Songwriters Hall of Fame

Propelled by his immensely productive songwriting skills along with his dynamic performing style, Lionel Richie has reached a series of dazzling artistic heights, setting new standards in his craft and in the industry.

Born in 1949 in Tuskegee Institute, Alabama (home to Tuskegee University), Richie's start in the…

Widely regarded as the ultimate soul man, both by those who knew him in his own time as well as by those who've simply "heard the records," Otis Redding, of all those artists whose death has come in mid-career, has had a momentous impact on the music of our time. Redding also tends to be remembered almost as much for his electrifying style in performance and recording as for his songwriting skills. And yet these too, particularly for a man whose life was extinguished in an airplane crash at age 26, were of exceptional proportions.

Strangely enough, the song that was to become perhaps his very best known, "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay," was recorded just three weeks before his death in December 1967. A month after his passing, in the plane's dive into the icy waters of Wisconsin's Lake Monona, the song was released as a single and immediately began its race up the charts, soon to become Billboard's first-ever posthumous number one chart entry.

While "Dock of the Bay" was a kind of brooding, dark voicing of despair, ("I've got nothin' to live for/Look like nothin' gonna come my way,") his music, in general, was exultant and joyful. According to journalist Ruth Robinson, in her introduction to Rhino Records 1993 box-set of Redding's songs, "It is currently a revisionist theory to equate soul with the darker side of man's musical expression, blues. That fanner of the flame of 'Trouble's got a hold on me' music, might well be the father of the form if it is, the glorified exaltation found in church on any Sunday morning is its mother." And glorified exaltation indeed was an apt description of Otis Redding's songwriting and singing style.

Born in Dawson, Georgia in 1941, Redding was involved in music from his teen years, and first recorded one of his own early songs, "Shout Bamalama," at age 19 on the Confederate label in Athens, Georgia. Less than two years later, following a further honing of his songwriting skills, Redding did his audition recording with the up-and-coming Memphis label, Stax Records, with the song, "These Arms of Mine." The record marked the beginning of what was to become an extended collaboration between Redding and the Stax master studio musicians, Booker T. Jones, Donald "Duck" Dunn, A] Jackson Jr. and Steve Cropper, a group that would become widely known as Booker T. and The MG's, achieving its own legendary status.

Many other songs were yet to come from the increasingly prolific genius of Otis Redding. "These Arms”, though an audition song, actually reached the top 20 of the 1963 R&B charts, and also managed to cross over into the Hot 100 pop list. Other major hits included "Mr. Pitiful," in 1965 and "Dock of the Bay" in 1967, both co-written with the Stax resident guitar wizard, Steve Cropper; "I've Been Loving You Too Long" co-written with R&B star, Jerry Butler, and his own tune, "Respect," which became one of Aretha Franklin's all-time biggest hits. Other memorable Redding songs include "Sweet Soul Music," "I Can't Turn You Loose," "Happy Song," "Security," "Hard to Handle" and "I've Got Dreams to Remember."

A mark of Redding's major standing with the world of music and records, was his appearance at the legendary Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, hailed then and now as one of the seminal events in the history of rock and roll-oriented pop music. He was on the same Monterey stage as that which later spotlighted Jimi Hendrix and Reprise Records later issued an LP of the live Redding and Hendrix performances.

Another posthumous measure of Redding's place in the annals of songwriting came with the New York Times' 1970 compilation of 82 finalists in the paper's list of the very best songs of the '60s. Two of Redding's songs, "Respect" and "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay," were on the final list.

Carly Simon’s body of work encompasses a significantly wide spectrum of activity. In addition to having recorded 22 albums of her own compositions, she has composed four film scores, including "Heartburn," "This Is My Life," "Postcards from the Edge" and "Working Girl," for which she won a Grammy, a Golden…

It sounds like a simple formula---beautifully composed songs - indelible melodies - incredible hooks - heartbreaking vocals - magical harmonies - trend-setting production. From the very beginning, singing together has really been as natural as breathing and almost as essential to this unstoppable trio of brothers (older brother Barry and fraternal twins Robin and Maurice) - who began in harmony when they were little boys performing in Manchester England at local cinemas. The soon-to-be Bee Gees emigrated to Australia with their family in 1958 and moved their act into local clubs. In 1963, they got their first record deal and were amongst the first of the ’60’s pop bands down under to write their own songs. Three years later, with their first #1 hit (“Spicks and Specks”) behind them, the Bee Gees returned to England with the intention of becoming internationally successful recording artists.

Four decades later, they have sold more than 110,000,000 albums including the most successful motion picture soundtrack of all time, earned 16 Grammy nominations and 9 Grammy awards, and had their songs recorded by hundreds of other artists including Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Barbra Streisand, N Sync, Wyclef Jean, Destiny’s Child, Celine Dion, Al Green, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Mathis, Sarah Vaughn, Pras Michel, Oscar Dela Hoya, and so many more.

As songwriters and producers, they stand alone in having five singles in Billboard’s Top 10 at the same time. As artists, in having six consecutive #1 singles. Their songs have achieved #1 status in each of the last four decades and, with the release of their 2001 new CD, “This is Where I Came In” (Universal Records, April 2001), they expect to stretch that to five.

As a tribute to their fans around the world, and after a decade-long hiatus from touring, the Bee Gees performed one live show (“One Night Only,” MGM Grand, Las Vegas) in 1997, featuring a guest appearance by Celine Dion, which, when released as a CD (Fall 1998) sold more than 5 million copies worldwide and also became a Top 10 DVD (1999). A series of sold-out “One Night Only” stadium concerts, generally one per continent, followed including the Bee Gees’ triumphant home-coming returns at London’s Wembley Stadium and Sydney’s Stadium Australia. The latter concert, which was the first performance in the stadium built for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was attended by 72,000 cheering Bee Gees fans and was the most successful pop concert in Australian history.

In 1996-7, the Bee Gees received industry acknowledgment commensurate with their stature. In quick order, they received the American, World and British Music Awards “Lifetime Achievement” honors and were inducted into the Songwriter and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame, making them part of a very select group of artists to be in both the Rock and Songwriter Halls.

The straight truth is, nobody has done it longer and nobody has done it better than the Bee Gees. Only Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand have had significant careers that have lasted as long, but unlike those legends, the brothers Gibb write, arrange and produce their own songs. For forty years, they’ve been professional singers, for over thirty years, they have set trends and transcended fads with the sheer purity of their creativity. And now, as we await major musical moments in the new millennium, the creative return of the Bee Gees promises to open your ears - and open your hearts.

It sounds like a simple formula---beautifully composed songs - -indelible melodies - incredible hooks - heartbreaking vocals - magical harmonies - trend-setting production. From the very beginning, singing together has really been as natural as breathing and almost as essential to this unstoppable trio of brothers (older brother Barry and fraternal twins Robin and Maurice) - who began in harmony when they were little boys performing in Manchester England at local cinemas. The soon-to-be Bee Gees emigrated to Australia with their family in 1958 and moved their act into local clubs. In 1963, they got their first record deal and were amongst the first of the ’60’s pop bands down under to write their own songs. Three years later, with their first #1 hit (“Spicks and Specks”) behind them, the Bee Gees returned to England with the intention of becoming internationally successful recording artists.

Four decades later, they have sold more than 110,000,000 albums including the most successful motion picture soundtrack of all time, earned 16 Grammy nominations and 9 Grammy awards, and had their songs recorded by hundreds of other artists including Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Barbra Streisand, N Sync, Wyclef Jean, Destiny’s Child, Celine Dion, Al Green, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Mathis, Sarah Vaughn, Pras Michel, Oscar Dela Hoya, and so many more.

As songwriters and producers, they stand alone in having five singles in Billboard’s Top 10 at the same time. As artists, in having six consecutive #1 singles. Their songs have achieved #1 status in each of the last four decades and, with the release of their 2001 new CD, “This is Where I Came In” (Universal Records, April 2001), they expect to stretch that to five.

As a tribute to their fans around the world, and after a decade-long hiatus from touring, the Bee Gees performed one live show (“One Night Only,” MGM Grand, Las Vegas) in 1997, featuring a guest appearance by Celine Dion, which, when released as a CD (Fall 1998) sold more than 5 million copies worldwide and also became a Top 10 DVD (1999). A series of sold-out “One Night Only” stadium concerts, generally one per continent, followed including the Bee Gees’ triumphant home-coming returns at London’s Wembley Stadium and Sydney’s Stadium Australia. The latter concert, which was the first performance in the stadium built for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was attended by 72,000 cheering Bee Gees fans and was the most successful pop concert in Australian history.

In 1996-7, the Bee Gees received industry acknowledgment commensurate with their stature. In quick order, they received the American, World and British Music Awards “Lifetime Achievement” honors and were inducted into the Songwriter and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame, making them part of a very select group of artists to be in both the Rock and Songwriter Halls.

The straight truth is, nobody has done it longer and nobody has done it better than the Bee Gees. Only Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand have had significant careers that have lasted as long, but unlike those legends, the brothers Gibb write, arrange and produce their own songs. For forty years, they’ve been professional singers, for over thirty years, they have set trends and transcended fads with the sheer purity of their creativity. And now, as we await major musical moments in the new millennium, the creative return of the Bee Gees promises to open your ears - and open your hearts.

It sounds like a simple formula---beautifully composed songs - indelible melodies - incredible hooks - heartbreaking vocals - magical harmonies - trend-setting production. From the very beginning, singing together has really been as natural as breathing and almost as essential to this unstoppable trio of brothers (older brother Barry and fraternal twins Robin and Maurice) - who began in harmony when they were little boys performing in Manchester England at local cinemas. The soon-to-be Bee Gees emigrated to Australia with their family in 1958 and moved their act into local clubs. In 1963, they got their first record deal and were amongst the first of the ’60’s pop bands down under to write their own songs. Three years later, with their first #1 hit (“Spicks and Specks”) behind them, the Bee Gees returned to England with the intention of becoming internationally successful recording artists.

Four decades later, they have sold more than 110,000,000 albums including the most successful motion picture soundtrack of all time, earned 16 Grammy nominations and 9 Grammy awards, and had their songs recorded by hundreds of other artists including Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Barbra Streisand, N Sync, Wyclef Jean, Destiny’s Child, Celine Dion, Al Green, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Dionne Warwick, Johnny Mathis, Sarah Vaughn, Pras Michel, Oscar Dela Hoya, and so many more.

As songwriters and producers, they stand alone in having five singles in Billboard’s Top 10 at the same time. As artists, in having six consecutive #1 singles. Their songs have achieved #1 status in each of the last four decades and, with the release of their 2001 new CD, “This is Where I Came In” (Universal Records, April 2001), they expect to stretch that to five.

As a tribute to their fans around the world, and after a decade-long hiatus from touring, the Bee Gees performed one live show (“One Night Only,” MGM Grand, Las Vegas) in 1997, featuring a guest appearance by Celine Dion, which, when released as a CD (Fall 1998) sold more than 5 million copies worldwide and also became a Top 10 DVD (1999). A series of sold-out “One Night Only” stadium concerts, generally one per continent, followed including the Bee Gees’ triumphant home-coming returns at London’s Wembley Stadium and Sydney’s Stadium Australia. The latter concert, which was the first performance in the stadium built for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was attended by 72,000 cheering Bee Gees fans and was the most successful pop concert in Australian history.

In 1996-7, the Bee Gees received industry acknowledgment commensurate with their stature. In quick order, they received the American, World and British Music Awards “Lifetime Achievement” honors and were inducted into the Songwriter and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame, making them part of a very select group of artists to be in both the Rock and Songwriter Halls.

The straight truth is, nobody has done it longer and nobody has done it better than the Bee Gees. Only Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand have had significant careers that have lasted as long, but unlike those legends, the brothers Gibb write, arrange and produce their own songs. For forty years, they’ve been professional singers, for over thirty years, they have set trends and transcended fads with the sheer purity of their creativity. And now, as we await major musical moments in the new millennium, the creative return of the Bee Gees promises to open your ears - and open your hearts.