Neil Young Set for Award

By James Wray Mar 18, 2005, 13:28 GMT

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) announced today that it will honor rock legend Neil Young with the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award.

The invitation-only awards dinner will take place on May 16th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The event will also honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed songs of 2004.

Neil Young joins the likes of Elvis Costello, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Paul McCartney, Tom Waits, Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller, and Stevie Wonder.

With nearly fifty albums to his credit, Neil Young has proved to be one of the most prominent and influential artists of his time. Throughout his career, Neil Young has touched on many different genres of music and vocal styles. From folk and country to rock, from his days with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and throughout his solo career and his many collaborations, Young has delivered his prolific songwriting talents and unique sound to decades of discerning music listeners. He continues to be a major voice and influence in music today.

A 1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Neil Young has been writing, recording and performing songs for more than 30 years creating such hits as "Heart of Gold," "Cinnamon Girl," "Hey Hey, My My," "Ohio," "Down by the River," "Harvest Moon" and "Rockin in the Free World."

"Neil's music has sent powerful messages to generations and his work is as meaningful today as it was when his career began in the '60's," quotes ASCAP President & Chairman, Marilyn Bergman. "How proud we are to celebrate Neil Young's career at our Pop Music Awards gala by presenting him with the ASCAP Founders Award."

The 2005 Pop Music Awards will also honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed songs of 2004. Special awards will be given to "Songwriter of the Year," "Song of the Year," "Publisher of the Year" in addition to the presentation of the "College Vanguard Award," which recognizes the impact of new and developing musical genres that help shape the future of American music and which gain early popularity on college radio.