ASCAP Foundation, the charitable arm of the songwriter, composer and music publisher professional organization, recently announced they will be recognizing hit songwriter Valerie Simpson and classical composer Melinda Wagner at next month's 2018 ASCAP Foundation Honors..

Simpson will receive the George M. Cohan Friars Foundation Award, which "honors the work of a multi-talented person connected to the music industry who has led a multi-faceted career and achieved success in a variety of roles," while Wagner will receive with the ASCAP Foundation Masters Award, which "is presented to an ASCAP member who has lived a life rich in artistic achievement, and whose music is matched by personal integrity and dedication to education." 

Simpson and her late husband Nick Ashford were a musical force to be reckoned with, co-writing many hit songs together, including "I'm Every Woman" for Chaka Khan (which was later recorded by Whitney Houston for The Bodyguard Soundtrack) and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" for Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (and later recorded by Diana Ross, making it a hit again). She has served on the ASCAP Foundation's board for 21 years and established the Reach Out and Touch Award with the organization to provide financial assistance to up-and-coming songwriters, in honor of Ashford. The duo was previously honored by ASCAP with its highest honor, The Founders Award. 

"Valerie, together with her husband Nick, has written some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century," said ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams. "This award recognizes the whole of Valerie's talents and her multifaceted career which continues to bring so much creative joy to so many people."

Wagner is a longstanding classical composer who won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1999 for Concerto for Flute, Strings and Percussion and has had her works performed by the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony and others. She is the chair of composition on the faculty of The Juilliard School of Music and also teaches master classes at Juilliard and other esteemed universities like Harvard, Yale and others.

"We honor the career of distinguished concert composer, Melinda Wagner, for her rich catalog of work, her achievements, and recognize her important work as an educator and mentor. She is well-deserved to be the next recipient of The ASCAP Foundation Masters Award," Williams also said.

The 2018 ASCAP Foundation Honors will take place on Dec. 12 in New York City.

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