leonardcohenforum.com

I have received email confirmation from Leonard Cohen's attorney, Robert Kory. Leonard Cohen will be attending the 2010 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony. No word yet on when Leonard will collect his 2008 Order of Quebec.

In other news: April Anderson is careless! April Anderson is the person responsible for writing the press releases and Song Hall inductee bios. The errors in Leonard Cohen's bio from when he was a nominee and the bio from the 2010 inductees announcemt were fixed, but now the same errors have resurfaced in Leonard Cohen's 2010 inductee bio. Bird on the Wire is Bird on a Wire again and Songs of Leonard Cohen is The Songs of Leonard Cohen again. I emailed her two days ago asking her to fix these errors and they have not been fixed yet. Other inductees have errors in their bios as well, and not just this year's inductees. April Anderson gets annoyed by my phone calls to her. Here are the pages with the errors:

http://songwritershalloffame.org/ceremo ... 029/207926

http://songwritershalloffame.org/index. ... /bio/C6037

I guess you could compare the 2010 Song Hall bio to the 1991 Canadian Music Hall of Fame bio, which was a little bit longer. It's not bad, just short.

April Anderson is a nasty person. She definitely takes entitlement seriously. I called a couple of months ago - just to ask if the event would be televised and her immediate response was to ask me why I wanted to know! Huh? Simple question I thought. And then she told me that she didn't appreciate being put in a position of having to answer my questions. OMG LOL She finally calmed down - but not before some expression on my part!

There are contact numbers for three people on their site - from the firm of Rogers & Cowan - and those people are also very rude. I called the other day to inquire if Paul Simon would in fact be attending the event because there is nothing in their press releases in that regard - although he is listed on the invitation. The person I spoke with was extremely rude - I had barely given my name when she interrupted and asked if I were from the media. Then she wanted to know why I wanted to know - LOL And then told me she was just heading out for lunch and I should speak to one of the other people listed!

I just called again and spoke with Fran Curtis - one of the contacts listed by April Anderson - and she was rude also. Asked me if I were one of the "invitees." I told her that I seen an invitation indicating that Paul Simon would be receiving an award and she interrupted me and asked me why I was calling - instead of the person who received the invitation!!! LOL - and OMG!! At this point she had raised her voice and was verging on anger. (Um - why????) I told her that her name (and a few others from Rogers & Cowan) had been listed on the SHOF website as "contact people" by April Anderson. She raved on and told me that she was used to taking calls from media and started to say not just from - and I finished her sentence for her "you mean you're not used to speaking to people who you deem to be nobody - the general riff raff - the people who may have a genuine interest in the artists who were receiving the awards?" I told her I had legitimate questions and a perfectly normal interest in the event and that so far, my inquires had been met with extreme and uncalled for rudeness. She calmed down at that point and I think she actually may have said she was sorry - said that she didn't realize that "April" had listed her number on the site as a contact! So - I guess it is all April's fault? But that depends on what the definition of "it" is?

Regardless - I don't know what the problem is with these people - but they definitely have one - or at the very least, the environment is not at all pleasant.

Good luck in getting April Anderson to fix the errors Roy!! I hope you are not deterred by her rudeness.

Oh, by the way, I did manage to find out that Paul Simon will, in fact, be attending the event. Also - there is no change regarding the event being televised. It won't be. Actually - just thinking about it - probably no network wants to deal with VERY rude people - and that could explain why the event is not being televised - because of the SHOF people - not that networks don't want to carry the event. These types of events are regularly televised - as this one used to be. Actually - now I am recalling - I had asked April - out curiosity - why Bravo was no longer televising and asked if I should call them to inquire. She wanted nothing to do with the subject. LOL I really did not *need* to know these things that I called about, but it also never occurred to me that inquiring would be out of order. Colour me curious.

I STILL CAN'T GET OVER THIS ONE GIGANTIC ERROR :

Over 2,000 covers of Cohen’s songs have been recorded by artists such as R.E.M., Bob Dylan, Elton John, Judy Collins, Willie Nelson and most recently, Justin Timberlake’s rendition of “Hallelujah” that appeared on Cohen’s 1984 Various Positions album.

This is how you can tell the sentence is flawed: Take out this portion of the sentence -

by artists such as R.E.M., Bob Dylan, Elton John, Judy Collins, Willie Nelson and most recently,

...and join these two portions of the sentence together:

Over 2,000 covers of Cohen’s songs have been recorded by artists such as Justin Timberlake’s rendition of “Hallelujah” that appeared on Cohen’s 1984 Various Positions album.

This suggests that Justin Timberlake's rendition of Hallelujah that appeared on Cohen's 1984 Various Positions album was an artist that recorded a Cohen song.

It also makes it sound like it was Justin Timberlake's rendition of Hallelujah that appeared on Cohen's 1984 Various Positions album.



APRIL ANDERSON OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT HAVE A DOCTORATE IN ENGLISH LITERATURE. SHE JUST DOESN'T CARE.

I POSTED THE SENTENCE THIS WAY ON THE HALLS OF FAME SITE:

Over 2,000 covers of Cohen’s songs have been recorded by artists such as R.E.M., Bob Dylan, Elton John, Judy Collins, Willie Nelson and most recently, Justin Timberlake.

Go to the following page and keep pressing the refresh or reload icon on your browser until you see Leonard Cohen's name and picture.

http://songwritershalloffame.org/

News

http://www.songhall.org/news/entry/997

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” To Receive Prestigious 2010 Towering Song Honor

Previously Announced Inductees Include Leonard Cohen, Jackie DeShannon, David Foster, Johnny Mandel and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay.

Recently Announced Posthumous Inductees Include Tom Adair and Matt Dennis, Bob Marley, Laura Nyro, Sunny Skylar and Jesse Stone.

New York, NY- May 27, 2010- Hal David, Chairman/CEO of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, announced today that the 2010 Towering Song Award will be awarded to the world renowned song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Annual Awards Gala Thursday, June 17 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel. Paul Simon will accept the Towering Song Award for his famed song “Bridge Over Troubled Water” celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” was written by Paul Simon in 1969 and recorded in 1970 with Art Garfunkel. “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” which is one of the most enduring songs from the past four decades, won the GRAMMY Award for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1971. It also reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 28, 1970 and stayed at the top of the charts for six weeks. Special Citation of Achievement was presented by BMI to Paul Simon in recognition of the great national popularity as measured by over 5 million broadcast performances attained by “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Following these prestigious awards, Aretha Franklin performed a gospel-inspired cover which landed number one on the U.S. R&B chart and number six on the pop chart. Elvis Presley, another legendary artist, also recorded Simon’s song and released it on his 1970 album That’s the Way It Is to also include a documentary of Presley creating the album. Presley’s version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was included in the Golden Globe-winning documentary Elvis on Tour. Other artists to cover Simon’s song include Buck Owens and the Buckaroos, Shirley Bassey, and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. It has been recorded over 300 times. Performances of this song have been by David Foster, Andrea Bocelli, Mary J. Blige, Anita Baker, Clay Aiken, Johnny Cash, Josh Groban and many more.

The Towering Song Award is presented each year to the creators of an individual song that has influenced our culture in a unique way over many years. Previous Towering Songs have included “Moon River,” “Take Me Out To The Ballgame,” “Unchained Melody,” “When The Saints Go Marching In,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Let Me Call You Sweetheart,” “You’re A Grand Old Flag,” “What The World Needs Now Is Love” and “Fly Me To The Moon.”

Ticket Information:
Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame event begin at $1000 each, and are available through Buckley Hall Events, (212) 573-6933. Net proceeds from the event will go toward the Songwriters Hall of Fame programs.

CONTACT:
Fran Curtis
Rogers & Cowan
212-445-8423
fcurtis@rogersandcowan.com

Caitlin McNamara
Rogers & Cowan
212-445-8232
cmcnamamara@rogersandcowan.com

Lauren Wilsman
Rogers & Cowan
212-445-8486
lwilsman@rogersandcowan.com

Posted by April Anderson [SHOF] on 05/26 at 02:54 PM
General

POLLSTAR.COM

http://www.pollstar.com/blogs/news/arch ... 09840.aspx

Songwriters Hall Of Fame Announces 2010 Inductees

Posted on Tuesday February 16, 2010 at 12:01 PM Add |

Leonard Cohen, Jackie DeShannon and David Foster are just a few of the folks being honored this year by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The complete list of inductees after the jump.

Dedicated to honoring composers and lyricists throughout the world, the Songwriters HoF will hold its 41st annual induction and awards dinner June 17 at New York City’s Marriott Marquis Hotel.

In addition to Cohen, DeShannon and Foster, the organization will also induct Johnny Mandel and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay.

“Our 2010 inductees are truly representational of the heart and soul of the world’s popular music soundtrack, Songwriters HoF chairman / CEO Hal David said. “We are looking forward to another memorable evening where we honor their extraordinary accomplishments.”

David knows plenty of which he speaks. As Burt Bacharach’s lyricist he penned the words to some of the biggest hits of the 1960s and '70s, including “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head,” “Do You Know The Way To San Jose,” “The Look Of Love” and “(They Long To Be) Close To You.”

This year’s inductees list is pretty impressive, although we’re betting that many people probably thought Cohen was already a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. What with classic compositions like “Suzanne,” “Bird On A Wire” and “Hallelujah,” it’s a wonder the Hall didn’t induct him sooner.

But that could be said for every 2010 inductee. Jackie DeShannon’s songs have been performed by artists ranging from Al Green to Van Morrison to Bruce Springsteen. One of her most famous compositions is 1969’s “Put A Little Love In Your Heart,” which she wrote with Randy Myers and Jim Holliday.

Then there’s David Foster, a one-man music machine who has not only written songs such as Chicago’s “Hard To Say I’m Sorry” and John Parr’s recording of “Man in Motion” for the soundtrack to the flick “St. Elmo’s Fire,” but has also worked with just about every major artist at one time or another including Alice Cooper, Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, Chris Botti and Kenny Rogers.

Of course, Johnny Mandel isn’t a slouch when it comes to songwriting. A five-time Grammy recipient as well as an Oscar and Emmy winner, Mandel rose out of the Big Band era, playing with Joe Venuti’s orchestra when he was still a teenager.

Mandel has also created some of Hollywood’s most memorable film scores and movie songs, including “Suicide Is Painless,” which you might know better as the theme to both the movie and TV show “M.A.S.H.” Mandel wrote the instantly memorable melody while Mike Altman, son of “M.A.S.H.” movie director Robert Altman, wrote the lyrics.

Rounding off the list of this year’s inductees are Earth, Wind & Fire members Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay. Some of the group’s biggest, self-composed hits include “Shining Star,” “September” and “Sing A Song.”

Tickets for this year’s Songwriters Hall Of Fame induction ceremonies are priced at $1,000 with net proceeds going to the Hall’s programs. For more information, click here for the Songwriters HoF Web site.

Roy - good to see the paragraph that you highlighted included in this article by Jay Smith. Hard to fathom why Leonard Cohen has not been inducted into the SHOF before now.

Regardless, I guess, it will be a nice kick-off event for his World Tour 2010!

Oh - and one other thing - - that Songwriters Hall of Fame "Towering Song" award - um - a few of Leonard's songs come to mind that would easily fill the bill. But the name of the award itself "rings a bell" - or something?

Looks like they started that award in 1995 - the year that Leonard released his song "Tower of Song."
http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/ce ... ards/C3006

Roy wrote:I POSTED THE SENTENCE THIS WAY ON THE HALLS OF FAME SITE:

Over 2,000 covers of Cohen’s songs have been recorded by artists such as R.E.M., Bob Dylan, Elton John, Judy Collins, Willie Nelson and most recently, Justin Timberlake.

.......well if we are being pendantic Bob Dylan has never recorded a Leonard Cohen song.....if he has he certainly has never released it.....ta ken

liverpoolken wrote:

Roy wrote:I POSTED THE SENTENCE THIS WAY ON THE HALLS OF FAME SITE:

Over 2,000 covers of Cohen’s songs have been recorded by artists such as R.E.M., Bob Dylan, Elton John, Judy Collins, Willie Nelson and most recently, Justin Timberlake.

.......well if we are being pendantic Bob Dylan has never recorded a Leonard Cohen song.....if he has he certainly has never released it.....ta ken

Yes, I know. Maybe they are counting concert performances that have been taped as "covers" and "recorded."

You would think a place called the Songwriters Hall of Fame would write flawless biographies for its inductees. Thanks again for the flawless Leonard Cohen bios from the Rock Hall, the Canadian Song Hall, and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

THE 2010 CANADA HONOURS/CANADA'S WALK OF FAME

David Clayton-Thomas (Singer; Blood, Sweat & Tears)
Eric McCormack (Actor)
Nelly Furtado (Singer)
Farley Mowat (Conservationist; Author)
Doug Henning (Magician)
Clara Hughes (Olympian Athlete)
Sarah Polley (Actress)

No Leonard Cohen this year! The 2010 Kennedy Center Honorees will be announced in September; ceremony in December, and that's it for this year!

How many more Canadian celebrities could there possibly be?

Thanks Roy - even if it is not heartening news.

Canada's Walk of Fame already has their site set up for nominations for 2011.

You can nominate Leonard Cohen here - at the link - and you could maybe win a grand prize in the process!

http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/nomination

I notice that people started FaceBook pages to promote their nominee for 2010. Maybe someone here who lives in Canada and who is on FaceBook could start a FaceBook page/campaign to promote Leonard Cohen for Canada's Walk of Fame for 2011? Urge people to vote for him. A good thing!! There are large numbers of Leonard Cohen fans on FaceBook.

Roy - last year the announcement for Kennedy Center Honorees was made early - in September. Let's hope!!

News

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

http://www.songhall.org/news/entry/1024

Songwriters Hall of Fame Presenters and Performers Announced

New York, N.Y.- June 8, 2010- Kim Carnes, Peter Cetera, Charice, Judy Collins, Bruce Hornsby, Billy Joel, Diana Krall, kd Lang, John Mayer, Brian Stokes Mitchell, LA Reid, Raphael Saadiq, Paul Shaffer, Dionne Warwick, Elizabeth Withers and Nikki Yanofsky have signed on to be either a presenter and/or performer at the 2010 Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards Gala. This year’s gala will be held Thursday, June 17, at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.

Inductees at this year’s event include Leonard Cohen, Jackie DeShannon, David Foster, Johnny Mandel and Earth, Wind & Fire’s Maurice White, Philip Bailey, Verdine White, Larry Dunn and Al McKay. Posthumous inductees are Tom Adair and Matt Dennis, Bob Marley, Laura Nyro, Sunny Skylar and Jesse Stone. The Johnny Mercer Award will be presented to Phil Collins. The Towering Song this year is “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” to be accepted by Paul Simon. The Hal David Starlight Award will be presented to Taylor Swift. The Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award will be presented to Phil Ramone.

Ticket Information:
Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame event begin at $1000 each, and are available through Buckley Hall Events, (212) 573-6933. Net proceeds from the event will go towards the Songwriters Hall of Fame programs.

CONTACT:
Fran Curtis
Rogers & Cowan
212-445-8423
fcurtis@rogersandcowan.com

Caitlin McNamara
Rogers & Cowan
212-445-8232
cmcnamamara@rogersandcowan.com

Lauren Wilsman
Rogers & Cowan
212-445-8486
lwilsman@rogersandcowan.com

Posted by April Anderson [SHOF] on 06/08 at 10:19 AM
General

The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced who will be presenting and performing at the ceremony, but they have not stated who will be presenting for who, or who will be performing for who. In Leonard Cohen's case, it's obvious. Both, Judy Collins and kd Lang are attending! I guess one will perform for Leonard and one will give the induction speech.

I'm really excited to see that Peter Cetera will be attending the ceremony as well! He will either be giving the induction speech for David Foster, or performing, or both! This is the second time Peter Cetera is attending the ceremony. The first time was when he gave the induction speech for another Canadian, Paul Anka, in 1993. I really hope Leonard Cohen and Peter Cetera pose together for a picture.

More connections to Leonard Cohen and the 2008 Rock Hall: Paul Shaffer and Billy Joel will be presenting and performing at the 2010 Song Hall.

Well - thanks again Roy.

But bummer! For me - anyway. I was hoping that by some quirk of fate, Paul Simon might be in some way honoring Leonard Cohen - since he will be there as well. But - it will be fine I'm sure.

And that aside, I sure hope we get video of Leonard's portion of the event.

I'm not a big David Foster fan - although I can respect his work - but Peter Cetera. Yes!