Music artist David Gates of Tulsa is a candidate for the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame recently announced its slate of nominees for possible induction at a 2025 induction and awards gala in New York City.
Gates, who crafted hits as a solo artist and as a member of his band, Bread, is among the nominees. Bread, a 1970s soft rock hit-maker, was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2006. Gates was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 1998.
Voting will determine which Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees are selected for induction. Eligible voting members have until Dec. 22 to turn in ballots with their choices of up to three nominees in each of the songwriter and performing songwriter categories.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the exceptional work and lives of composers and lyricists who make an indelible impact creating music around the world.
A songwriter with a catalog of notable songs qualifies for induction 20 years after his or her first significant commercial release of a song.
Note: The songs listed after each nominee’s name are merely a representative sample of their extensive catalogs.
Songwriters
Walter Afanasieff: “All I Want for Christmas Is You, “Hero,” “One Sweet Day”
Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan: “Secret Agent Man,” “Eve Of Destruction,” “Where Were You When I Needed You”
Mike Chapman: “The Best,” “Love Is A Battlefield,” “Kiss You All Over”
Sonny Curtis: “Love Is All Around” (Theme from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”), “I Fought the Law,” “Walk Right Back”
Tom Douglas: “The House That Built Me,” “Little Rock,” “I Run To You”
Franne Golde: “Dreaming of You,” “Nightshift,” “Don’t Look Any Further”
Ashley Gorley: “I Had Some Help,” “Last Night,” “You Should Probably Leave”
Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins: “Say My Name,” “The Boy Is Mine,” “Telephone”
Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter: “One Tin Soldier” (Theme from “Billy Jack”), “Don’t Pull Your Love,” “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)”
Tony Macaulay: “Baby Now That I’ve Found You,” “Build Me Up Buttercup,” “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)”
Roger Nichols: “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “I Won’t Last a Day Without You”
Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham: “I’m Your Puppet,” “Cry Like a Baby,” “A Woman Left Lonely”
Narada Michael Walden: “How Will I Know,” “Freeway of Love,” “You’re a Friend of Mine”
Performing Songwriters
Bryan Adams: “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You, “Heaven,” “All for Love”
George Alan O’Dowd (Boy George): “Karma Chameleon,” “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” “Time (Clock Of The Heart)”
George Clinton: “Atomic Dog,” “Flash Light,” “(Not Just) Knee Deep”
Sheryl Crow: “All I Wanna Do,” “Soak Up The Sun,” “If It Makes You Happy”
Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons (Doobie Brothers): “Listen to the Music,” “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “Black Water”
Marshall Mathers (Eminem): “Lose Yourself,” “Stan,” “Rap God”
David Gates: “Everything I Own,” “Make It With You,” “Baby I’m-A Want You”
Janet Jackson: “Black Cat,” “Together Again,” “Again”
Tommy James: “Mony Mony,” “Crimson and Clover,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion”
Mike Love: “California Girls,” “Good Vibrations,” “The Warmth of the Sun”
Alanis Morissette: “You Oughta Know,” “Ironic,” “Hand in My Pocket”
Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella (N.W.A.): “Express Yourself,” “Dopeman,” “Straight Outta Compton”
Steve Winwood: “Higher Love,” “Valerie,” “Roll With It”
About The Author
