Colbie’s debut album, Coco, features the singer delivering bashful, girl-next-door sentiments in a bewitching r&b voice. Upon its summer 2007 release, the album shot to No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, reaching No. 1 on the iTunes’ sales survey. The single “Bubby” penetrated the Top 10, helping Coco snap up an RIAA gold certification just months after its release.

Its impressive songs and performances notwithstanding, Coco is also notable for its production. The album possesses an aural intimacy that recalls the warm recordings of 1970s artists like Carole King, Bill Withers and James Taylor. Coco’s soothing retro vibes are no accident. The album was co-produced by Colbie’s dad, Ken Caillat, the man who helped oversee the recording of the Fleetwood Mac rock classics Rumours and Tusk.

Dad played a crucial role in Colbie’s creative development, emphasizing the importance of writing one’s own songs instead of relying on professional tunesmiths. Colbie took the advice to heart. “I wrote my first song after my very first guitar lesson,” she recalls. “Then it just all flowed out.”

Nowadays, Colbie collaborates with co-writers Mikal Blue and Jason Reeves. The team crafted the tunes featured on Coco, while Blue served as co-producer. “The songs always start out with me,” Colbie explains of the collaborative process. “If I get stuck, I can take it to Mikal or Jason. Having people you trust to bounce ideas around keeps the creativity flowing.”

Touring in support of Coco, Colbie has found herself recounting her charmed childhood during interviews. Recalling the days when Mick Fleetwood and John McVie hung out at the Caillat abode in suburban Los Angeles, Colbie says good-naturedly, “Of course I’ve learned a lot from them. You’d be a fool not to.”

About the panelists:

KC Porter - This Grammy Award-winning producer, arranger and composer has chart-topping works with such Latin superstars as Carlos Santana, Ricky Martin, Luis Miguel, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Ana Gabriel, and the late Selena. Porter has also worked his magic with English-language stars, including Lara Fabian, Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, 98 Degrees, Brian McKnight, Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men, crossing their hits over to Spanish-speaking and international audiences. One of his latest projects was co-writing and producing Ozomatli’s latest album, Don’t Mess with the Dragon.

Rafa Sardina – Sardina, a Los Angeles based, ten-time Grammy Award-winning mixer/engineer has built an eclectic and impressive client list in the recent years: Macy Gray, Stevie Wonder, Dr Dre, Dru Hill, Jessy Moss, Mariah Carey, Luis Miguel, Sheryl Crow, Soul Coughing, Marc Antoine, Angie Stone and Alejandro Sanz, among others. He has worked with numerous high-profile artists and producers, including Dr Dre, Camara Kambon, Lulu Perez, Babyface, Scott Litt and David Foster. Most recently, Sardina has launched a production company focusing on developing new talent in his state-of-the art studio, open since 2006.

Mark Portman - This Los Angeles-based, Grammy Award-nominated producer/songwriter/musician has worked on over 130 albums, several movies and TV shows. His roster of Latin stars includes Luis Miguel, Julio Iglesias, Alejandro Sanz, Jaci Velasquez, Cristian Castro, Luis Fonsi, Olga Tanon, Pedro Fernandez, Reik, Ednita Nazario, and Los Temerarios. He has collaborated and worked with renowned producers including David Foster, Phil Ramone, Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley and Latin producer Rudy Perez. Among his other roster of superstars are Barbra Streisand, Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager, Blackstreet, Diana Ross, Christina Aguilera, Brenda Russell, Dave Koz and others.

Sebastian Krys - Based in South Florida, this multiple Grammy Award-winning producer has over 20 top ten Billboard Latin Hits, including 9 No. 1 singles and albums. Krys has worked with artists including Marc Anthony, Carlos Vives, Sandy & Junior, Shakira, Mana, JD Natasha, Jeremias, Long Beach Dub All Stars w/Black Eyed Peas, Aterciopelados, Ricky Martin, Will Smith, Obie Bermudez, Gian Marco, Luis Fonsi, Gloria Estefan, Soraya, Mandy Moore, Jennifer Lopez, and more.

Homero Patrón – This Grammy Award-winning musician, director and composer has worked with artists such as José José, Emmanuel, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Rocío Durcal, Ray Conniff, Barry White, Tom Jones, Nana Moskoury, Raphael, Nelson Ned, Juan Gabriel, Manoella Torres, Vicky Carr, Gualberto Castro, Angélica María, César Costa, Alberto Vazquez, Charles Aznavour, and Jose Luis Rodríguez “El Puma,” to name just a few. Patrón has also produced albums for such superstars as Juan Gabriel, Lucha Villa, Javier Solís, Angeles Ochoa, Ana Gabriel, Yuri, Pedro Fernandez, Vicky Carr, Olga Tañon, Vicente and Alejandro Fernández, Pepe Aguilar, Lucero, Alicia Villarreal, Pablo Montero, Ana Bárbara, Laura Flores, Nana Mouskouri and Marco Antonio Solís.

Kiko Cibrian - Multi-talented producer, musician and vocal producer who has worked with Luis Miguel, Christian Castro, and up-and-coming artists Innis, Jesse & Joy, Patricia Manterola, Souljahz, and Frankie J, Reik, along with projects such at Billboard’s Latin Series: Best of 1997, Billboard’s Latin Series: Best of Pop 1996, along with the Sinatra Duets.

Marco Flores - Flores has produced and written over 400 songs, four of which placed number one on Billboard's charts in the same year (2000), and has achieved an impressive 14 platinum albums and 22 gold albums. His roster includes works with Richard Marx, Luther Vandross, Selena, Barrio Boyzz, Donna Summer, Toni Braxton, Bonnie Raitt, Thalia, Gloria Estefan, Carlos Ponce, Jordi, Ricky Martin, Jose Feliciano, and many more.

BMI songwriters dominate the selections, representing 58% of the individuals and groups. The variety and superiority of the material attests not only to the wide-ranging talents of BMI songwriters but also the consistency of BMI’s involvement with all eralms of music throughout the course of its history. The diversity of styles and genres included is remarkable, ranging from folk (Woody Guthrie) to rap (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five), jazz (Miles Davis) to punk (Sex Pistols), blues (Howlin’ Wolf) to country (Hank Williams), rhythm & blues (Sam Cooke) to soul (Aretha Franklin), disco (Chic) to folk-rock (Fairport Convention), the over-the-top (Velvet Underground & Nico) to the indefinable (Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band).

As with any list, arguments are invited and disagreements encouraged. The following are BMI’s representatives in Mojo’s decisions, including their number in the final grouping.

For the complete list, consult mojo4music.com or rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo.html.

BMI Songwriters on the MOJO List:

Animals: “The House of the Rising Sun” [#86]
Anthology of American Folk Music [#8]
Beach Boys: Pet Sounds [#21]
The Beatles: “I Want To Hold Your Hand” [#2]
                       Revolver [#40]
                      Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band [#16]
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: Trout Mask Replica [#51]
Chuck Berry: “Johnny B. Goode” [#12]
Big Youth: Screaming Target [#76]
David Bowie: The Rise and Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And the Spiders From Mars [#31]
                       Low [#64]
James Brown: “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” [#15]
Jeff Buckley: Grace [#37]
The Byrds: Sweetheart of the Rodeo [#57]
Ray Charles: “What’d I Say” [#9]
Chic: “Good Times” [#54]
John Coltrane: My Favorite Things [#60]
Sam Cooke: “You Send Me” [#47]
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue [#43]
Lonnie Donegan: “Rock Island Line” [#38]
Nick Drake: Five Leaves Left [#78]
Brian Eno: Discreet Music [#68]
Fairport Convention: Liege & Lief [#58]
Aretha Franklin: “I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You” [#18]
Gang Of Four: Entertainment [#77]
Gnarls Barkley: “Crazy” [#100]
Davy Graham with Alexis Korner: 3/4AD [#35]
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five: “The Message” [#29]
Woody Guthrie: Dust Bowl Ballads [#13]
Billie Holiday : “Strange Fruit” [#67]
Buddy Holly: “That’ll Be The Day” [#52]
Howlin’ Wolf: The Rocking Chair Album [#23]
Michael Jackson: Thriller [#33]
Carole King: Tapestry [#74]
John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band [#55]
The Libertines: Up The Bracket [#94]
Little Richard: “Tutti Frutti” [# 1]
Love [#66]
MC5: Kick Out The Jams [#69]
New York Dolls [#39]
Nirvana: “Smells Like Teen Spirit” [#27]
Nuggets [#42]
N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton [#61]
Oasis: Definitely Maybe [#89]
Charlie Parker: “Koko” [#26]
Pixies: Surfer Rosa [#79]
Elvis Presley: “Heartbreak Hotel” {#3]
R.E.M.: Murmur [#75]
Rolling Stones: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” [#19]
                          “Sympathy For The Devil:” [#48]
Ronettes: “Be My Baby” [#45]
Sex Pistols: “God Save the Queen” [#10]
The Shadows: “Apache” [#84]
The Smiths: This Charming Man [#80]
Sonic Youth: EVOL [#85]
The Stone Roses [#99]
The Stooges: Funhouse [#36]
Television: Marquee Moon [#97]
Upsetters: Blackboard Jungle Dub [#59]
The Velvet Underground & Nico [#7]
The Who: “My Generation” [#44]
Hank Williams: “Move It On Over” [#30]
Link Wray: “Rumble” [#41]

More information about Jazz Appreciation Month is available in the press release below.

John Hasse, Director of Music at the Smithsonian, BMI Corporate Relations Vice President Robbin Ahrold, Rona Sebastian (President, Herb Alpert Foundation),legendary jazz photographer and donor William Claxton, Stanton Davis (American Federation of Musicians), Sandra Gibson (CEO, Association of Performing Arts Presenters), Charles Fishman (Dizzy Gillespie's last manager; President of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival), renowned jazz portrait artist LeRoy Neiman, and Angela Martinez (Program Director, Association of Performing Arts Presenters).

At a special ceremony today, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History kicked off Jazz Appreciation Month with a tribute to three prominent trumpeters: Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong and Herb Alpert, as well as donations from photographer Bill Claxton and artist LeRoy Neiman.

Now in its sixth year, JAM is an annual event that pays tribute to jazz both as a historic and living American art form. Throughout the month, the Smithsonian will present numerous events, including performances, film and displays in venues around Washington, D.C.

“Jazz is a truly American style of music that has played an important role in our heritage,” said Brent D. Glass, director of the National Museum of American History. “Through the Smithsonian’s Jazz Appreciation Month activities, we will highlight jazz and its history and expose audiences to this significant piece of American culture.”

Four donations were recognized at today’s JAM kick off event:

• Business records and personal ephemera belonging to John Birks ‘Dizzy’ Gillespie, one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of the 20th century. The collection was donated by Charles Fishman, Gillespie’s manager from 1985 to 1993, who won a Grammy for producing “Dizzy Gillespie and United Nations Orchestra” and founded the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C.

• Twenty-two photographs by acclaimed fashion and jazz photographer Bill Claxton of jazz greats, including Ray Charles, Miles Davis and Chet Baker.

• Support for JAM from the Herb Alpert Foundation as the lead sponsor of Jazz Appreciation Month, with a donation of $300,000 to be used during the next three years.

• Use of celebrated American artist LeRoy Neiman’s conté-crayon drawing of Louis Armstrong, which is featured on the official 2007 JAM poster. This is the second year Neiman has donated image for this purpose. The museum and its JAM partners will distribute 250,000 posters around the country to promote local JAM activities.

This year, Carlos Santana and Herb Alpert have added their voices to those of other prominent musicians, including Geri Allen and Wynton Marsalis, in recording radio public service announcements produced by BMI. The PSAs will be distributed nationwide.

In a first this year, the museum will partner with leading online social network Care2 www.care2.com to co-host a discussion board that simultaneously resides in both the smithsonianjazz.org and Care2 communities, enabling music fans on both web sites to join together in one large conversation about jazz.

The Smithsonian Women’s Committee is supporting the 2007 JAM public programs throughout the institution with a special grant, and WAMU Radio, 88.5 FM, is the media partner in the nation’s capital, providing public service announcements.

Los Angeles born Herb Alpert is a notable musician known for co-founding – with Jerry Moss – A&M Records, for years the world’s largest, most successful independent label and home to artists including Stan Getz, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Carole King and Sting. Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass’ 1962 debut “The Lonely Bull” was also A&M’s inaugural release. The band’s infusion of Latin and jazz sounds into pop music resulted in hits including the Grammy winners “A Taste of Honey” and “What Now My Love.” As a solo artist, Alpert is known for “Rise” which won nine Grammys.

Claxton, who hails from Pasadena, Ca., first gained fame in the 1950s, photographing artists for the Pacific Jazz record label and went on to have his work featured on album and magazine covers internationally. Throughout his career, Claxton has produced insightful portraits of many jazz legends, often capturing musicians in spontaneous, intimate moments, reflecting his vision of photography as “jazz for the eye.”

Born in South Carolina in 1917 as the youngest of 10 children, Gillespie taught himself to play the trumpet at age 12. In the 1940s, Gillespie helped develop an innovative style known as bebop, featuring intricate improvisations, complex harmonies and rapid rhythms. Gillespie played with such jazz greats as Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane and mentored young musicians, including Miles Davis. Known for his beret, horn-rimmed glasses, bent horn and puffed cheeks, Gillespie has had an enormous impact on subsequent generations of trumpeters.

LeRoy Neiman, born in St. Paul, MN., operates his studio out of New York. Growing up on the street during the Depression, his first commission was for the local grocer, drawing calcimine pictures of food items on the store windows. Neiman became interested in jazz during the 1970s. He created art for numerous program covers and posters for the Newport Jazz Festival, the Kool Jazz Festival and Jazzmobile, and painted jazz greats Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis.

The National Museum of American History launched JAM in 2001 and it has since grown to include celebrations in all 50 states and 20 other countries. This year the Smithsonian will present a record 29 events, including five performances by the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, the museum’s resident big band.

In commemorating JAM 2007, the museum collaborated with a diverse group of 28 organizations, institutions, associations and federal agencies that have provided financial and in-kind support and organized programs and outreach of their own. The Smithsonian operates the world’s most comprehensive set of jazz programs. The museum is home to incomparable jazz collections that include 100,000 pages of Ellington’s unpublished music and such objects as Fitzgerald’s famous red dress, Gillespie’s angled trumpet and Benny Goodman’s clarinet. A complete schedule of JAM events is available at http://americanhistory.si.edu.

The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Documenting the American experience from Colonial times to the present, the museum looks at growth and change in the United States. The museum is closed for major renovations and will re-open in summer 2008. The public may visit the museum’s Web site at http://americanhistory.si.edu or call (202) 633-1000 or (202) 633-5285 (TTY) for general Smithsonian information.

Zavin served at BMI for 49 years, joining the company in 1952 as head of its legal department, rising to Senior Vice President and Special Counsel at her retirement in 2001. She founded the BMI Foundation, Inc. in 1985, serving as its President until her retirement and President Emeritus until her death.

Zavin was legendary in the music copyright community for her fierce defense of the rights of musical composers both here and abroad. Over her long career she also developed close personal relationships with many seminal composers including John Williams, Lionel Newman, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, John Kander and Fred Ebb, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, Alan Menken and Maury Yeston.

A graduate of Hunter College, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and The Columbia School of Law, where she was Notes and Comments Editor of the Law Review, she served as President of the Copyright Society of the U.S.A., was a member of the United States Copyright Office Advisory Committee, and the Copyright Committee of the Bar Association of the City of New York. Internationally, she represented American interests as a leader of the Legal and Legislative Committee of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC).

Zavin combined her legal talents with a deft personal touch with songwriters, composers and music publishers at BMI. In 1965, she was appointed Vice President, Performing Rights, leading the company for more than 20 years during one of its most dramatic periods of growth, personally signing representation agreements with such songwriter/artists as Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Carole King, Mort Shuman and Doc Pomus, and Neil Sedaka, such legendary Brill Building music publishers as Don Kirschner and Al Nevins, and international figures such as Beatles' publisher Dick James.

Zavin wrote prolifically for leading law journals on copyright and was co-author of several books aimed at demystifying and making the law accessible to the layman, including Rights and Writers and Your Marriage and the Law. One of the music industry's best-known hostesses, Zavin also authored two well-received cookbooks, The Working Wives Cookbook with Fredda Stuart, and The Everybody Bring a Dish Cookbook.

Among her many accolades, Zavin was honored by the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Division of the New York State Bar Association, by the Young Musicians Foundation, by the Association of Independent Music Publishers, was inducted into the Hunter College Hall of Fame and honored as the Executive of the Year by the United Jewish Appeal.

BMI President & Chief Executive Officer Frances W. Preston said, "Thea has been a leader in support of copyright protection on behalf of songwriters and publishers during her entire career. No one in this industry has contributed more to strengthening copyright. She had an encyclopedic knowledge of copyright law and of BMI's history and its role in American music. We will deeply miss her counsel and her legendary wit."

Zavin married playwright Benjamin Zavin in 1945; he passed away in 1980. She is survived by two sons, Jonathan and Joshua, and three grandchildren, Kate, Nathaniel and Ryan. The family is planning a memorial service. The family said that Mrs. Zavin had requested that friends be referred to the BMI Foundation, which has established a special fund in her name to provide an award to a music student at New York's LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and Performing Arts.]]> 2004-06-21T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234060 Artists, Brown, James, Fox, Charles, Green, Al, John, Elton, King, Carole, Mayfield, Curtis, McLean, Don, Sting, Wilson, Brian, Musical Styles, Singer-Songwriter The Songwriters Hall of Fame, the organization dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, has announced the list of honorees for the 35th annual induction and awards dinner, scheduled for Thursday, June 10 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

Charles Fox	Al Green	Don McLean

Among the inductees are BMI songwriters and artists Charles Fox ("Killing Me Softly With His Song," "I Got A Name"), Al Green ("Let's Stay Together," "I'm Still In Love With You"), Daryl Hall & John Oates ("Sara Smile," "I Can't Go For That"), Don McLean ("American Pie," "And I Love You So"), and songwriting duo Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield ("I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"). BMI songwriter Neil Sedaka ("Breaking Up Is Hard To Do," "Calendar Girl") will be honored with the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award.

Daryl Hall & John Oates	Neil Sedaka

Other honorees include Stevie Wonder, who will be this year's recipient of the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award, and Rob Thomas of matchbox twenty, who will receive the first ever Starlight Award. Warner Chappell Chairman/CEO Les Bider will receive the Abe Olman Publisher's Award and Toys 'R' Us Children's Fund Chairman Michael Goldstein will be the recipient of the Patron of the Arts Award.

Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield	Les Bider

The National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The NAPM/SHOF is also devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. BMI is a long-time supporter of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Past Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees include Carole King, Sting, Bob Dylan, Queen, Billy Joel, Sir Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Jim Croce, Hal David and Burt Bacharach, among many, many others.

BMI songwriter and Johnny Mercer Award recipient Carole King (center) is congratulated by BMI President/CEO Frances Preston, Songwriters Hall of Fame Chairman/CEO Hal David, EMI Music Publishing Chairman/CEO Marty Bandier and Songwriters Hall of Fame President Linda Moran

Other inductees included Ashford & Simpson, Randy Newman, Garth Brooks (Hitmaker Award), Stevie Wonder (Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award), National Music Publishers Association CEO Ed Murphy (Abe Olman Publishers Award) and "You're A Grand Old Flag," written by George M. Cohan (Towering Song Award).

EMI's Marty Bandier, BMI's Frances Preston and Sting

Other inductees included Ashford & Simpson, Randy Newman, Garth Brooks (Hitmaker Award), Stevie Wonder (Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award), National Music Publishers Association CEO Ed Murphy (Abe Olman Publishers Award) and "You're A Grand Old Flag," written by George M. Cohan (Towering Song Award).

BMI's Frances Preston and Barry Manilow

The Songwriters Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The NAPM/SHOF is also devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. Over the past 32 years, some key Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees have included Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, James Brown, Burt Bachrach, Jim Croce, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel and Curtis Mayfield, among many, many others.

photos: Gary Gershoff

Chairman/CEO Hal David commented: "Carole King has been a tour de force in our industry ever since I can remember. She is a gifted songwriter and performer who epitomized a wonderful era of music. I am so pleased that the Songwriters Hall of Fame will be recognizing her outstanding accomplishments at this year's event."

Pop music as we know it would not be the same without Carole King. She began her career during the famed "Brill Building" era in the late 50s and early 60s, creating hit after hit. She composed her first #1 hit "Will You (Still) Love Me Tomorrow," with Gerry Goffin for the Shirelles at age 17. The #1 and Top 10 hits she and Goffin (whom she later married) wrote during this period are part of music legend. In the early 70s, King once again led the way, opening the doors for a brand new genre of artist: the singer/songwriter. Carole released her first solo album, Writer in 1970, but it was 1971's Tapestry that took her to the pinnacle. It spoke personally to every one of her contemporaries, women in particular, and provided the spiritual musical backdrop to the decade. Tapestry remains on the charts some 30 years later, having grabbed the first Grammy grand-slam for a woman: Best Record, Best Song, Best Album and Best Female Vocalist. The album has also received the Diamond Award from the RIAA for sales of over 25 million units and remained the best selling album by a woman for 25 years. King has also amassed three other Platinum records as well as six Gold records in a career that spans nearly half a century.

Carole is one of the first musical performers to move into acting, highlighted by her starring role in "Blood Brothers" on Broadway in 1994. Her acting skills will once again be tested as she will be introduced during May sweeps on the "Gilmore Girls," in a role that she will reprise in the Fall. King also writes for film and television. Recent credits include writing and singing the theme (with daughter Louise Goffin) for "Gilmore Girls," and her 2000 Emmy nomination for "Song of Freedom" (the title track to "Freedom Song," a TNT original movie produced by and starring Danny Glover and executive produced and written by Phil Alden Robinson). Other credits include the films "You've Got Mail," "A League of Their Own" and "Murphy's Romance." In this, her 60th year, the ever prolific King has released her 24th album of timeless pop music with all the bravura of her indomitable female spirit.

The National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame, the organization dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, is one of the most prestigious in the industry. At last year's event, the stars came out to honor each other, with Dolly Parton, songwriter Diane Warren, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, singer/songwriter Paul Williams, Billy Joel (Johnny Mercer Award), Gloria & Emilio Estefan (Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award), Dionne Warwick (Hitmaker Award), Ralph Peer (Abe Olman Publishers Award) and Iris Cantor (Patron of the Arts Award) being honored. Songwriters Rob Thomas, Dave Matthews, Clive Davis, Paul Shaffer, Elvis Costello, Judy Collins, Jimmy Webb, Emmylou Harris, Deborah Cox, Marc Anthony, Maria Elena Holly (Buddy Holly's widow), Blu Cantrell, Richard Belzer, Tony Randall, Jon Secada, and even Kermit the Frog came out to present or perform for the honorees. A highlight of the evening was the grand finale performance of "Not Fade Away" that featured all of the artists onstage together.

The National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters' Hall of Fame was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The NAPM/SHOF is also devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. Over the past 32 years, some key Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees have included Burt Bachrach, Jim Croce, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Sir Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Stevie Wonder, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, James Brown and Curtis Mayfield, among many, many others.

Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame are $750 each and are available through Buckley Hall Events at (212) 573-6933. Net proceeds from the event will go towards the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s educational programs.

Such versatility is nothing less than astounding. While many of their contemporaries have focused on writing only pop songs or only r&b tunes, Mann and Weil have consistently proven themselves adept at working in a wide range of styles, often working with other songwriters either alone or as a team.

The recognition that they have received is extraordinary in itself: Mann and Weil have collected myriad accolades from BMI, including 108 Pop, Country and R&B Awards and 76 "Million-Air" Awards, denoting airplay of 1 million or more. "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" is the most performed song in BMI's repertoire and is the first song ever to achieve 8 million performances.

In addition, the twosome received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Songwriters, The Clooney Foundation's Award for Legendary Song Composition, and has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The Mann & Weil story has a humble beginning. While still a teenager, Mann gave up studying architecture to become a full-time songwriter. After penning "She Say (Oom Dooby Dom)," a hit for the Diamonds, Mann joined music publisher Aldon Music as a staff writer. There he co-wrote such hits as "Footsteps" by Steve Lawrence, "I Love How You Love Me" by The Paris Sisters," and "Patches" by Dicky Lee. A talented singer in his own right, in 1961 Mann recorded the hit single "Who Put the Bomp (In the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)," co-written by Gerry Goffin.

Weil began her career as an actress and dancer, but, encouraged by famed composer Frank Loesser, soon began pursuing songwriting as a career. Before long she, too, found herself at Aldon, where a professional relationship soon began with Mann. This was the famed "Brill Building" era, during which the pair competed and sometimes collaborated with such other talents as Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Lieber & Mike Stoller (with whom they wrote "On Broadway") and Phil Spector ("Lovin' Feelin'").

Songwriting was only one of Mann and Weil's collaborations, however; they married during their stay at Aldon. Professionally, as the partnership deepened and evolved, Mann would take care of the music while Weil wrote the lyrics. Weil's savvy extended well beyond the routine love songs that marked the era, and she is widely credited with helping to bring a political consciousness to the Brill Building style via such cornerstone works as "On Broadway" and "Uptown." The increasing intensity of their work became even more evident with such songs as "Kicks," a top 10 hit for Paul Revere & the Raiders, which examined the pitfalls of drug use, and "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," popularized by the Animals, which served as a desperate anthem for both Vietnam War soldiers and protesters.

Moving into the '70s, '80s and '90s, Mann & Weil were instrumental in crossing Dolly Parton over from country to pop ("Here You Come Again"), introducing James Ingram ("Just Once"), and reinvigorating the careers of Aaron Neville (the Grammy-nominated "Don't Know Much") and Sergio Mendes ("Never Gonna Let You Go"). During this period the pair also wrote with teen idols Hanson the hit ballad "I Will Come to You."

Hits have also consistently been scored with other tunesmiths: Weil wrote "Running with the Night" with Lionel Richie, "Through the Fire" with David Foster and Tom Keane, "He's So Shy" with Tom Snow and "Wrong Again," a number one country hit for Martina McBride, with Tommy Lee James. Mann has collaborated with such acts as Leo Sayer ("How Much Love"), Dan Hill ("Sometimes When We Touch") and Curtis Stigers ("Never Saw a Miracle").

The team has also made its mark in the film world, winning (with James Horner) a pair of Grammys, an Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for "Somewhere Out There" from An American Tail, receiving a Grammy nomination (with Horner) for "Whatever You Imagine" from The Pagemaster, and writing the song score for Muppet Treasure Island. In addition, Weil provided the Christmas carols (again with Horner) for the big-screen version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and wrote the song "For Always" with John Williams for the A.I. soundtrack album.

Even after their many successes over the years, the team is hardly slowing down: In addition to songwriting, Mann and Weil are currently working on two Broadway projects: one based on their amazing catalog of songs, and Mask, an original rock musical based on the 1985 film.

Obviously, it is impossible to consider popular songwriting in the second half of the past century (and beyond) without including the landmark work of this phenomenal duo. Maintaining popular and critical success for such an extended time - and continuing to diligently hone their craft - Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil are, simply put, a songwriting team for the ages.