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Costello, more up for Songwriters

[October 12, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Elvis Costello, B.B. King and Ray Davies are among the nominees for the 2013 Songwriters Hall of Fame.

They're joined by a slew of top acts, including Jimmy Buffett, Vince Gill and Rod Temperton, who wrote Michael Jackson's "Thriller," "Rock With You" and "Off the Wall."

Songwriters Hall gave The Associated Press a list of nominees in advance of the official announcement, set for Oct. 16. The gala takes place June 13 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Also nominated are Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie, former Eurythmics bandmates Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Aeromsith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Bobby Womack and Foreigner's Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, who said in an interview that he's excited to be highlighted as a songwriter.

"It means a lot that those songs have been recognized, and maybe, hopefully a little part of history," Jones said of the band's hits, which include "I Want to Know What Love Is" and "Waiting for a Girl Like You."

Non-performing songwriters up for nomination include "Chain of Fools" songwriter Don Covay, country music songwriter Bobby Braddock and Holly Knight, who co-wrote Pat Benatar's "Love Is a Battlefield" and Tina Turner's "Better Be Good to Me."

Linda Perry, the writer behind Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful," is also nominated alongside Bob McDill, Rick Nowels, Randy Goodrum, Tony Hatch and JD Souther. Writing duos Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, and P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri will also compete.

Eligible voters can select two nominees from the list of songwriter-performers and three non-performing songwriters. Voting ends Dec. 17.

[Associated Press; By MESFIN FEKADU]

AP writer John Carruci contributed to this report.

Follow Mesfin Fekadu on Twitter at http://twitter.com/musicmesfin.

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