2012 Songwriters Inductees Announced

The Songwriters Hall Of Fame’s newest group of inductees includes Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Seger and Don Schlitz.

The songwriting team of composer Harvey Schmidt and lyricist Tom Jones are also being inducted along with Jim Steinman.

“Each of our 2012 inductees has created a unique range of extraordinary contributions, a body of work that has resonated with audiences around the world, and greatly enriched our global culture,” Songwriters Hall Of Fame chairman Jimmy Webb said. “We are looking forward to celebrating their craft and careers at our annual awards gala.”

The 43rd annual induction and awards dinner is set for June 15 in New York City at the Marriott Marquis Hotel. Additional special award honorees will be announced soon.

Photo: Trever Long

Fox Theatre, Detroit, Mich.

Lightfoot’s resume includes folk-pop songs from the 1960s and 1970s including “Early Morning Rain,” “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” “Sundown,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Carefree Highway” and “Rainy Day People.” The Canadian singer-songwriter’s native country has honored him with 17 Juno Awards and an induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame.

In addition to the 1981 Grammy-awarding winning song “Against The Wind,” Seger has also penned classic songs including “Turn The Page,” “Night Moves,” “Hollywood Nights,” “Rock And Roll Never Forgots,” “Katmandu,” “Mainstreet,” “Still The Same” and “We’ve Got Tonight.”

Schlitz has 24 No.1 hit songs under his belt including the country standards “On The Other Hand,” “I Feel Lucky,” “Houston Solution,” “One Promise Too Late” and “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her.” His first recorded song, “The Gambler,” was sung by Kenny Rogers and earned him the 1978 Grammy for country song of the year. He picked up the same award in 1988 for Randy Travis’ “Forever And Ever, Amen.”

Schmidt and Jones are best known for the music behind the 1960 hit “The Fantasticks,” which has become the longest running musical in history. The musical’s best known song, “Try To Remember,” has been recorded by hundreds of artists including Harry Belafonte, Barbra Streisand and Placido Domingo.

Steinman wrote every tune on Meat Loaf’s 1977 album Bat Out Of Hell, and then teamed up with the rocker in 1993 to write and produce Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell. His No.1 songs includes “Total Eclipse Of The Heart,” “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All,” “Paradise By The Dashboard Light,” “I’d Do Anything For Love But I Won’t Do That” and “Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad.”

For more information click here for the Songwriters Hall Of Fame’s website.