Songwriters’ night full of stories
Marvin Gaye was remembered with touching words from his wife; James Corden told hilariously inappropriate jokes before introducing Nick Jonas, and Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight spoke highly of his brother and “Wild Thing” songwriter Chip Taylor at the 2016 Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards dinner.
Gaye and Taylor — along with Elvis Costello, Tom Petty and Chic (Nile Rodgers, Bernard Edwards) — were inducted into the Songwriters Hall in New York City on Thursday night. Jonas, record executive Seymour Stein and Lionel Richie — already in the Songwriters Hall — earned special honors.
The New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square was full of classic and contemporary songwriters. The night included live performances by Jennifer Hudson, the B-52’s, Marcus Mumford, Sister Sledge, Rachel Platten and Jussie Smollett of the hit Fox series, “Empire.”
Gaye’s and Edwards’ induction into the Songwriters Hall marks the second year the organization has allowed acts to be inducted posthumously.
Gaye’s widow, Jan Gaye, said, “I was able to watch him write his songs, and everyone can’t say that. There are a few people in the room that can, but to watch him create and to watch his process was something truly unique, sometimes irritating, honestly,” she said to laughs.
Jussie Smollett earned rousing applause after his performance of Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”
Voight told stories about his younger brother’s interest in songwriting and how Taylor wrote strong lyrics as a teenager. Voight recited lyrics such as, “Faded blue, that’s the kind of feeling honey I got from you.”
Taylor’s writing credits include the popular songs “Angel of the Morning” and “Wild Thing,” which the songwriter performed live with his three granddaughters.
The family performances didn’t stop there: Sister Sledge closed the three-hour event with a performance of “We Are Family” alongside Rodgers, who also performed “Le Freak.”
Some of the night’s best quotes included Petty, who said, “I’m sort of the rock ‘n’ roll white trash section of this show,” and Richie, who said, “This is the best night of my entire career as a songwriter.”
SNAPSHOT
Arnold Schwarzenegger toured D.C. sights via bike Thursday night, and he documented the two-wheeled excursion on his social media accounts. “Never tell me you don’t have time to exercise,” the still-chiseled former bodybuilder captioned an Instagram pic. “Every time I visit a city, I go on a bike ride immediately.”