Here is this year’s list of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame inductees. From Rolling Stone…
Jon Bon Jovi
Richie Sambora
Crosby, Stills and Nash
Jason Mraz
Tom Jones
Andy Williams
the Young Rascals’ Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati
Holland-Dozier-Holland
Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway (”You’ve Got Your Troubles,” Coca-Cola theme “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony”)
“Hair” lyricists James Rado and Gerome Ragni and composer Galt MacDermot
Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pochahontas, Prince of Egypt)
music publisher Maxyne Lange
Apart from that list being heavy on performers who have written some songs, there are some very worthy cats.
This however, is what sort of chapped my ass…
Past honoree Rob Thomas presented Jason Mraz with the Hal David Starlight Award.
Rob Thomas! Rob Freakin’ Thomas!!!
Yeah, I know these kinds of organizations try to front load with people that the simple folk will recognize but, this is supposed to be about Songwriters!
My friend, Bill Dees co-wrote one of the top 10 airplay songs of all-time (“Oh, Pretty Woman”). Co-wrote one of the best slices of popular music in the history of the universe (“It’s Over”). Had songs he wrote cut by monsters like Roy Orbison, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and even the Germs for Christ’s Sake. He’s not in the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame but Rob Thomas is!
This hall of fame may be even more bogus than the one Jann Wenner stuffs with names from his Blackberry.
i don’t have a Blackberry…. am i missing something?
This past post is more interesting than today’s one about Polling Sones…. http://pribek.net/2009/02/26/been-playing-with-my-thumb-a-lot/
…so I re-read it instead of this one. I even am attracted right now to “Fighting Clelebrity Memorabilia Fraud..” over RS HoF blunder. I have never even picked up a Rolling Stone paper… as a matter of fact.
Maybe we could set up our own polling sones and rock the night away?
i spend all day and night writing songs. i make a living writing songs. i am a songwriter. what exactly is it that YOU do that gives you the right to criticize what i do? you (maybe) make a living being a douche anonymously to hard working people. i agree that your “friends” should be in the hall of fame, but if YOU were a writer, you wouldn’t be writing here. you, sir, are an ass clown. good luck with your blog.
thank YOU rob
Who again is Rob Thomas?
Well, actually we had some previous discussion about Mr. Thomas here…
http://pribek.net/2008/04/14/life-is-just-a-rodeo/
and here…
http://pribek.net/2008/04/15/bad-show-business/
Oh, Yes, that guy… silly me:
My opinion is [still] that the afore mentioned crooner is a matchless nitwit with a mind that thinks only inside the Box.
Rob Thomas – you’re not in the same league as Bill Dees mate! I don’t see anywhere where Jack Pribek spat the dummy for not being considered – read carefully. Bill Dees is a genious and his legacy will be around way, way after we’re all dead and gone. What do you reckon about your stuff Rob – will it stand the test of time – like Oh Pretty Woman, It’s Over, Crawling Back, Borne On The Wind, Wind Surfer, There WOn’t Be Many Coming Home, She, Breakin Up Is Breakin My Heart, the list goes on and on .. don’t shoot the messenger Rob, have a look at the man Jack’s referring to and you tell me whether he should or should not be up there.
It is times like these when I really, really, truly …really, no lie, really miss Dr J and D Lady… yep, cannot get on without them.
Octagon — BILL DEES versus rob thomas
Rob, Rob, Rob,
This is only the second time I have heard your name in my life. The first time being a few months ago when you were scheduled to do a phone interview with radio station WLNK – The Link, in Charlotte, N.C. on the syndicated “Matt & Ramona Show”. Guess what??? You did not come through at the last minute as you chose another radio station!?!?! Your fans were pissed and called in for several days….and now this??
What is going on young man to make you such a pompous ass? Learn from Bill Dees and Jack Pribek in every way, professionally and personally!!!!
Keep your baggage to yourself as it is not at all becoming to you.
Chris O’Neill, well said.
Bill Dees and Jack Pribek, thank you for keeping the music going!
Love ya
Mean it
Susan
Rob Thomas?????never even heard of him,
Bill Dees???Oh, yes, A Hall of Famer for sure, or should be, and should have been a long time ago,
Bill Dees co-wrote “Oh, Pretty Woman” with Roy Orbison, one of the biggest songs of all time, and has really never had the thanks he really deserves.
Well, he has written so many songs on his own, “Sleepy Hollow” being one of the well known ones, but, just one in hundreds.
Bill Dees should be in the “Song Writer’s Hall of Fame”
Jack, thank you so much for all you do,
We love Bill and you so much,
Jeanie
Rob i know you wont make it happen. bill dees should be in the songwriters hall of fame.
full stop.and Now.
dessie.