The American Songwriters Hall of Fame held a three-hour ceremony in New York last night to toast the 2014 inductees, but one new member was missing. The Kinks’ singer/songwriter Ray Davies was not able to make it, due to the death of his sister.
In a Facebook statement, Davies’ rep said that his sister Joyce’s death was unexpected. Jon Bon Jovi was picked to acknowledge Davies’ contribution to music during the ceremony.
“I am profoundly honoured to have been inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame and disappointed not to have been at the event in New York but I felt it necessary to be near my family at this sad time of my sisters funeral,” Davies said in a statement. He also thanked the legions of Kinks fans and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“I hope to repay such loyal support by trying my best to continue to write songs in the future that are worthy of such an accolade,” he added.
While Davies was not there, the other members of the 2014 class were. Folk singer Donovan, 10cc’s Graham Gouldman, “Suspicious Minds” writer Mark James and “Midnight Train to Georgia” writer Weatherly were the other inductees, notes USA Today.
One of the many highlights of the night at the Marriott Marquis came when Jackie Evancho, 14, sang the immortal Harold Arlen/Yip Harburg song “Over The Rainbow,” which won the Towering Song Award. Aloe Blacc, Chita Rivera and ‘50s music icon Chubby Checker also performed. Donovan sang with Rosanne Cash and Weatherly performed “Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye).”
image courtesy of Zak Hussein/INFevents.com