The Schwartz Scene Blog

Photo: John Ondrasik shares Stephen Schwartz’s moment of glory at the Songwriters Hall of Fame, June 18, 2009, New York City. Photographer: Jessica Schwartz, Stephen’s daughter, who attended the big event.

Blog Article by Carol de Giere

June, 2009

To be “inducted” into the Songwriters Hall of Fame is an honor saved for a few famed artists each year, which makes it a rare experience on its own. For inductee Stephen Schwartz, what made the 40th Songwriters Hall of Fame evening special was not so much the plexiglass trophy he could take home to place beside his golden Oscars and Grammys, but the people being honored at the same time.

Schwartz was among seven songwriting talents inducted this year. His honor came from the status of his songs in American culture, like “Corner Of The Sky,” from Pippin “Day By Day,” from Godspell, the Oscar-winning song “Colors Of The Wind,” from Pocahontas for which he wrote lyrics, and “Defying Gravity” from Wicked.

Other inductees and their hits included:

• Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere from The Rascals: “Groovin’,” “How Can I Be Sure,” “A Beautiful Morning,” “Good Lovin’”),
• Crosby, Stills & Nash: “Teach Your Children,” “Southern Cross,” “Wooden Ships,” “Suite Judy Blue Eyes,”
• Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora: “Living On A Prayer,” “Wanted Dead Or Alive,” “Blaze Of Glory,”
• Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway: “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress,” “This Golden Ring,” “Green Grass,” “Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again”
• Galt MacDermot, James Rado, and the late Gerome Ragni: “Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In,” “Hair,” “Good Morning Starshine,” and “Easy To Be Hard”
• Sir Tom Jones would receive the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award for his long career of pop hits such as “Delilah,” “She’s A Lady,” “It’s Not Unusual and What’s New Pussycat?”

The legendary songwriting team behind Motown hits such as “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Stop! In The Name of Love” had previously been inducted, but at this 2009 ceremony, Holland-Dozier-Holland were to receive the Johnny Mercer Award. There were also special trophies distributed for unique achievements, such as The Towering Song Award for “Moon River,” and the Hal David Starlight Award would go to Jason Mraz as the most promising up and coming artist.

The Big Night Arrives
As this year’s sold-out event on June 18th began, about 1000 attendees flocked to the Marriott Marquee in Times Square for the $1000 a plate dinner. TV cameras and print photographers filled up the entryway where some of celebrity recipients paused to answer questions. A Rolling Stones magazine journalist captured a comment from an inductee of the evening. “On a night like this, it comes back to one thing: the power of the pen,” Jon Bon Jovi said. “If you write one song that comes across decades, you’re lucky. If you write a body of them and you’re recognized in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, it’s prestigious.”

Blogger Mike Ragogna who was on the scene reported that many of the evening’s highlights came from stories or praise the presenters gave: “…it was a hoot to watch the admiration by most hosts of their particular act, like when Five For Fighting’s John Ondrasik spoke like a fanboy about his winner, Broadway’s Stephen Schwartz, before eventually singing their co-write, ‘Slice.’”

Ragogna also wrote that “James Taylor couldn’t say enough good things about Crosby, Stills & Nash. He also performed a medley of their signature songs ‘A Long Time,’ ‘Teach Your Children,’ and ‘Love The One You’re With’ as the perfect tribute to his friends and past vocal collaborators.”

The audience was treated to performances by such talents as Crosby, Stills, and Nash offering their own “Helplessly Hoping,” BeBe Winans singing “You Can’t Hurry Love,” Clint Black playing Cook and Greenaway’s “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress.” Henry Mancini’s daughter Monica and “Moon River’s” original crooner, Andy Williams, entertained with that classic piece.

When it was Schwartz’s turn to say a few words and perform “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, he accepted the trophy with gratitude. He talked about how thrilled he was to be inducted on the same night that Holland-Dozier-Holland were getting an award because they had changed how he listened to music. In 1964, his first year of college, he became enamored with the songs that Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland wrote for the Supremes, The Four Tops, and others.

Schwartz also mentioned how great it was that the writers of Hair were being acknowledged, since without them and their show, Godspell would not have been possible.

The evening ended late enough that the current cast of Hair could come over and join the musical’s writers, along with former members of the Fifth Dimension, in singing rousing versions of “Aquarius” and “Let the Sun Shine In.”

Thirty-eight years passed between the time Schwartz wrote the finale of Godpsell and this night when he enjoyed being honored for the sunshine he had brought to others.

Recommended Online Resources:
Read all about Godspell, Pippin, Wicked and other Schwartz musicals at http://www.musicalschwartz.com/

Read about the Stephen Schwartz biography Defying Gravity: http://www.defyinggravitythebook.com

For more on the Songwriters Hall of Fame event see Mike Ragogna’s blog post at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ragogna/the-songwriters-hall-of-f_b_217912.html

Or the Rolling Stones story at http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/06/19/bon-jovi-csn-mraz-and-jones-join-songwriters-hall-of-fame/

Copyright by Carol de Giere