5 Songwriters Who Influenced The Music Industry: Part 1

Part 1 chronicles American songwriters whose individual work or collaborations with other artist were an enormous influence on the music industry and an unwavering musical integrity and excellence for the craft. 

 

 

Carole King

Songwriter, Composer, Musician, Vocalist

Artist Associated With:

Carole King, Aretha Franklin, Little Eva, The Shirelles, The Drifters, The Monkees, and The Chiffons

Notable Songs:

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,  (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, Its Too Late, Up On The Roof, You’ve Got A Friend and I Feel The Earth Move

 

 Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson

Songwriters, Composers, Vocalists, Musicians, Arrangers

Artist Associated With:

The 5th Dimension, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross, Teddy Pendergrass, Chaka Khan, The Brothers Johnson and Quincy Jones

Notable Songs:

Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’m Every Woman, The Boss, Surrender, Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing, Your Precious Love, You’ll All I Need (To Get By), Landlord, Is It Still Good To Ya and Found A Cure

 

Burt Bacharach & Hal David

Songwriters, Composers, Arrangers, Musicians, Vocalist

Artist Associated With:

Dionne Warwick, BJ Thomas, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin, The Carpenters, Herb Alpert, The Shirelles, and Luther Vandross

Notable Songs:

I Say A Little Prayer, Walk On By, Don’t Make Me Over, You’ll Never Get To Heaven, Alfie, Promises Promises, A House Is Not A Home, The Look Of Love, Reach Out For Me, Do You Know The Way To San Jose and Message To Michael

 

 

Prince Rogers Nelson

Songwriter, Vocalist, Multi-Instrumentalist, Music Producer and Arranger

Artist Associated With:

Prince Rogers Nelson, Morris Day & The Time, Vanity 6, Sheila E., Apollonia 6, The Family,  Jill Jones, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Madhouse, Cat Glover, Boni Boyer, Rosie Gaines, The Revolution, Wendy &Lisa

Notable Songs:

Nothing Compares 2 U, 1999, Little Red Corvette, Nasty Girls, 777-9311, Let’s Go Crazy, Jungle Love, The Bird, Drive Me Wild, Sex Shooter, Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, Get It Up, Uptown, Kiss and Controversy

 

Aretha Franklin

Songwriter, Vocalist, Musician, Pianist, Arranger, Producer,

Artist Associated With:

Luther Vandross, Quincy Jones, Cissy Houston, Phil Perry, Jean Carne, George Benson, Curtis Mayfield, Lamont Dozier, Ashford & Simpson and Margaret Branch

Notable Songs:

Call Me, Ain’t No Way, Rock Steady, Think, Who’s Zoomin Who, Spirit In The Dark, (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone, Daydreaming, If You Don’t Think, Sweet Passion, and First Snow In Kokomo