It was a second of bittersweet vibrations.
That was the temper when the Seaside Boys frontman Mike Love was inducted into the Songwriters Corridor of Fame on Thursday evening. The enshrinement at New York’s Marriott Marquis got here simply someday after it was confirmed that his sensible bandmate — and cousin — Brian Wilson died at 82.
Whereas receiving the distinguished honor, Love, 84, paid tribute to Wilson, with whom he co-wrote Seaside Boys classics resembling “I Get Around,” “California Girls” and “Good Vibrations.”
“I especially want to thank my cousin Brian Wilson. I believe he’s here with us,” he stated.
“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. I do feel his presence.”
Love was inducted by “Full House” actor John Stamos, who has been an honorary Seaside Boy enjoying drums and guitar with the band for 40 years.
Celebrating Love’s function in creating “the sound of a generation” within the ‘60s, Stamos saluted him as “a composer whose melodies shaped millions of dreams, including all of us in this room.”
“The man we’re honoring tonight didn’t just write songs. He painted a Technicolor tableau of the American dream, surfboards, radios, convertibles, speeches, babes, heartbreaks and harmonies,” he continued. “He made the whole world want to be us, sun-kissed, carefree, full of promise and optimism. His lyrics were cinematic, set to the soundtracks of fellow Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Brian Wilson.”
After accepting his honor “with a full heart of gratitude, love and peace,” Love was joined by Stamos for a efficiency that included the Seaside Boys hits “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” “Kokomo” and “Good Vibrations.”
It was Stamos, 61, who instructed Love that the long-troubled Wilson had died whereas they have been touring collectively to New York for the induction ceremony.
“I was with Mike, I got off the plane, and I got the text,” he solely instructed The Submit on the purple carpet. “I was like, I said, ‘Mike, your cousin passed away,’ and his face went blank.”
“And we sat in the car for two and a half hours or so … he didn’t say one word,” he continued. “And I didn’t ask him anything, ask him how he was feeling. I knew how he was feeling.”
Becoming a member of Love within the Songwriters Corridor of Fame class of 2025 have been funk legend George Clinton, who was inducted by Residing Color; Doobie Brothers Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, saluted by Garth Brooks; R&B hitmaker Rodney Jerkins (Beyoncé, Whitney Houston), enshrined by Teddy Riley; nation chart-topper Ashley Corley, initiated by Dan + Shay; and British tunesmith Tony Macaulay, feted by Debbie Gibson.
In the meantime, “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz acquired the Johnny Mercer Award, whereas “That’s So True” singer Gracie Abrams acquired the Hal David Starlight Award for younger songwriters.
