Max Martin: ASCAP's Pop Songwriter of the year

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: May 23, 2000 Source: Yahoo News / Reuters Submitted By: IVY C for sending this in. LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Veteran jazz-rock duo Steely Dan reveled in the years Monday when they picked up a lifetime achievement award at a music industry dinner. One-time collaborator Michael McDonald dusted off two Steely Dan tunes, ``Peg'' and ``Pretzel Logic,'' for the black-tie audience at performing rights organization ASCAP's 17th annual Pop Awards ceremony. However group members Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, currently on tour in support of their first new album in almost 20 years, ``Two Against Nature,'' did not perform. In receiving ASCAP's Founders Award, which recognizes a lifetime achievement in songwriting, Becker and Fagen followed in the footsteps of previous winners such as Joni Mitchell, Stephen Sondheim and Smokey Robinson. Fagen reminded the audience how he and Becker failed to make their mark as songwriters in the late 1960s before forming Steely Dan in 1972. He paid tribute to his influences -- ``a lot of blues, a lot of Dylan.'' Other performers included Christina Aguilera, who wowed the crowd with a soulful rendition of Etta James' ``At Last,'' and Jewel, who performed a brand new tune ``Break Me'' and her recent hit ``Hands.'' The ceremony, hosted by the American Society of Composers Authors & Publishers, honors songwriters whose works received the most performances during the survey period. Swedish tunesmith Max Martin, one of the talents behind Britney Spears, 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys, was named songwriter of the year for the second time in a row. He sent in a video from Sweden saying that he was busy with the new Backstreet Boys album. Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik won the song of the year prize for his band's hit ``Slide.'' Comment on this item. Next Item: Backstreet Bahama Boys Prev Item: Backstreet Boy Nick Carter Auctions Couch