Photo: Stevo Rood
On Thursday, June 12, a day after The Beach Boys’ founding member and principal songwriter, Brian Wilson’s passing, his cousin and bandmate, Mike Love, appeared at the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York City. During the event, which was comprised of fellow composers and industry professionals, Love addressed Wilson’s passing, at one point acknowledging: “I do feel his presence,” while accepting the award.
While Wilson was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000, Love’s recognition came last night, 25 years after his bandmate was bestowed the title. Stepping up to accept his award, Love extended gratitude to Wilson, adding, “My first cousin by blood but brother in music, together we set the stage for some of the most successful music collaborations of all time,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The title was handed to him by actor-turned-musician John Stamos, a frequent collaborator of the ‘60s California pop band and known superfan, who used his speech to extend imagery of the paradise The Beach Boys created for their fans: “He made the whole world want to be us: sun-kissed, carefree, full of promise.”
Touching on the power of Love’s lines, he co-wrote “Good Vibrations” and “California Girls.” Stamos extended: “His lyrics were cinematic. What’s a song without a hook? What’s a hook without a picture in your head or a memory in your heart? Mike Love knows how to write that song.” Love followed by putting his skills on display and performing the aforementioned and defining “California Girls,” as well as “I Get Around,” ‘Kokomo,” and “Good Vibrations.”
Love was one of the many honored during the course of the night. Also receiving the distinct honor were Parliament Funkadelic’s George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, and other lauded writers. During Clinton’s distinction, he stepped on stage to “We Want the Funk,” donning a Sly and the Family Stone shirt–in honor of the musician who passed away on June 9.
Clinton acknowledged his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction while speaking on the specialty of last night’s honor: “This one hits different, this comes from people who truly know what it means to be a songwriter.” He followed with a lively performance of Parliament’s “(I Wanna) Testify.”
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