ASCAP GALA Neil Young to be honored at Pop Music Awards

He's made nearly 50 albums since his days with Crosby, Stills, Nash & amp; Young.
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
NEW YORK -- The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has announced it will honor Neil Young with the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award during the 22nd annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards gala.
The invitation-only awards dinner will take place May 16 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The event will also honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed songs of 2004.
The ASCAP Founders Award is one of the most distinguished honors that the Society bestows, paying tribute to pioneering songwriters who have made exceptional contributions to music. Neil Young joins this select group of songwriters and composers which includes Elvis Costello, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Paul McCartney, Tom Waits, Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach & amp; Hal David, Jerry Leiber & amp; Mike Stoller, and Stevie Wonder, to name a few.
With nearly fifty albums to his credit, Neil Young has proved to be one of the most prominent and influential artists of his time. Throughout his career, Neil Young has touched on many different genres of music and vocal styles. From folk and country to rock, from his days with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & amp; Young and throughout his solo career and his many collaborations, Young has delivered his prolific songwriting talents and unique sound to decades of discerning music listeners. He continues to be a major voice and influence in music today.
A 1995 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Neil Young has been writing, recording and performing songs for more than 30 years creating such hits as "Heart of Gold," "Cinnamon Girl," "Hey Hey, My My," "Ohio," "Down by the River," "Harvest Moon" and "Rockin in the Free World."
"Neil's music has sent powerful messages to generations and his work is as meaningful today as it was when his career began in the '60's," said Marilyn Bergman ASCAP president and chairman.
The 2005 Pop Music Awards will also honor the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed songs of 2004. Special awards will be given to "Songwriter of the Year," "Song of the Year," "Publisher of the Year" in addition to the presentation of the "College Vanguard Award," which recognizes the impact of new and developing musical genres that help shape the future of American music.
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading Performing Rights Organization in the U.S., representing the world's largest repertory which totals over 8 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 200,000 composer, lyricist and music publisher members. Additionally, ASCAP represents the works in the repertories of 70 affiliated foreign performing rights organizations created by many thousand affiliated international members.