Legendary lyricist Sammy Cahn, singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester and composer-arranger Billy Strayhorn will be honored in an upcoming online event as the 2021 inductees to the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame.

Billy Strayhorn

Premiering at 8 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 13, on the Great American Songbook Foundation’s Facebook and YouTube channels, the 2021 Songbook Hall of Fame Virtual Induction will include video testimonials, interviews and tribute performances by Songbook Foundation Founder Michael Feinstein; Manchester herself; Alyce Claerbaut, niece of the late Strayhorn and president of Billy Strayhorn Songs Inc.; Galen Demus, nephew of Strayhorn and board member of Billy Strayhorn Songs Inc.; Tita Cahn, widow of Sammy Cahn; and rising NYC-based jazz singer Anaïs Reno, an alumna of the Foundation’s annual Songbook Academy® summer intensive for high school performers.

Sammy Cahn

In addition to the video induction, the Foundation will unveil new opportunities at TheSongbook.org for viewers to continue celebrating and learning about the musical legacies of this year’s Hall of Fame inductees. Videos and interactive learning opportunities will include bassist-composer Marlon Martinez’s Strayhorn Sundays; Songbook Academy masterclass moments with Manchester; a peek at the Emmy Award won by Cahn and frequent collaborator Jimmy Van Heusen for “Love and Marriage,” courtesy of Van Heusen’s great nephew Brook Babcock; music playlists and more.

The program is free to view. For event reminders and viewing links, register at bit.ly/2021SongbookHOF.