Elton John and Bernie Taupin set for songwriting award

OHMYGOSSIP — Elton John and Bernie Taupin are to receive the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s highest accolade, the Johnny Mercer Award.

Elton John and Bernie Taupin are to receive the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s highest award. The pianist and his long-time lyrical collaborator will be awarded the Johnny Mercer Award by the organisation in New York on June 13.

Bernie and Elton have worked together since 1967 on more than 30 albums, penning hits including ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Crocodile Rock’, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘Candle in the Wind’, ‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’, ‘Bennie and the Jets’ and ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’.

Jimmy Webb, chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, said: “Some catalogues are more ‘deep’ and significant than others, not only because of their pertinence to the times in which they were written, but because their sheer mass is overpowering.

“It’s just not that easy to write 40 top 10 records. It’s kind of like swimming the English Channel with your hands tied behind your back. Elton’s readily identifiable melodic piano style has proven to be a perfect accompaniment to Bernie’s razor-sharp lyrics about relationships and living on the edge of life both in good and bad times.”

Other stars to have been received the Johnny Mercer Award include Phil Collins, Dolly Parton, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon.

Elton and Bernie were initially inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992. This year will see Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Mick Jones and Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Holly Knight, J.D. Souther and Tony Hatch welcomed to the US institution.