Library of Congress Adds 8 BMI Works to National Recording Registry

Posted in News on March 21, 2018

Today, the Library of Congress announced its annual selection of sound recordings for inclusion in the National Recording Registry. Selected on the merits of their cultural, artistic and historical significance, works included in this prestigious list represent the finest examples of music from across the genre spectrum, as well as noteworthy broadcasts and seminal spoken-word recordings of historically pivotal events.

This year’s additions deemed worthy of preservation by the Library of Congress are particularly significant in that they have brought the total number of titles in the registry to 500. Among the 25 selections, BMI is exceptionally proud that 8 of those definitive works were written or co-written by BMI-affiliated songwriters and composers. Those works, in chronological order, are listed below. Congratulations to all on this landmark achievement.

“Lamento Borincano” (single) by Canario y Su Grupo (Rafael Hernández Marin, songwriter) (1929)

Folk Songs of the Hills (selected track: “Dark as a Dungeon”) by Merle Travis (Merle Travis, songwriter (1946)

New Sounds in Electronic Music by Pauline Oliveros*, Steve Reich and Richard Maxfield (Steve Reich and Richard Maxfield, songwriters) (1967)

Rumors (selected track: “Dreams”) by Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks, songwriter) (1977)

“Le Freak” by Chic (Nile Rodgers, songwriter) (1978)

“Footloose” by Kenny Loggins* (Dean Pitchford, songwriter) (1984)

Raising Hell (selected track: “You Be Illin’”) by Run-DMC (Joseph Simmons, songwriter) (1986)

“Rhythm is Gonna Get You” (single) by Gloria Estefan (Enrique Garcia and Gloria Estefan, songwriters) (1987)

*Not affiliated with BMI

To see the official Library of Congress story on the National Recording Registry announcement, go to: loc.gov.

To read more about the National Recording Registry and the work of the National Recording Preservation Board, go to: https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/about-this-program/.

SOURCENews TAGS Gloria Estefan Rafael Hernández Marin Richard Maxfield Stevie Nicks Dean Pitchford Steve Reich Nile Rodgers Joseph “Reverend Run” Simmons Merle Travis