- Music
- 08 Apr 15
The Man will be honoured by his peers in New York
Van Morrison is to receive the Johnny Mercer Award, which has previously gone to the likes of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Phil Collins, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Smokey Robinson and Billy Joel. It's the highest honour bestowed on previous inductees by the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
"Your body of work has to be considered the gold-bar standard by your peers," reflects Hall of Fame CEO Linda Moran. "His compositions are poetic, mystical. That's why he's in the company of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, Hal David and Burt Bacharach, Carole King."
Currently back in the charts with Duets: Re:Working The Catalogue, Van will receive the award at a gala event in New York on June 18. There's also a 70th birthday celebration to look forward to on November 20 in Dublin's 3Arena.