Rush, Charlebois join Songwriters' Hall of Fame

Toronto rock trio Rush and Montreal music legend Robert Charlebois were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Fame on Sunday night.

The sixth annual awards gala was held at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. St. Catharines' rockers Alexisonfire, former Primus frontman Les Claypool and Hamilton folk troubadour Jacob Moon were among the acts that performed during the evening.

Charlebois sang his classic song, Ordinaire.

"It's humbling, frankly, to be joining a group that includes Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot and so many other great songwriters," Geddy Lee, Rush's lead vocalist, told the Toronto Star.

"Any time your country honours you is important, it's huge," he added.

The Juno award-winning band has been together since 1968. In its early years it went through a number of reconfigurations, achieving its current form when drummer and lyricist Neil Peart replaced the band's original drummer, the late John Rutsey, in 1974.

Peart delivered the acceptance speech as he and fellow band members, Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson, were inducted.