Cohen, Foster get songwriting honours

Montreal-born singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen and Canadian producer David Foster are to be admitted to the U.S.-basedSongwriters Hall of Fame this year.

The virtual Hall of Fame honours the best composers and lyricists around the world.

Cohen, who received a lifetime achievement Grammy earlier this year, was cited for songs such as Suzanne, Bird on a Wire and Famous Blue Raincoat. He was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.

Foster, a 15-time Grammy Award winner originally from Victoria,is known for his work with a pantheon of pop's biggest stars. He also wrote songs such as Chicago's Hard To Say I'm Sorry, Peter Cetera's The Glory of Love and John Parr's Man in Motion. Foster was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Other songwriters to be admitted:

• Jackie DeShannon, who wrote for singers from Ella Fitzgerald to Marianne Faithfull, and is known for her song Put A Little Love In Your Heart.
• Johnny Mandel, who wrote for Count Basie, Artie Shaw and others of the swing era, and created songs such as The Shadow of Your Smile, Emily and Close Enough for Love.
• Earth, Wind & Fire, the rock and funk bandfronted by Maurice White and known for songs such as That's The Way of The World and Shining Star.

The induction ceremony is set for June 17 in New York.