NATE RUESS (OF FUN.) TO RECEIVE HAL DAVID STARLIGHT AWARD
AT SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME GALA
Previously Announced Inductees Include Bobby Braddock, Willie Dixon, Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia, Toby Keith, Cyndi Lauper and Linda Perry
March 18, 2015 – New York – Nate Ruess (of fun.) will be the recipient of the prestigious Hal David Starlight Award, to be presented at the 46th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner slated for Thursday, June 18th at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, Songwriters Hall of Fame President and CEO Linda Moran announced today.
The Hal David Starlight Award, created in 2004, was named in honor of SHOF Chairman Emeritus Hal David, for his longtime support of young songwriters. Award recipients are gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs. Nate Ruess joins the prestigious company of 2014 honoree Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds, Taylor Swift, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, Drake, Benny Blanco, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, Rob Thomas and John Rzeznik.
“I believe that Hal David would have been delighted with the choice of Nate Ruess as the 2015 Hal David Starlight Award recipient. Nate’s lyrics are clever, warm and accessible and his music is sophisticated and memorable,” said SHOF President/CEO Linda Moran. “Whether it’s the blockbuster hits he created with fun. or the powerful new single from his debut solo album, Nate Ruess is a real force in pop music for today and the future.”
As the frontman of the band fun., Nate Ruess earned two Grammy wins for the 2012 album Some Nights, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for the 7x-RIAA platinum, “We Are Young.” Bolstered by the massive global success of “We Are Young,” which saw platinum status in 17 countries, as well as “Some Nights” (platinum in 10 countries) and “Carry On” (platinum in 3 countries), Some Nights debuted in the US at #3 on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified platinum in the US, UK, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland, selling nearly 3 million copies worldwide. In total, the album has sold more than 21 million singles around the world.
Ruess also earned a Grammy nomination for “Just Give Me A Reason,” his writing and performance collaboration with P!nk. The two performed the song, which was certified 4x platinum in the US and sold more than 9 million singles worldwide, at the Awards.
More recently, Ruess collaborated with Eminem on his song “Headlights” and co-wrote on Ke$ha’s, “Die Young” and Zedd’s, “Stay The Night feat. Hayley Williams,” as well as on projects with Maroon 5 and Ellie Goulding. Ruess is currently in the studio completing first solo album, due out this summer, which will include the first single, “Nothing Without Love.”
Inductees at this year’s event include Bobby Braddock, Willie Dixon, Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia, Toby Keith, Cyndi Lauper and Linda Perry.
About The Songwriters Hall of Fame:
The Songwriters Hall of Fame celebrates songwriters, educates the public with regard to their achievements, and produces a spectrum of professional programs devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through workshops, showcases and scholarships. Out of the tens of thousands of songwriters of our era, there are approximately 400 inductees who make up the impressive roster enshrined in the Hall of Fame. The list includes Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier & Brian Holland, Smokey Robinson, Albert Hammond, Desmond Child, Paul Williams, Hal David & Burt Bacharach, John Fogerty, Bob Dylan, Isaac Hayes & David Porter, Richard & Robert Sherman, Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora, Elton John & Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Don Schlitz, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins, Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Loretta Lynn, Jimmy Webb, Van Morrison, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Diane Warren, Paul Anka, Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry, Leonard Cohen, Ray Davies, Donovan and Mick Jones & Lou Gramm, among many others.
Full biographies and a complete list of inductees are available at the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Virtual Museum at http://songwritershalloffame.org/. Joining online is quick and easy: http://songhall.org/join
Ticket Information:
Tickets for the Songwriters Hall of Fame event begin at $1,250 each, and are available through Buckley Hall Events, 914-579-1000. Net proceeds from the event will go toward the Songwriters Hall of Fame programs. Songwriters Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 organization. The non-deductible portion of each ticket is $170. Contributions, for which no goods or services are received in exchange, are fully tax-deductible as provided by law.
