Ne-Yo and Bette Midler inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame
Ne-Yo credited music with keeping him off the streets as he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City on Thursday (14Jun12).
Ne-Yo was joined by Bette Midler and Bob Seger as they were welcomed into the prestigious institution, which recognises those in the industry who are "pioneers in their craft" and have "inspired the music community".
The Closer hitmaker picked up the Hal David Starlight Award for
young songwriters, and thanked his musician mum for helping him
develop his talents.
He says, "I was a pretty riled up little kid. If not for my mom
giving me the pad and the pen and telling me to take my emotions
and put them there, there's no telling. I might I have been
sticking you up (robbing you) or something."
Fleetwood Mac star Stevie Nicks was on hand to present Midler with
the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award while folk rocker Gordon
Lightfoot, country lyricist Don Schlitz, Bat Out of Hell composer
Jim Steinman, and the team behind The Fantasticks musical - Harvey
Schmidt and Tom Jones - were also among the 2012 inductees.