Graham Lyle, best known for writing the Tina Turner classic 'What's Love Got to Do With It', will be presented with the BMI Icon Award at the 2024 BMI London Awards on December 9 at The Savoy in London. The private event will be hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O'Neill.
“What's Love” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks in 1984 and won Grammys for Record and Song of the Year. He was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012. Lyle co-wrote the song with Terry Britten, who also produced Turner's single. Britten and Lyle later co-wrote two more big hits for Turner, both of which reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 – “We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” from the film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome and “Typical Male”. Thus, the group was responsible for three of Turner's six top 10 solo hits.
“We are honored to salute the incomparable songwriter Graham Lyle with the BMI Icon Award for celebrating a lifetime of timeless hit songs that resonate deeply with global audiences,” O'Neill said in a statement.
The ceremony will also pay tribute to the UK and European songwriters and publishers of the previous year's most-performed songs across US streaming, radio and television from BMI's repertoire.
Many artists have revived “What's Love” over the years. Rapper Warren G recorded a hip-hop version in 1996 featuring Adina Howard, which reached No. 32 on the Hot 100. The song was included on the hit “What's Luv?” by Fat Joe featuring Ashanti, which reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 2002. Norwegian DJ/producer Kygo released a remix with Turner in 2020. Mickey Guyton sang it at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony of Fame in 2021, when Turner was introduced as a solo artist.
Lyle began his professional journey as one of the first songwriters signed to The Beatles' Apple Company alongside songwriter Benny Gallagher in the late 1960s. Together, the duo became founding members of British rock band McGuinness Flint and later joined joined forces to form Gallagher and Lyle, where they released eight albums and scored two Hot 100 hits in 1976, while signing to A&M Records – 'I Wanna Stay with You' and 'Heart on My Sleeve'.
In 1981, Lyle formed his own publishing company, GOODSINGLE, LTD, to write for other artists. In addition to his longtime collaboration with Turner, Lyle has also written such hits as Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder's “Just Good Friends,” Etta James' “Hold Me (Just a Little Longer Tonight),” “You're the Star” by Rod Stewart and “When You Love Somebody (I'm Saving My Love for You)” by Patti LaBelle.
Past BMI icons include Sting, Gary Kemp, Graham Gouldman, Sir Tim Rice, The Bee Gees, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Ray Davies, John Fogerty, David Foster, Peter Gabriel, the Jacksons, Carole King, Kris Kristofferson, Barry Manilow, Willie Nelson, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Queen, Nile Rodgers, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/graham-lyle-bmi-icon-2024-bmi-london-awards-1235816360/