NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced that Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Robert Lamm, James Pankow & Peter Cetera, P/K/A "Chicago," Max Martin, And Shawn "Jay Z" Carter will be inducted as the class of 2017.
Berry Gordy, who deferred his induction in 2016, will also be inducted this year, with other special award honorees announcements expected.
The inductions will take place during a ceremony on June 15th at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
The inclusion of Jay Z in the class marks a milestone for the hall, as he will be the first rap artist to ever be inducted into the SHOF since it was established in 1969. 2017 was the first year he was nominated to receive the honor.
"With our 2017 roster of inductees, the Songwriters Hall of Fame moves definitively into recognizing music creators of the 21st century while continuing to honor the greats of earlier decades. The combination of contemporary sounds and timeless hits of the past is certain to make for an unforgettable evening," said SHOF co-chairs Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff and President Linda Moran. "The songwriters we honor cross genres, regional and even national boundaries – R & B, Rap, Pop and Rock & Roll from both coasts, the American heartland and Sweden. We are thrilled to once more have the opportunity to preside over an event that recognizes the convergence of song craft and musical performance at the very highest level." – Staff Writers
