ASCAP Foundation "We Write The Songs" Event to Celebrate ASCAP Collection at Library of Congress

THE ASCAP FOUNDATION ‘WE WRITE THE SONGS’ EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE ASCAP COLLECTION AT THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Legendary Songwriters Perform

Washington, D.C., May 5, 2009: ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) is pleased to announce "We Write the Songs," an event celebrating the gift by The ASCAP Foundation to the Library of Congress of the original manuscripts, lead sheets, lyrics sheets, photos and letters of some of America’s greatest creators of words and music. The event will take place Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at The Library of Congress in Washington, DC.

The evening, hosted by ASCAP President & Chairman Paul Williams, will also include performances by several of ASCAP’s songwriting greats, who will donate original materials to The ASCAP Collection at the Library of Congress. Performers at the event include:

Paul Williams ("We’ve Only Just Begun," "The Rainbow Connection")
Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson ("Ain’t No Mountain High Enough," "Reach Out and Touch")
Alan Bergman ("The Windmills of Your Mind," "The Way We Were")
Felix Cavaliere ("Groovin’," "People Got to Be Free")
Hal David ("Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head," "What the World Needs Now")
Johnny Mandel (Theme from" M*A*S*H*," "The Shadow of Your Smile") performing with Grammy-nominated Jazz vocalist Karrin Allyson
Monica Mancini (Grammy-nominated vocalist)performing songs of her late father Henry Mancini ("Moon River," "The Days of Wine and Roses")
Don Schlitz ("The Gambler," "Forever and Ever Amen")
Jimmy Webb ("By the Time I Get To Phoenix," "MacArthur Park")

The ASCAP Collection at the Library of Congress has been established to "preserve the history and create a repository for video and audio materials, photos, scores, documents and artifacts. Each is relevant to the rich history of the institution of ASCAP and ASCAP members as contributors to American culture." Some archival materials record the day-to-day workings of ASCAP; others provide insights into the life and music of individual members of ASCAP. By placing the ASCAP Collection at the Library of Congress, historians, students and members of the public will have access to this rich look into musical history.

Items of particular interest in the ASCAP Collection at The Library of Congress include:

–The complete archives of ASCAP member, Irving Caesar, writer of the lyrics for such memorable songs as "Tea For Two," "I Want to Be Happy," "Swanee," "Animal Crackers in My Soup," and "Just A Gigolo." Included in his archives are lyric sheets, photos, diaries, correspondence, and recordings.

–The archives of ASCAP member, Harold Adamson, lyricist of "Around the World in 80 Days, "I Couldn’t Sleep a Wink Last Night" and "An Affair to Remember." Included in his archives are lyric sheets, photos, recordings, films, scrapbooks, and correspondence.

–The original ASCAP cash book showing dues paid by the original members as well as the cash expenditures of the organization from 1914 – 1919.

–The scrapbooks of ASCAP President Stanley Adams documenting each year of his presidency (1953 – 1956; 1959 – 1980).

www.ascap.com