NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Tamar Braxton opened a spirited induction ceremony Thursday night with a tribute to a new inductee 鈥� the game-changing R&B songwriter, producer and rapper Christopher 鈥淭ricky鈥� Stewart 鈥� with one of the biggest songs he’s known for:
A few other tracks he’s responsible for? 鈥淯尘产谤别濒濒补,鈥� 鈥淭ouch My Body鈥� and 鈥淏补产测.鈥�
Dallas Austin, a songwriter and producer known for work with Boyz ll Men and Madonna, introduced Stewart. 鈥淭hink about that catalog,鈥� he said, listing off those zeitgeist-shifting records. 鈥淭hose are cultural moments.”
Stewart thanked God, his family, artists he’s worked with and mentors 鈥� giving a special shout out to Grammy award-winning music producer Antonio 鈥淟.A.鈥� Reid and 鈥淚 wanted to be like L.A. and Baby,鈥� he reflected.
It set the tone for an event with a lot to celebrate. The gala, held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, also features a wide variety of inductees: Kiss鈥� Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins, the songwriting duo Terry Britten and Graham Lyle (known for Tina Turner鈥檚 鈥淲hat鈥檚 Love Got To Do With It”), and songwriter Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey鈥檚 鈥淎ll I Want for Christmas Is You”).
Swift has no doubt brought new eyes to this year’s ceremony, and with good reason 鈥� her songwriting has undeniably shaped contemporary pop music trends. She is the youngest woman to ever be inducted in the Hall of Fame. (The man who beat her? Stevie Wonder, who started his recording career at 13, it was announced on stage.)
Kiss founders Simmons and Stanley will also be recognized for their glam rock classics 鈥淩ock and Roll All Nite鈥� and 鈥淚 Love It Loud.鈥�
In addition to Swift, Simmons and Stanley, nominees this year include the soft rock legend Loggins (鈥淔ootloose,鈥� 鈥淒anny鈥檚 Song鈥�) and (鈥淵ou Oughta Know,鈥� 鈥淚ronic鈥�).
included George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers, Ashley Gorley, Rodney 鈥淒arkchild鈥� Jerkins, The Beach Boys鈥� Mike Love and Tony Macaulay.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. Some already in the hall include Gloria Estefan, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins.
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