R.E.M., Blondie, Snoop Dogg get nods for Songwriters Hall

NEW YORK (AP) - Bryan Adams, R.E.M., Blondie, Snoop Dogg, Gloria Estefan, Heart and The Doobie Brothers are among the nominees for the 2023 Songwriters Hall of Fame, part of a dazzling list of talented acts who left their mark on country, pop, rap, Broadway, post-punk, Latin and New Jack Swing.

The ballot includes the musical theater duo of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who wrote 'œRagtime'ť and 'œAnastasia,'ť as well as soul-jazz vocalist Sade, whose 1980s soft rock hits include 'œSmooth Operator'ť and 'œThe Sweetest Taboo.'ť

Two veteran rock stars are also nominees: Patti Smith - whose songs include "Because the Night" and 'œDancing Barefoot'ť - and Steve Winwood, whose hits include 'œHigher Love'ť and 'œRoll With It.'ť Vince Gill is once again a nominee, having first made the ballot in 2018.

Eligible voting members have until Dec. 28 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees from the songwriter category and three from the performing-songwriter category. The Associated Press got an early copy of the list.

Jeff Lynne of ELO, who penned 'œMr. Blue Sky'ť and 'œEvil Woman,'ť faces off against the 'œLosing My Religion'ť R.E.M. quartet led by Michael Stipe, as well as sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, who showed women could rock hard with songs like 'œBarracuda'ť and 'œCrazy On You.'ť

Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke are eligible for the hall as Blondie, who gave us the New Wave hits 'œCall Me'ť and 'œRapture,'ť and Snoop Dogg would join such rappers as Missy Elliott and Jay-Z should he make the cut. Estefan is credited for popularizing Latin rhythms with such crossover smashes as "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" and 'œLet's Get Loud.'ť

Two classic rock icons compete as Adams - with radio staples like 'œSummer of '69'ť and "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" - contends with The Doobie Brothers and their always-in-rotation "Listen to the Music" and "Long Train Running."

Nominees who work behind the scenes include Glen Ballard, who helped write Alanis Morissette's monster 1995 album 'œJagged Little Pill'ť and was involved in the recording and writing of Michael Jackson's albums 'œThriller,'ť 'œBad'ť and "Dangerous."

Veteran songwriter Tom Snow, who worked with Olivia Newton-John, Barbra Streisand, Cher, The Pointer Sisters and co-wrote 'œLet's Hear It for the Boy'ť from the movie 'œFootloose,'ť is also eligible. 'œFootloose'ť connects another nominee, Dean Pitchford, who collaborated on the score, which went to No. 1 on the Billboard album charts, knocking off 'œThriller'ť in 1984.

The nominee list includes Teddy Riley, the singer, songwriter, and producer credited with creating New Jack Swing and its top anthems like Bobby Brown's 'œMy Prerogative'ť and Keith Sweat's 'œI Want Her," and Liz Rose, who co-wrote many songs with Taylor Swift, including 'œYou Belong with Me,'ť 'œTeardrops on My Guitar'ť and 'œWhite Horse.'ť

There's also country songwriter Dean Dillon, who wrote songs with Toby Keith, George Strait and Lee Ann Womack; pop songwriter Franne Golde, behind such hits as Jody Watley's 'œDon't You Want Me'ť and 'œNightshift'ť by the Commodores; and the duo of Bobby Hart and Tommy Boyce, who penned many of The Monkees' hits.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating the popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.

Some already in the hall include Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins.

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Online: http://www.songhall.org

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Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits