George Clinton and Rodney “Darkchild” Jenkins have been selected for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which celebrates accomplished artists, producers, and writers for their musical contributions.
On Wednesday (Jan. 22), the esteemed institution announced its class of 2025, with Clinton, a founder of Parliament-Funkadelic, and Jenkins, a GRAMMY Award winning producer, joining fellow musicians Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers, Ashley Gorley, Mike Love, and Tony Macaulay as this year’s inductees.
Singer/Songwriter George Clinton performs onstage at the 2017 SESAC Pop Awards on April 13, 2017 in New York City.
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for SESAC
Clinton, Jerkins, and the rest of the class will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the 2025 Induction and Awards Gala. The ceremony will take place on June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
“The foundation of the music industry exists because songwriters compose great songs,” said Songwriters Hall Of Fame Chariman and inductee Nile Rodgers.
Rodney Jerkins discusses his creative process during BMI’s How I Wrote That Song 2018 on January 27, 2018 in New York City.
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for BMI
“Without them, there is no recorded music, no concert business, no fans, or merchandising; it all starts with the song and the songwriter. Rodgers continued to laud the SHOF’s class of 2025, noting their impact across various genres and within society,” he continued.
“We are therefore very proud that we are continually recognizing some of the culturally most important writers of all time and that this year’s slate represents not just iconic songs, but also diversity and unity across genres and ethnicity.”
Nile Rodgers performs on stage during Grammys On The Hill: Awards Dinner at The Hamilton on April 26, 2023 in Washington, DC.
Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
“These songwriters have enriched the lives of billions of listeners the world over. It’s our honor to honor them,” the Chic cofounder added, in conclusion.
Established in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame includes some of the most pivotal artists in R&B and Hip-Hop history, with recent honorees including Sade, Jermaine Dupri, Missy Elliott, JAY-Z, Timbaland, Snoop Dogg, and Neptunes.
Recording artist George Clinton arrives at the premiere of IMAX’s “ALL ACCESS: Front Row. Backstage. LIVE!” February 18, 2001 at the Universal Studios IMAX Theatre in Universal City, CA.
Chris Weeks/Liaison
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