Johnny Mercer Award

"Cy Coleman is a permanent gem in Broadway's musical crown." So said the New York Post's esteemed critic, Clive Barnes, in one of his numerous enthusiastic reviews of the musical works of Cy Coleman. And as though to justify such accolades, Coleman's recent accomplishments include winning Tony Awards for Best…

Abe Olman Publisher Award

Al Gallico, the 1995 winner of the coveted Abe Olman Publishers Award, one of the major personalities of the publishing world from the 1940s on, is regarded by his peers with great affection. He began his career in the music business as a gopher for G. Schirmer in 1938, and in the years since then, he has never ceased being an inventive and productive publisher of great American songs.

Trading his errand boy shoes for those of a songplugger, Gallico moved on to Leeds Music in 1939, the start of a 14-year association with the company. In 1953, his next move brought him the title, general professional manager, a job dedicated to obtaining recordings by name artists of the publisher's songs. The firm was another of the leading names, Shapiro Bernstein & Company.

A decade later, Gallico opted for working for himself and founded Al Gallico Music Corporation. One of the Company's first signed writers, Nashville's Billy Sherrill, was a Gallico discovery who went on to great fame as a successful composer. One of Sherrill's most renowned hits was the memorable "Almost Persuaded," a smash for singer David Houston. Sherrill ultimately received 89 top song awards from Broadcast Music Inc., the performing rights organization.

The Gallico/Sherrill team was so productive that in 1973, a new company, Algee Music, was formed with Sherrill and Gallico becoming business partners. For the next dozen years, Al Gallico Music and Algee Music turned out scores of hit songs including "The Most Beautiful Girl," "Stand By Your Man," "The Name Game," "The Clapping Song," "The Nitty Gritty," "The House of the Rising Sun," "Almost Persuaded" and the song that became Olivia Newton-John's first significant hit, “Let Me Be There." Al Gallico was also the discoverer of Donna Fargo, a major country artist of the 1970s, whose best-remembered hit song, "The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA," was also published by the Gallico interests.

The Gallico and Algee firms were sold in 1986 to Columbia Pictures Music. Later, in 1992, Gallico also sold a third firm, John Anderson Music, to Rondor Music International. However, he continues to control two other publishing companies, Mainstay and Mainspring Music, with his English partners, John Spalding and Carole Broughton. This catalog contains such hits for The Zombies as "Tell Her No (No No)," "Time of the Season," "Hold Your Head Up," "Liar," "God Gave Rock and Roll to You" and Cat Slovens' first major hit, "Here Comes My Baby."

Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award

"If Steve and Eydie can't entertain you, then no one can entertain you." National columnist and television talk-show personality, Larry King, made this comment in a recent column. He does not stand alone in his appraisal of Steve and Eydie. They are two of the finest entertainers in show business…

Hitmaker Award

Michael Bolton, widely acclaimed as one of pop music's most successful songwriters, is also a recording artist of major stature, having achieved sales of more than 35 million albums worldwide. In the process, he has also become the proud owner of a pair of Grammys and six American Music Awards.

Bolton's music credentials include songwriting collaborations with the legendary Bob Dylan as well as a proven catalog of his own songs, recorded by such notable names as Barbra Streisand, Joe Cocker, Kenny Rogers, Cher, Greg Allman, Patti LaBelle, Kenny G., The Pointer Sisters, Laura Branigan and numerous others. His achievements as a writer, in addition to his multirecording successes, have made him the hands-down choice for the 1995 Hitmaker Award of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In being named for this special accolade, Bolton joins such stars as Barry Manilow, Whitney Houston, Chuck Berry, Rosemary Clooney and our own Margaret Whiting in our honor roll of past "Hitmakers."

But success to Michael Bolton is more than hit records and sold-out concerts. It's also an opportunity to add voice, time and actions to many worthy charities. Bolton firmly believes that, as an artist, he must do everything within his power to assist those causes in which he believes. "Many of us are truly fortunate in so many ways," he says. "And many of us feel that giving something back and helping those less fortunate than ourselves, is simply the right thing to do."

In line with this outlook, Bolton has lent support and talent to such respected organizations as One to One, Cystic Fibrosis, Pediatric AIDS, City Kids, The City of Hope, The TJ. Martell Foundation, The Boys Choir of Harlem, Juvenile Diabetes, The United Negro College Fund, Ronald McDonald Charities and The Harlem School of the Arts.

Bolton is also dedicated to the ongoing fight for civil rights, particularly the struggle for children's and women's rights. In recognition of his humanitarian work for children, he received the prestigious Lewis Hine Award from the National Child Labor Committee. He also serves as honorary chairman of The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse.

By now, the legend of Michael Bolton's softball team, The Bolton Bombers, is well known. Bolton himself plays third base ("the hot corner") and is one of the team's power hitters. While touring, team members spend their days on the softball diamond, slugging it out against local celebrities, with all profits going to charity.

One of the highest points in Bolton's accomplishments came in 1993 with the formal establishment of The Michael Bolton Foundation, whose existence has two principal goals: First, to act on the problems of children and women, at risk due to poverty, emotional, physical and sexual abuse, and second, through education and effective programs, to create social awareness, broaden horizons and expand opportunities for youth across socio-economic and multi-cultural lines.
á3r> Bolton's commitment to children, as to his music, is absolute. Despite the frantic pace of his day-to-day life, lie plans to continue his Foundation work "until every child is safe, until every child has a fighting chance!"

Patron of the Arts Award

Ted Forstmann is the kind of man the American Dream was made for. The grandson of German and Italian immigrants, he embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of risking it all for a shot at success.

Today, Forstmann is senior partner of the private investment firm, Forstmann Little and Company,…

Towering Song

Popular music in America is the richer for the presence on an earlier musical landscape of Herman Hupfeld. One of his major contributions as a songwriter was and continues to be the memorable, "As Time Goes By," a song which first saw the light of day as part of the…