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Robbie Robertson to join Songwriters Hall of Fame

Robbie Robertson's prowess at penning poignant, moving songs will be celebrated this spring when he is inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Luc Plamondon among Quebec songwriters to be honoured

CBC Arts ·
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Robbie Robertson is among the latest inductees into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. (Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame)
Robbie Robertson's prowess at penning poignant, moving songs will be celebrated this spring when he is inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The honour will be the latest such accolade for the Toronto-born musician and former member of The Band, who has previously been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Songwriters:

  • Quebec composer, pianist and producer Roméo Beaudry.
  • P.E.I. composer and conductor John Stromberg.
  • Quebec singer-songwriter Pierre Létourneau.
  • Ontario singer-songwriter Jack Scott.
  • Ontario singer-songwriter Robbie Robertson.
  • Quebec songwriter Luc Plamondon.

Songs:

  • Votre avion va-t-il au paradis? (Roméo Beaudry, 1930).
  • Squid Jiggin' Ground (Arthur Scammell, 1928).
  • La chanson des pissenlits (Pierre Létourneau, 1963).
  • My Heart Cries for You (Carl Sigman, 1949).
  • Je suis cool (Gilles Valiquette, 1972).
  • Pas besoin de frapper pour entrer (Jacques Michel, 1972).
  • Oh What a Feeling (Kelly Jay, Roly Greenway, 1971).
  • When I Die (Willie Smith, Steve Kennedy, 1969).
  • Wildflower (Doug Edwards, Dave Richardson, 1972).

Robertson is known for such classic songs as The Weight, Somewhere Down the Crazy River, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Broken Arrow.

He will be feted at a April 2 gala in Toronto as one of two modern-era songwriters, along with French-Canadian colleague Luc Plamondon, who has penned hits for artists such as Céline Dion and Robert Charlebois.

"I have a special place in my heart for Robbie Robertson," singer-songwriter Marc Jordan said after performing Broken Arrow at Tuesday's Hall of Fame announcement.

"He's a very proud Canadian and for Canadians who live abroad, I think it's very special when you're celebrated at home. It's your home, it's where you came from. I think it's important and I know it will be important to him," Jordan told CBC News.

Hall to honour songs, bodies of work

For the first time, organizers decided to induct both influential tracks and the entire body of work of individual songwriters.

"We felt it was also important to acknowledge their entire portfolio of songs and their overall contributions as Canadian songwriters and storytellers," folk singer and hall of fame president Sylvia Tyson said in a statement.

For the 2011 ceremony, organizers will honour songs and songwriters of the pioneer era (up to 1938), the radio era (1939-1969) and the modern era (1975-1985).

Quebec songwriter Luc Plamondon is one of the modern-era songwriters to be honoured in 2011. ((Laurence Labat/Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame))
The gala will also include tributes to folklorists Edith Fowke and Helen Creighton (this year's recipients of the Frank Davies Legacy Award) and Producer Yvan Dufresne (recipient of the Canadian Music Publishers Association Legacy Award).

"I'm blown away every year," Jordan said of the annual tribute to the Canadian authors of important, influential music.

"I learn that a song that I know — [say] a big band song from the '30s or '40s — was written by a Canadian. Every year, I learn a little bit more about the heritage of songwriting in this country."

Past inductees have included Leonard Cohen, Burton Cummings, Joni Mitchell, Mary Travers, Rush, Hank Snow, Claude Dubois and Gordon Lightfoot.

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