Largs: Graham Lyle to be honoured as BMI Icon in London

It is the crowning achievement for Graham's impressive and illustrious career which spans five and a half decades, and is still going, even at the age of 80.

The legendary songwriter, guitarist and producer, who lives in Largs, will be honoured at The Savoy on December 9 in celebration of his illustrious career spanning more than 50 years and his enduring catalogue of hit songs, which have left a lasting impression on generations of music lovers worldwide.

As one of the most successful British songwriters of his generation, Lyle has written countless hit songs, including Tina Turner’s classic, “What’s Love Got To Do With It” with Terry Britten. 

The global smash reached No.1 in the US, Canada and Australia, won Song of the Year at the 1984 Grammy Awards, and eventually became Turner’s best-selling single, reaching eight million broadcast performances on U.S. radio.

Over his prolific career, Lyle has received multiple BMI Awards, as well as BMI Million-Air Awards for many of his iconic hits, including “What’s Luv?” by Fat Joe ft. Ashanti, which sampled “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “I Don’t Wanna Lose You,” “Jewel of the Nile,” and “Typical Male,” each with two million performances.

“We Don’t Need Another Hero,” also performed by Turner, “Joe Knows How to Live,” “Stay Young,” and “Women Like Men” have accumulated one million performances. 

Creative flair and imagination: Graham Lyle to be honoured by BMI at the Savoy (Image: BMI)

He also received an Ivor Novello in 1986 and a Tartan Clef Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2010, and in 2012, he co-wrote “One Woman: A Song for UN Women,” released on International Women’s Day, to support the empowerment and gender equality of women around the globe.

Lyle began his professional journey as one of the first music creators to sign to the Beatles’ Apple Company, alongside songwriter Benny Gallagher in the late 60s.

The pair went on to write for several Apple Company artists, notably “Sparrow” and “Fields of St. Etienne” for Mary Hopkin, both produced by Paul McCartney.

Together, the duo became founding members and main songwriters of hit British rock band McGuinness Flint, and later joined forces to form Gallagher and Lyle, where they released eight albums and produced British Top 10 hits like “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.

Songwriting legend Graham Lyle has been recognised for his global music achievements (Image: BMI)

In addition to his long-time partnership with Tina Turner, Lyle has also penned countless hits such as “Just Good Friends” by Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, “You're the Star” by Rod Stewart and "When You Love Somebody (I'm Saving My Love for You)" by Patti LaBelle, and has collaborated with other high profile artists including Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers and Ringo Starr.

As a BMI Icon, he joins an elite group of previous recipients including Sting, Sir Tim Rice, The Bee Gees, Crosby,  Ray Davies, Peter Gabriel, the Jacksons, Carole King, Barry Manilow, Willie Nelson, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Queen, Paul Simon, Van Morrison and Brian Wilson, among others.

Graham told the News: "I am delighted and very surprised. Music has such a global influence now and it is even more so with all the streaming and video websites out there.

"It was rock 'n' roll that really fired me up and I learned to play the guitar at about 11 or 12, with my friends, and that somehow carried me on to playing with McGuinness Flint and then Gallagher and Lyle with Benny.

"After we broke up, I decided to write specifically for other people and it worked and I enjoyed writing to order, and I had a lot of success with it, and I am still writing at 80."

He added: "To be joining such an elite list is incredible. I am amazed when I read it all and feel very honoured indeed.

"The music that gets you when you are very young I still have fond memories of and that is the wonderful thing, that is a very powerful medium, but it is the song that starts the whole business off as without a song you haven't got anything, and a good song travels a very long way."