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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 17 June 2017
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Absent Jay Z inducted to Songwriters Hall by Obama via video

By MESFIN FEKADU once those two twins show ter with Diana Ross, per-
AP Music Writer up. And let’s face it, we formed for her father.
NEW YORK (AP) — Jay Z, both have wives who are “Most people think I got this
whose wife Beyonce is ex- significantly more popular award many years ago,”
pecting twins soon, was than we are,” he added. said Gordy, who has written
absent from the 2017 Song- Jay Z became the first rap- songs for Marvin Gaye, the
writers Hall of Fame, where per inducted into the pres- Supremes, Stevie Wonder
he was inducted by a char- tigious organization and and the Jackson 5. “Song-
ismatic longtime fan: for- was the first hip-hop act writing was my first love.”
mer U.S. President Barack nominated for the honor. Usher performed a med-
Obama. The icon, who rarely tweets, ley to pay homage to Jam
Obama, appearing in a posted multiple messages and Lewis, the duo behind
taped video, told the au- on Twitter around the time countless hits for Janet
dience Thursday that he’s the ceremony took place, Jackson as well as George
been listening to Jay Z naming rappers who he Michael, Mariah Carey and
since he was a “young and admires, from veterans like Boyz II Men.
hungry state senator” and Rakim and Nas to contem- Music mogul Berry Gordy accepts his award at the 48th Annual “Without us the music
compared himself to the poraries such as Kendrick Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala at the New doesn’t exist,” Jam said of
New York rapper. Lamar and J. Cole. York Marriott Marquis Hotel on Thursday, June 15, 2017, in New
“Nobody who met us as “Thank you to all the peo- York. songwriters.
younger men would have ple that have inspired me,” Associated Press Ed Sheeran, who per-
expected us to be where Jay Z, born Shawn Carter, Jovi said that Martin, who stage from left to right, and formed his hit “Castle on
we are today. You know tweeted. “Salute to any- has written monster hits for even jumped down to the the Hill,” was honored with
what it’s like not to have a body who made a song Taylor Swift, the Backstreet audience to scream the the Hal David Starlight
father around, you know to feed their family or just Boys and other pop stars, song’s groovy lyrics, bring- Award. The English singer,
what it’s like not to come vent.” had been a part of 22 No. ing them to life. who writes his own music
from much, and to know The 2017 Songwriters Hall 1s, placing him only behind Babyface, who wrote hits and has also written for Jus-
people who didn’t get the class also included Motown John Lennon and Paul Mc- for Whitney Houston, Toni tin Bieber and One Direc-
same breaks that we did. founder Berry Gordy; R&B Cartney. Braxton and others, said tion, said the “happiest mo-
So we try to prop open maestro Kenneth “Baby- Martin, who rarely does in- he’s amazed that “I, Kenny ments of my life” are when
those doors of opportuni- face” Edmonds; songwrit- terviews or appears in pub- Edmonds, this little black kid he’s writing songs.
ty so that it’s a little easier ing duo Jimmy Jam & Terry lic, called the induction from Indianapolis, Indiana, “There’s nothing like that
for those who come up Lewis; pop music great “unbelievable.” wrote a song and some- moment,” he added.
behind us to succeed as Max Martin; and members Johnny Gill, the New Edi- body in ... Kansas is singing Pitbull closed the show
well,” Obama said, earning of Chicago. tion member and solo the words to right now.” with a performance and
an applause from the audi- Jon Bon Jovi kicked off the singer, earned the night’s Pat Monahan of Train sang earned the Global Ambas-
ence in New York City. multi-hour event at the Mar- loudest applause when he in honor of Robert Lamm sador Award.
“Jay and I are also fools for riott Marquis Hotel with “It’s performed “My, My, My,” and James Pankow of Chi- Songwriters are eligible for
our daughters, although My Life,” his band’s 2000 hit one of many hits written by cago, while Rhonda Ross induction after writing hit
he’s going to have me beat that Martin co-wrote. Bon Babyface. Gill worked the Kendrick, Gordy’s daugh- songs for at least 20 years.

Peter Criss, Kiss’ founding

Catman, saying goodbye to stage

By WAYNE PARRY Room, an intimate venue of rock’s all-time classic an-
Associated Press in Manhattan where he thems, “Rock and Roll All
NEW YORK (AP) — Good- promises a mix of Kiss clas- Nite.”
bye Kitty: Peter Criss can sics, his own solo mate- But drugs and alcohol
finally come home. rial, and covers he always helped cut short Criss and
No longer playing with the wanted to perform live but Frehley’s tenure with the
boys, the co-founder of the was told by Gene Simmons band until a 1996 reunion
rock group Kiss and co-au- and Paul Stanley, “We that was the year’s highest-
thor of its hit single, “Beth,” don’t do that; it’s not Kiss.” grossing tour. By the end
is retiring from the concert “I want to leave the stage of a co-headlining tour
stage with a show to let him happy,” Criss said. “I got with Aerosmith in 2003,
say goodbye on his own onto the stage not think- Criss said, “There was bad
terms. ing about making a buck. blood with us again.” The In this June 15, 2017 photo, drummer and vocalist Peter Criss
It’s his way to purge the It was just pure: Play drums, morning after the last tour rehearses in a New York City studio for his final U.S. performance
bad taste left in his mouth have a good time, meet date in California, Criss said on Saturday, June 17.
by a series of unhappy girls, travel and get out of Simmons, Stanley and gui- Associated Press
endings with Kiss, including Brooklyn.” tarist Tommy Thayer, who
the band’s 2014 induction Criss, 71, formed Kiss with replaced Frehley, “were festered for more than a wanted to end it. So now
into the Rock and Roll Hall Stanley and Simmons and leaving on our jet, a G-5, decade. Even Kiss’ long- I’m doing it my way, kind of
of Fame, where quarreling guitarist Ace Frehley in and they booked me on a awaited induction into the like Sinatra.”
over which lineup would 1973. Within two years the commercial jet at 7 o’clock Rock Hall in 2014 couldn’t While nothing is scheduled,
perform at the ceremony album “Alive!” captured the next morning. And I hit end on a harmonious note. Criss holds out the possibil-
ended up with Kiss not the essence of the make- the ceiling.” “I wanted to play so bad ity of similar farewell one-
playing at all. up and costume-wearing, His wife Gigi booked Criss that night, and I know offs in other countries, fol-
On Saturday, Criss will play bomb-detonating, blood his own jet for the trip Ace did,” he said. “And lowing a successful show
what he says is his last U.S. spitting musical circus that home to the New Jersey we didn’t ... I didn’t get to in Melbourne, Australia last
concert at The Cutting was Kiss, and spawned one shore, where bad feelings end my career the way I month.