Gloria Estefan sang a medley of her hits, Post Malone performed one of his forgotten songs, Teddy Riley grooved to New Jack Swing and Jeff Lynne played “Mr. Blue Sky” Thursday at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The gala, held at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, recognized a diverse group of songwriters, with Broadway represented by lyricist Tim Rice, pop by Glen Ballard and Nashville twang embodied in Liz Rose. Each of the honorees spoke about the importance music played in their development and how it connected them to the past and the future.
“To the fans who have found in my music what I found in the music of the songwriters who changed my soul throughout my life, I thank you for that privilege,” said Estefan, the first Latina woman inducted into the Hall. “And I can assure you that it is just as magical from the other side of the song.”
Estefan, who is credited with popularizing Latin rhythms in the Anglo market, also said that “music has saved my life.”
Accompanied by her husband, Emilio, and grandson Sasha, 11, Estefan was in charge of closing the event and brought the audience to its feet with a medley that included “Reach,” “Words Get in the Way,” “Anything for You,” “Can’t Stay Away from You,” “Don’t Wanna Lose You,” as well as her super hits “Let’s Get Loud” and “Rhythm Gonna Get You.”
“A songwriter’s path is quixotic and sometimes exotic. It’s never a straight line, but always winding,” said Ballard , who helped write Alanis Morissette’s album “Jagged Little Pill” and participated in several Michael Jackson albums such as “Thriller,” “Bad” and “Dangerous.”
“I’ve been writing songs since I was four years old, not for money, but because I had to,” he added.
Rice was awarded the Johnny Mercer Award, the highest honor bestowed by the hall, and Malone, 27, received the Hal David Starlight Award for “talented young songwriters who are making a significant impact on the music industry.”
Accompanied by an acoustic guitar, Malone performed “Feeling Whitney,” from his first album, “Stoney,” and then laughingly apologized for “playing a song that nobody knows.”
Snoop Dogg, whose hits include “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Gin & Juice,” deferred his induction to next year, as did Sade.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those who create popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.