NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� was inducted into the on Thursday night, just one day after it was announced that his inimitable bandmate had died.
The actor 鈥� and lifelong Beach Boys fan 鈥� John Stamos introduced him. 鈥淭here are songs that don't just play on the radio,鈥� Stamos said in his speech. 鈥淢ike Love is a songwriter's songwriter.鈥�
Stamos recalled asking Love, 鈥淲hich songs did you write, again?鈥� Love's response: 鈥淚 only wrote the hits.鈥�
Love's speech was filled with gratitude, with one of his greatest thanks reserved for 鈥渕y cousin, Brian Wilson," he said. "My first cousin by blood and my brother in music.鈥�
Stamos then joined Love for a few 鈥淐alifornia Girl,鈥� 鈥淚 Get Around," 鈥淜okomo,鈥� and "Good Vibrations.鈥�
It was a notable moment in an evening full of them: The funk rock group Living Colour opened the energetic gala with a cover of Funkadelic's 鈥淐osmic Slop鈥� to honor new inductee George Clinton.
The annual event, held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City Thursday night, also featured inductees spanning genre, an inspiring mix of funk, rock, R&B, country and beyond: George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers, Ashley Gorley, Rodney 鈥淒arkchild鈥� Jerkins and Tony Macaulay.
鈥淲hat an incredible honor this is,鈥� Clinton said in his speech. He talked about his early days in the legendary which he described like going Being a songwriter, to him, required 鈥渃onsistent effort.鈥�
He then jumped into a performance of his own: The Parliaments鈥� 鈥�(I Wanna) Testify.鈥�
Country legend Garth Brooks introduced the Doobie Brothers with a raucous rendition of 鈥淟ong Train Runnin鈥欌�� into 鈥淐hina Grove.鈥� When it was time for the inducted members 鈥� Tom Johnston, and Patrick Simmons 鈥� to take the stage, they brought their rootsy rock 鈥榥鈥� roll, kicking off with 鈥淏lack Water."
Teddy Riley introduced the groundbreaking producer Rodney 鈥淒arkchild鈥� Jerkins, whose touch is heard across countless R&B and pop hits. His speech included an animated impression of and a story about Jerkins' father borrowing $1,200 against his life insurance to get him an 鈥�80s sampler, the MPC3000, so he could follow his dreams.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 grow up chasing fame,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 grew up chasing feeling ... Creativity has no limitations.鈥�
His four children, R.J., Heavenly, Hannah Joy and Royal Jerkins, performed one of his best-known hits, Brandy and Monica's 鈥淭he Boy Is Mine."
It was a night for families: Country songwriter superstar Ashley Gorley's daughter also performed one of her dad鈥檚 originals, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e Gonna Miss This.鈥� Dan + Shay also performed a medley of Gorley's hits in his honor, including Morgan Wallen鈥檚 鈥淟ast Night,鈥� Carrie Underwood鈥檚 鈥淎ll-American Girl鈥� and Post Malone and Wallen鈥檚
When Gorley took the stage for his speech, he said he felt like he was in a 鈥渇ever dream鈥� or that he has 鈥渃rashed a royal wedding.鈥�
Legendary English songwriter Tony Macaulay was also honored. He is best known for such classics as The Foundations鈥� 鈥淏aby Now That I鈥檝e Found You" and 鈥淏uild Me Up Buttercup,鈥� the latter of which was performed for Macaulay by a spirited Debbie Gibson.
Musical theater composer Stephen Schwartz was the recipient of the esteemed Johnny Mercer Award; Kristin Chenoweth performed 鈥淔or Good" from 鈥淲icked鈥� in his honor.
received the eminent Hal David Starlight Award.
included Steely Dan, R.E.M., Timbaland, Hillary Lindsey and Dean Pitchford. At the induction ceremony last summer, R.E.M. stunned attendees for an acoustic version of their alt-rock hit, 鈥淟osing My Religion.鈥�
The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. Some already in the hall include Gloria Estefan, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins.
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
