The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced the nominees for the Class of 2025.  The nominating committee has until December 22 to submit their ballots, including up to three nominees in both the Non-Performing Songwriters and Performing Songwriters.

The Non-Performing Songwriters are:

Walter Afanasieff:  Afanasieff is an accomplished musician in his own right and also has extensive work as a producer.  His known work as a songwriter includes: “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “Butterfly,” “Forever,” “Hero,” “One Sweet Day” (with Mariah Carey), “She Bangs” (with Ricky Martin) and “Licence to Kill.”

Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan:  The duo co-wrote “Secret Agent Man” (performed by Johnny Rivers), “Eve of Destruction” (performed by Barry McGuire), and “Where Were You When I Needed You” (performed by The Grass Roots).

Mike Chapman:  A highly sought-after producer in Britain and America in the 1970s and early 80s, Chapman also penned a slew of hits, including “Little Willy” and “Ballroom Blitz” (performed by The Sweet), “Stumblin In” (performed by Suzi Quatro), “Kiss You All Over” (performed by Exile) and “Love is a Battlefield” (performed by Pat Benatar).

Sonny Curtis:  A member of the Crickets with Buddy Holly, Curtis wrote “More Than I Can Say” (which became a big hit for Leo Sayer decades later), “I Fought the Law” (made famous by the Bobby Fuller Four and The Clash, “Walk Right Back” (popularized by the Everly Brothers) and “Love is All Around,” the theme for the Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Tom Douglas:  Douglas co-penned many Country Music hits, including “The House That Built Me” (performed by Miranda Lambert), “Little Rock” (performed by Collin Raye), “I Run to You” (performed by Lady Antebellum), “Grown Men Don’t Cry” (performed by Tim McGraw) and “Love Me Anyway” (performed by Pink and Chris Stapleton.

Franne Golde:  Spanning a wide array of genres, Golde wrote “Stickwitu” (performed by The Pussycat Dolls), “A Man Ain’t Made of Stone” (performed by Randy Travis), “Somebody’s Out There Watching” (performed by The Kinleys), “Dreaming of You” (performed by Selena), “Don’t You Want Me” (performed by Jody Watley) and “Nightshift” (performed by The Commodores).

Ashley Gorley:  Gorley has been one of the most successful Country songwriters over the past 15 years, with hits including “I Had Some Help” (performed by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen), “Last Night” (performed by Morgan Wallen), “You Should Probably Leave” (performed by Chris Stapleton), “Play It Again” (performed by Luke Bryan) and “You’re Gonna Miss This” (performed by Trace Adkins).

Rodney “Darkchild” Jenkins:  Jenkins was also an accomplished producer and rapper who wrote or co-wrote hits like “Say My Name” (performed by Destiny’s Child), “The Boy is Mine” (performed by Brandy and Monica), “You Rock My World” (performed by Michael Jackson), “Déjà Vu” (performed by Beyonce) and “Telephone” (performed by Lady Gaga).

Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter:  The pair collaborated on hits such as “One Tin Soldier” (performed by Coven), “Don’t Pull Your Love” (performed by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds), “Ain’t No Woman” (performed by The Four Tops), and “Country Boy, “It Only Takes A Minute” (performed by Tavares) and You’ve Got Your Feet in L.A.” (performed by Glen Campbell).

Tony Macauley:  From England, Macauley wrote significant hits such as “Baby Now That I Found You” and “Build Me Up Buttercup” (performed by The Foundations), “Last Night I Didn’t Get to Sleep At All” (performed by The 5^th Dimension, “Love Grows where my Rosemary Goes” (performed by Edison Lighthouse) and “Don’t Give Up on Us” (performed by David Soul).

Roger Nichols:  Nichols was a highly respected engineer best known for his work with Steely Dan, among many other Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acts.  He also co-wrote many of the hits by the Carpenters, including “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” and “We’ve Only Just Begun.”

Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham.  The respected duo’s catalog includes soul staples like “I’m Your Puppet” (performed by James & Bobby Purify), “Cry Like a Baby” (performed by The Box Tops), “A Woman Left Lonely” (performed by Janis Joplin), “Out of Left Field” and “It Tears Me Up” (performed by Percy Sledge).  Oldham is already inducted as a Sideman in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Narada Michael Walden.  An excellent drummer, Walden was also a producer and wrote hits such as “How Will I Know” (performed by Whitney Houston), “You’re A Friend of Mine” (performed by Jackson Browne and Clarence Clemons), “Freeway of Love” and “Who’s Zoomin’ Who” (performed by Aretha Franklin) and “Baby Come to Me” (performed by James Ingram and Patti Austin).

The Performing Songwriters are:

Bryan Adams.  Adams wrote and performed all of his hits, the most notable being “Everything I Do I Do it For You,” “Heaven,” “All for Love,” “Summer of ’69”, “Heaven,” and “Have You Really Loved a Woman.”

Boy George.  The frontman and leader of the successful 1980s band Culture Club, Boy George, wrote hits such as “Karma Chameleon,” “Do Yoi Really Want to Hurt Me,” “Time (Clock Of The Heart),” and “Miss Me Blind.”

George Clinton.  The mastermind behind Parliament and Funkadelic, Clinton wrote songs like “Atomic Dog,” “Flash Light,” “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker.” “Knee Deep,” and “I’d Rather Be With You.”  He is already in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Sheryl Crow.  Another Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Crow wrote her signature hits among which were “Soak Up the Sun,” “A Change Would Do You Good.” “If It Makes You Happy.” “All I Wanna Do.” and “Everyday Is a Winding Road.”

The Doobie Brothers (Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and Patrick Simmons.  The group penned multiple hits such as “Listen to the Music,” “Takin’ It to the Streets.” “Black Water,” “What a Fool Believes,” and “Long Train Runnin’.”

Eminem:  Eminem is also in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is nominated here for the strength of writing songs like “Lose Yourself.” “Stan,” “Mockingbird,” “Houdini.” and “Rap God.”

David Gates:  Hates was the leader of the group Bread, who are known for their hits “Everything I Own,” “Make It With You.” “Baby I’m-a Want You,” “The Guitar Man” and “If.”

Janet Jackson:  Jackson co-wrote many of her famous hits, including “Black Cat,” “Together Again,” “Again,” and “Rhythm Nation.”  She is also a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

Tommy James:  The leader of Tommy James and the Shondells, James wrote their hits, which include “Crimson and Clover,” “Mony Mony,” and “Sweet Cherry Wine.” and “Crystal Blue Persuasion.”

Mike Love:  From The Beach Boys, Love’s writing credits include “California Girls,” “Good Vibrations,” “I Get Around” and “Fun, Fun, Fun.”

Alanis Morissette:  Morrisette dominated the mid-90s with songs like “You Oughta Know.” “Ironic,” “Hand in My Pocket,” “Uninvited” and “Thank U.”

N.W.A. (Dr. Dre, Easy E, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella):  N.W.A. is already in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and they are here for songs like “Dopeman,” “911 Is a Joke,” “Fuck Tha Police,” “Gangsta Gangsta,” “Express Yourself,” and “Straight Outta Compton.”

Steve Winwood.  Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Traffic, Winwood helped write songs for that band, The Spencer Davis Group, and his solo efforts.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group for their nominations.

Probably one of our trickiest artists to rank as there can be doubt that their entire catalogue of music was brilliant; however that catalogue was only one album. Blind Faith’s lone album was the birth of the first ultimate “super group” that comprised of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Ric Grech and Steve Winwood (Basically the key components of Cream & Traffic) and it was a landmark effort in Rock and Roll. Artists have gotten in on the strength of one album before, but with all members already in the Hall, we are guessing that Clapton’s fourth induction may not occur.

With Steve Winwood already in with Traffic, his best shot for a second induction may lie with the Spencer Davis Group which was where he gained his first exposure. The Spencer Davis Group was a brief but powerful act that was one of the best British based Blues Rock band ever. The question for induction is not whether they had enough American hits (they did chart in the States), but whether they were around long enough or whether they feel Winwood does not need to get in twice.

There should be little doubt that Steve Winwood has earned his place in the Hall for his work in Traffic. What has been in doubt is whether he deserves induction a second time for either his work with other bands or as a solo artist. Although Winwood achieved a lot of success during the 80’s for his solo work, it lacked the Soul and Blues infusion that his efforts with Traffic, Blind Faith or the Spencer Davis Group. Although the overall career of Steve Winwood was brilliant, his solo career may not necessarily be Hall worthy. Having said that, should the Hall wish to induct him a second time (for either solo or other bands), it would not come out of left field.