the enormous hit, "Ebony And Ivory," Gary Byrd, Michael Jackson, and Eurythmics, and on the benefit records by “USA For Africa” and “Dionne Warwick & Friends.”

Abe Olman Publisher Award

Warner Chappell Chairman & CEO Les Bider will be the recipient of the 2004 Abe Olman Award. Warner Chappell controls literally thousands of compositions, making the company one of the largest music publishers in the world, and Les Bider, through his savvy and entrepreneurial spirit, has taken his company places…

Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award

Over the past 45 years, Neil Sedaka’s songwriting and recordings have helped change the face of popular music. With a lengthy list of hit singles, and platinum and gold records, Sedaka is recognized as one of rock and pop music's pioneers. Sedaka and his longtime songwriting partner, the late Howard Greenfield, were among the architects of what came to be known as the "Brill Building Sound" in the late Fifties and early Sixties. Among Sedaka's huge catalogue of compositions are such hits as "Where the Boys Are" and "Stupid Cupid" (both for Connie Francis); "Love Will Keep Us Together" (The Captain & Tennille); and "Solitaire" (The Carpenters, Clay Aiken). Neil Sedaka has also proven to be one of his own best interpreters, having scaled the charts with "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" (two different versions); "Stairway to Heaven," "Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen," "Calendar Girl", "Laughter in the Rain," and "Bad Blood." The list of artists who have recorded versions of Sedaka songs ranges from Carole King, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones and The Fifth Dimension to Sheryl Crow, Cher, Abba and the Monkees.

Patron of the Arts Award

Michael Goldstein, Chairman of the Toys 'R' Us Children's Fund and former Chairman of the Board of Toys 'R' Us Inc., has been involved with Toys 'R' Us for 20 years. He is the President of the 92nd Street Y of New York, a Director of Columbia House and 4…

Towering Song

"What the World Needs Now Is Love," written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, will be honored as the Towering Song at the SHOF Induction and Awards Dinner on June 10th. In light of the world's current state, the sentiments expressed in this Bacharach-David classic are as timely as ever.…

Starlight Award

Rob Thomas is the lead singer and principal songwriter for the multi-platinum group matchbox twenty. Thomas has received a number of songwriting honors, including: three Grammy Awards; a remarkable 11 BMI Awards - including 1999 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year and 2002 BMI Pop Song of the Year (for…