aaamusic | On 02, Sep 2010

Songwriter Don Black, OBE will be honored as a BMI Icon at the U.S. performing right organization’s annual London Awards. The ceremony is Tuesday, October 5 at London’s Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant; BMI Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Phil Graham; and Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, Europe & Asia Brandon Bakshi, the gala recognizes the UK and European songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-performed songs on American radio and television represented by BMI in the U.S.

BMI songwriters who have bestowed “a unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers” are recognized as Icons. Don Black joins a list of past honorees that includes Donovan, Van Morrison, the Bee Gees, James Brown, Willie Nelson, and more.

Don Black wrote songs for films including The Italian Job, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, True Grit, Dances With Wolves, Out of Africa, and James Bond theme songs “Thunderball,” “Diamonds Are Forever,” “The Man with the Golden Gun,” “Surrender” from Tomorrow Never Dies and “The World is Not Enough.” His compositions “Ben” and “To Sir with Love” topped U.S. charts for Michael Jackson and Lulu, respectively, while his Oscar-winning “Born Free” is a classic. Collaborating with Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, he also contributed Tony-winning words to Sunset Boulevard. In addition to six Ivor Novellos and a Golden Globe, he was awarded OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Arts by the City of London University. The Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted Don Black in 2007.

BMI collects royalties for Don Black in the U.S. He is a member of British performing right society PRS for Music.