Bond lyricist Don Black to receive BMI award at October awards ceremony

Songwriter Don Black is to be honoured as a Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI) Icon - reports Tourdates.co.uk.

The lyricist - best known for writing songs for the James Bond film franchise, including 'Thunderball', 'Diamonds Are Forever' and 'The Man With The Golden Gun', as well as for pop stars including Michael Jackson - will receive the US performing rights organisation's most prestigious accolade next month.

In his career Don has written songs for films including 'The Italian Job', 'True Grit', 'Dances With Wolves' and 'Out of Africa' as well as numerous James Bond themes including 'The World Is Not Enough', with David Arnold.

He also wrote 'Ben' for Michael Jackson and 'To Sir with Love' by Lulu, both of which were US number one hits. Don also won an Oscar for his song 'Born Free', from the film of the same name, in 1966 with composer John Barry.

Of the lyricist, David has said: "Don always finds the simplest and the most economic way of saying what needs to be said and discovers a way of saying it that everyone can relate to.

"Because Don understands how people speak and communicate. It's why his most apparently effortless and simple lyrics on paper can bloom into the most wonderful image when sung. His lyrics are a joy for singers to sing."

The songwriting award honours European songwriters and publishers for their success over the past year on US radio and television. The BMI works to collect royalties on behalf of these performers.

Past recipients of the Icon award include Donovan, Van Morrison, the Bee Gees, James Brown and Willie Nelson among others.

Don will receive his Icon accolade at the BMI London awards, which will be held on October 5 in London.

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