LOS ANGELES, CA and NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Feb 16, 2012) - ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) will honor Carly Simon with the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award during its 29th Annual Pop Music Awards, it was announced today by President and Chairman Paul Williams. The invitation-only gala will take place on April 18, 2012 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California, and will also honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed pop songs of
2011.
The ASCAP Founders Award honors pioneering songwriters who have made exceptional contributions to music, inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators. Past recipients include Ashford & Simpson, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Melissa Etheridge, Billy Joel, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell, Smokey Robinson, Patti Smith, Steely Dan, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Tom Waits, Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart), Stevie Wonder and Neil Young.
ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams commented: "Carly Simon has always poured her heart and soul into her songwriting, and in the process she has helped re-write the rule book on what popular music can achieve and how it can profoundly change people's lives. She is a true musical pioneer and ASCAP is extremely proud to honor her with the Founders Award."
Simon, whose unparalleled career spans four decades of storytelling in both song and print, has made an indelible mark on popular music. She was part of a new vanguard of confessional singer-songwriters that emerged in the late 60's and early 70's that helped elevate the pop song to a new level of lyrical honesty and sophistication.
Simon achieved early success with singles such as "Anticipation" and "Coming Around Again," but her biggest hit came with 1972's No Secrets and the song "You're So Vain." The album sold millions of copies, occupied the #1 spot on the charts for six consecutive weeks and earned Grammy nominations in six categories. The single still captivates fans not only with its distinctive hook and self-empowering theme, but also with the ongoing mystery of its inspiration -- a secret that Simon continues to keep close.
Simon has earned multiple Grammys. "Let The River Run" (from Working Girl) earned her a Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar. She scored (Marvin's Room, Postcards from the Edge) and authored children's books (Amy the Dancing Bear, Midnight Farm). ASCAP will also honor the songwriters and publishers of the most performed songs of 2011 at the ceremony. Top awards will be given out for Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year and Publisher of the Year.
The 29th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards is part of ASCAP "I Create Music" Week -- an entire week of events being held in Los Angeles to celebrate the voice of the music creator. Simon will give a featured interview the first day of the ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO on April 19. Visit www.ascap.com/expo for more information.
About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 425,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com