Songwriters Hall of Fame

The scene in “Wayne’s World” where the central characters listened while driving to “Bohemian Rhapsody” typifies much about what has made Queen’s music popular and enduring. The songs have a rhythmic jolt that can’t help but make your head nod back and forth and singing along amounts to a virtual…

The scene in “Wayne’s World” where the central characters listened while driving to “Bohemian Rhapsody” typifies much about what has made Queen’s music popular and enduring. The songs have a rhythmic jolt that can’t help but make your head nod back and forth and singing along amounts to a virtual…

The scene in “Wayne’s World” where the central characters listened while driving to “Bohemian Rhapsody” typifies much about what has made Queen’s music popular and enduring. The songs have a rhythmic jolt that can’t help but make your head nod back and forth and singing along amounts to a virtual…

The scene in “Wayne’s World” where the central characters listened while driving to “Bohemian Rhapsody” typifies much about what has made Queen’s music popular and enduring. The songs have a rhythmic jolt that can’t help but make your head nod back and forth and singing along amounts to a virtual…

So energetic and overwhelming area his performances, Little Richard seems less a musician than a veritable force of nature. His pounding piano coupled with the rhythmic propulsion of his rhythm section made for a beat that was irresistible. Rock & roll was, in his hands, a sound of pure ecstatic…

The diversity of types of music Van Morrison has written and performed staggers the imagination. Everything from straight-garage rock to jazz to celtic to r&b to jazz to skiffle. And all delivered with a voice and a style that cannot be described any other way than unique and unmistakable.

Born in Belfast, Ireland, he first made his mark as the lead singer and key writer with the group Them in 1964-5. Together they produced “G-L-O-R-I-A,” one of rock’s true anthems, and a song that everyone from Patti Smith to the Doors has performed. He relocated to the United States and took off as a solo artist, releasing the buoyant “Brown-Eyed Girl” and the introspective “T.B. Sheets” In 1968, backed by some of the finest jazz musicians, he recorded “Astral Weeks,” considered by many one of the best singer-songwriter albums of all time. He shifted from its sensitive grooves to a more upbeat and r&b-influenced style on his next several albums that featured such dance-inducing sides as “Domino” and “Wild Night Is Calling.”

Moving back to Ireland in 1974, his music took on a more folk-influenced acoustic sound, and his lyrics during this period possessed some of their most affecting poetry to date. In the many, many records he has released since, Morrison has explored the complete palette of his talents. Several of his recent songs - such as “Whenever Gold Shines His Light” and “Have I Told You Lately That I Loved You” - have brought his unique talents to the top of the charts.

Phil Collins, a native of Chiswick, England, is the affable singer, drummer and songwriter who helped turn Genesis from a respected art-rock band into a pop hitmaking machine. He also carved out a place for himself as a superstar solo artist during the ’80s. A former child actor, Collins had a featured role in a London production of Oliver! in 1964. He joined Genesis as a replacement for the band’s original drummer, but the spotlight stayed on frontman Peter Gabriel until Gabriel suddenly left the group in 1974. Collins eventually moved into the lead vocalist spot and led the band into a much more accessible pop direction. Resulting hits, written by Collins with bandmates Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford include “That’s All,” “Follow You, Follow Me,” “Misunderstanding,” and “Invisible Touch.”

Collins began to receive recognition as a solo artist with his debut album, Face Value, in 1981. The new video era and Collins’ memorable R&B-flavored recordings made him a ubiquitous presence throughout the 1980s. Collins originals “One More Night,” “In the Air Tonight,” “I Cannot Believe It’s True,” “Against All Odds,” “Easy Lover”, “I Don’t Care Anymore” and “Sussudio,” among others, were worldwide smash hits. His newest album, Testify, is about to be released.