The Johnny Mercer Award, according to press notes, "is given to a writer or team of writers already inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and judged by the nominating committee as having established a history of outstanding creative works." Previous honorees include Sammy Cahn, Alan Jay Lerner, Jerry Herman, Adolf Green/Betty Comden, Jule Styne, Cy Coleman, Burt Bacharach, Stephen Sondheim and Stevie Wonder.

Holland-Dozier-Holland, the architects of the Motown sound, wrote such sixties hits as "Where Did Our Love Go?," "Baby Love," "Stop! In The Name of Love" and "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved By You)." They recently reunited to write the score for the Broadway-bound musical, The First Wives Club — based on the book and film of the same name — which will play San Diego's Old Globe July 17-Aug. 23.

The First Wives Club will be produced on Broadway by Paul Lambert and Jonas Neilson; theatre and dates will be announced at a later time.