Acclaimed songwriter Walter Afanasieff was officially inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday, June 11th, in a ceremony that took place in New York City. #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos has the recap.
Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner did the honors and paid tribute to Walter Afanasieff, praising the songwriter and producer for helping create “the soundtrack of our lives.”
Sheléa then subsequently captivated the audience with noteworthy medley of Afanasieff-penned classics, including the ubiquitous “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” “Hero,” “My All,” “One Sweet Day,” and “Anytime You Need a Friend.”
Afanasieff reflected on his lifelong passion for songwriting, stating that “music is the only thing” he knows.
In his acceptance speech, he said, “Thank you very, very much. I would love to thank the Songwriters Hall of Fame for doing this every year, and for having this incredible organization and members that watch our back.”
“There are so many songwriters… and people who think they are songwriters, and people who just don’t know how to become songwriters,” he said. “So, it’s a very tedious and complicated set of experiences and abilities. Some people play guitar, some people play the piano. I’ve played piano my whole life.”
“Music is the only thing I know how to think of, dream of, and love,” he underscored. “My heart beats just for music.”
“Just to be here, getting inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, is the most important award,” he acknowledged. “So, it has been a fantastic journey, and it’s not over yet. I really truly want to thank you all, especially the Songwriters Hall of Fame.”
“Jeremy, Sheléa, all of you here, for this incredible and amazing honor. Thank you,” Afanasieff said, effusively.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame celebrates and honors the contributions of songwriters of all genres of music, educates the public with regard to their achievements and produces a spectrum of professional programs devoted to the development of new songwriting talent through songwriting craft forums, scholarships, digital initiatives and Master Sessions on both coasts.
Educational activities are held at The Grammy Museum, which hosts the permanent Songwriters Hall of Fame Gallery, with additional events and programs hosted at and in partnership with the University of Southern California/Thornton School of Music, the Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, the NYU Steinhardt School, and NYC’s Stuyvesant High School and NYC All-City Modern Music Project.
Out of the tens of thousands of songwriters of our era, there are approximately 400+ inductees who make up the impressive roster enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.
To learn more about Walter Afanasieff, follow him on Instagram.
