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Monmouth University’s Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music presented its fourth annual American Music Honors on Saturday, and the latest staging of the annual musical celebration was a star-studded and collaborative affair. Springsteen himself took the stage as a presenter and performer throughout the show as the Center established from his personal archives recognized the achievements and influence of Dionne Warwick, The Doors, The Band, Dr. Dre, The E Street Band and Patti Smith. Musical interludes brought appearances from several surprise guests, who joined Steven Van Zandt’s Disciples of Soul for tributes to the honorees.

Between stirring introductions offered by the likes of Max Weinberg, Jon Landau and Jimmy Iovine, Springsteen joined the house band for several songs. The Boss first helmed a cover of The Doors’ “Light My Fire,” which he’d never performed live before, alongside the band’s drummer Jon Densmore, then welcomed Steve Earle to add lead vocals to “Roadhouse Blues” while Mickey Raphael brought a bawdy harmonica solo. After Amy Helm accepted The Band’s recognition and honored her late father Levon, she shared the lead on a powerful performance of “The Weight” with Springsteen, Earle and Darlene Love.

Springsteen naturally joined in with The E Street Band for “Thunder Road,” then inducted his old friend Patti Smith and complemented her show-closing performances of “Because the Night,” also featuring Tony Shanahan and Densmore, and a full-company finale of “People Have the Power.” Others involved in the roaring anthem that brought the 700-cap auditorium to its feet included Warwisck, who performed her own “Walk On By” and “That’s What Friends Are For” earlier; Dr. Dre, coaxed to the stage by Smith; and Flavor Flav, who hugged every person on the stage and repeatedly called “Yeah, boy!”

Watch some highlights from the American Music Honors below.