Imagine Dragons star to receive top award from Songwriters Hall of Fame officials

Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds is set to receive the prestigious Hal David Starlight Award at the 2014 Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala.

The Radioactive hitmaker will follow in the footsteps of previous winners such as Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Taylor Swift and John Legend when he is feted with the prize, which was created in 2004 and named in honour of Hall of Fame Chairman Emeritus Hal David to celebrate the work of young songwriters.

Current organisation chairman Jimmy Webb says, "Dan Reynolds is a dream ticket for the Songwriters Hall of Fame Starlight Award.

"He has helped create truly contemporary rock 'n' roll with the band Imagine Dragons. A sound at once musically literate and issue driven yet founded on solid composition and songwriting. We are extremely happy to join Dan with the other distinguished alumni who have received the Starlight."

The Kinks frontman Ray Davies, Scottish singer Donovan and 10cc rocker Graham Gouldman are among the stars who will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2014, while another top accolade, the Johnny Mercer Award, will be presented to music duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, and industry mogul Doug Morris will receive the Hitmaker Award.

The presentations will take place in New York on 12 June (14).