Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Carole King was honored with a Heroes Award by the New York chapter of the Recording Academy at the sixth Annual New York Heroes Awards on Tuesday evening (December 4).
In addition to King, the gala dinner at the Roosevelt Hotel-sponsored by music-performing rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)-paid tribute to Russell Simmons, Kiss, and Linda Moran, the president of the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Singer-songwriter and actor Dominic Chianese (The Sopranos) hosted the event, and he performed a touching version of “Typical New Yorker” from his recently released album, Hits.
Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas presented King with her Heroes Award, and he said of her, “I’m very proud of our accomplishments with Matchbox Twenty, but it really makes you humble when you look at a career like the one of our next honoree. Her work has been recorded by everyone from the Beatles to Aretha Franklin. She is one of America’s most successful and admired recording artists. She truly defined the sound of a generation.”
King, who was born in Brooklyn, said backstage that receiving the award means even more to her as a native New Yorker. “I have always been proud of being a New Yorker. I was born here,” King said. “I was raised here. I’ve always loved New York, and been proud of being a New Yorker, and this award is even more amazing in this city full of so many heroes. It’s a great honor, and a great pleasure, and a privilege to be given this award.”
On King’s most recent album, Love Makes The World, she collaborated with other popular songwriters such as Celine Dion, K.D. Lang, Carole Bayer Sager, David Foster, and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds.
Proceeds from the event were donated during a check presentation to the families of the World Trade Center rescuers. The Heroes Awards, which are the highest honors bestowed by the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy, recognize outstanding individuals who are integral to the vitality of the music community, and whose talents and accomplishments cross all musical boundaries. In past years, the New York Heroes Awards have honored Tony Bennett, Mary J. Blige, Michael Bolton, Bernadette Peters, Diana Ross, and Carly Simon, among others.