Songwriters Hall of Fame 2025 Led By the Doobie Brothers’ Johnston, McDonald and Simmons
by Best Classic Bands Staff
The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced its induction Class of 2025. And as so often happens, many of the names on the list—revealed on January 22—elicit a “how is s/he not already in?” response. The complete class is the Doobie Brothers’ Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons (“Listen to the Music,” “Black Water,” “What a Fool Believes”), funk legend George Clinton [(“Atomic Dog,” “(Not Just) Knee Deep”], Mike Love (“California Girls,” “Good Vibrations”), Tony Macaulay (“Build Me Up Buttercup,” “Love Grows [Where My Rosemary Goes]”), Ashley Gorley (“Last Night”), and Rodney “Darkchild” Jenkins (“Say My Name”).
Steve Winwood, Janet Jackson, David Gates (best known for his years with Bread), Tommy James, Sheryl Crow, Bryan Adams, George Alan O’Dowd (p/k/a) Boy George, and Alanis Morissette, were among those nominated but not selected.
Other performing songwriters nominated on Nov. 12, 2024, but not selected are Marshall Mathers (p/k/a) Eminem (“Lose Yourself”), N.W.A.’s Dr. Dre, Easy E, Ice Cube, and Mc Ren and DJ Yella (“Straight Outta Compton”).
Other non-performing songwriters nominated but not selected includes Walter Afanasieff (“All I Want For Christmas Is You”), Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan (“Eve of Destruction,” “Secret Agent Man”), Mike Chapman (“Love is a Battlefield,” “Stumblin’ In”), Sonny Curtis (“I Fought the Law”), Tom Douglas (“I Run to You”), Franne Golde (“Nightshift”), Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter (“One Tin Soldier [Theme From Billy Jack]”, “Don’t Pull Your Love”), Roger Nichols (“We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays”), Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham (“Cry Like a Baby,” “I’m Your Puppet”), and Narada Michael Walden (“How Will I Know,” “Freeway of Love”).
Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the exceptional work and lives of composers and lyricists who make an indelible impact creating music around the world. A songwriter with a catalog of notable songs qualifies for induction 20 years after their first significant commercial release of a song. Eligible voting members are allowed their choices of up to three nominees in each of the songwriter and performing songwriter categories. The induction ceremony will take place on June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
Related: Jeff Lynne and Gloria Estefan were among those inducted in 2023
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationYou are right. Many great songwriters have been overlooked for lesser entities. It looks as shameful and inaccurate as the rnr hof.