The Society Of Singers honored The Beach Boys' Mike Love at the 21st Ella Awards

Mike Love accepts the ELLA award at The Society of Singers' 21st ELLA Awards on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014 in Beverly Hills, Calif. The event honored Mike Love, lead singer and co-founder of The Beach Boys, producer Nigel Lythgoe, and and backup singers The Waters Family. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for The Society of Singers/AP Images)

The Society Of Singers honored The Beach Boys original member Mike Love at the 21st Ella Awards on February 20th, 2014.  John Stamos performed and served as the emcee during the gala which benefits the Society Of Singers.  Emmy ® Award-winning producer, Nigel Lythgoe (So You Think You Can Dance) was honored with the Leadership Award and legendary backup singers, The Waters Family received The Voice Of The Industry Award at the event.

Love is recognized as one of the distinctive vocalists in rock & roll history with over 50 years history leading Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame members, The Beach Boys.  He co-wrote many of the band''s signature tunes and his lead vocals can be heard on songs like "Fun, Fun, Fun", "Good Vibrations", "California Girls", "Do It Again", "Little Deuce Coupe", "Kokomo", "Surfin' USA" and many more.  The Beach Boys, alongside The Beatles and Michael Jackson, are the only artists to have produced 12 Top 10 hits in a 5 year span.

The event featured many one-of-a-kind performances with a wide range of performers including Bill Medley (Righteous Brothers), Micky Dolenz (The Monkees), Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean), California Saga (children of Beach Boys members), David Lee Roth (Van Halen) and many more.  Here is the full list of performances:

The Blossoms: “He’s a Rebel”
American Idol’s Jessica Sanchez: “I Will Always Love You”
Wayne Brady: “A Change is Going To Come”
Becky Baeling-Lythgoe & The Beach Boys: “To Sir with Love”
Righteous Brother Bill Medley, Jeff Foskett and The Beach Boys: “Lovin’ Feelin’”
America and The Beach Boys: “Surfin USA”
Micky Dolenz and The Beach Boys: “Wild Honey”
Dean Torrence, David Marks and The Beach Boys: “Little Deuce Coupe”
David Marks and The Beach Boys: “409”
California Saga: “Anna Lee” and “Darlin”
Rita Wilson and The Beach Boys: “Warmth of the Sun”
Christopher Cross: “All This is That”
Lucy Lawless, Mike Love and The Beach Boys: “Wouldn’t it be Nice”
Mike Love and The Waters Family: “Unleash the Love”
Al Jardine and The Beach Boys: “Help Me Rhonda”
The Beach Boys: “Good Vibrations”
Dave Koz, Mike Love and The Beach Boys: “Kokomo”
David Lee Roth and Mike Love: “California Girls”
All of the Evenings Performers join Mike Love and The Beach Boys for: “Fun, Fun, Fun”

Society of Singers is a nonprofit charity with a mission to preserve and maintain the personal dignity and quality of life of professional singers, nationwide, by providing emergency financial assistance, plus a wide range of resources and opportunities to those who qualify in order to conserve their livelihood and continue with their craft.  For more information, visit www.singers.org.

Mike Love, right, Jacquelyne Love, center, and

John Stamos pose together at The Society Of Singers’

21^st Ella Awards

(Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for

The Society Of Singers/AP Images)

From left, Chrisopther Cross, Mike Love, Dean 

Torrence, and Bruce Johnston pose together 

at The Society of Singers' 21st ELLA Awards 

(Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for 

The Society of Singers/AP Images)

California Saga performs at The Society 
of Singers' 21st ELLA Awards. 

 (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for
The Society of Singers/AP Images)

Dewey Bunnell, left, and Gerry Beckley, of the

band America, perform at The Society of Singers' 

21st ELLA Awards.

 (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for 
The Society of Singers/AP Images)

From left, Bruce Johnston, David Marks, Mike 
Love, and Al Jardine, of The Beach Boys, 

pose together at The Society of Singers' 

21st ELLA Awards. 

(Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for 

The Society of Singers/AP Images)

David Lee Roth, left, and Mike Love 
perform at The Society of Singers' 
21st ELLA Awards. 

(Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for 

The Society of Singers/AP Images)

Mike Love, left, Bruce Johnston, right, and 
Al Jardine perform at The Society 

of Singers' 21st ELLA Awards. 

(Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for 

The Society of Singers/AP Images)

Micky Dolenz, of The Monkees, performs at 
The Society of Singers' 21st ELLA Awards. 

(Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision for
The Society of Singers/AP Images)

JD McPherson- "Abigail Blue" live at Sun Studio Sessions

Check out JD McPherson on Sun Studio Sessions doing "Abigail Blue".  It originally appeared on the Starkweather Boys album with JD and then as a B-side to a 45 Rounder released of "North Side Gal".

Rhapsody In Black: The Life And Music Of Roy Orbison

Author and musician John Kruth gives us an honest and detailed look at one of the most recognizable and unique voices to ever step behind a microphone, Roy Orbison.  Whether you are a beginning fan or someone that followed his career closely, you'll most likely be mesmerized by his story.  You'll read of his early days in Wink, TX, his fellow Lambda Chi Alpha frat brothers that wrote "Ooby Dooby", the tragedy of both his first wife Claudette and his sons, his road to a comeback, untimely death and the respect level that his peers had and still have for him today.  Kruth conducts more than 20 interviews with those that worked closely with Roy including people like the recently deceased Cowboy Jack Clement, Fred Foster, Bobby Goldsboro, Bonnie Raitt and many more.  We've all heard of books that you supposedly can't put down, but this one really fits that description.  Keep a pen and paper handy to look up certain songs to reference later that are described in much detail throughout the book!

Bill Haley died this day in 1981

Bill Haley passed away this day in 1981.  Haley was one of the first Rock & Roll musicians.  Haley and his band The Comets enjoyed huge early success with songs like "Rock Around The Clock", "Shake, Rattle & Roll", "See You Later, Alligator" and many more.  Enjoy some of his best-

"Rock Around The Clock" (w/ intro by Dick Clark)

"Razzle Dazzle"

"Shake, Rattle & Roll"

"See You Later, Aligator"

The Day The Music Was Born

February 3rd, 1959 is often referred to as "the day the music died" thanks mainly to the popular Don McLean tune "American Pie".  He was singing about the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson).  Dion DiMucci was part of this tour with The Belmonts (as seen in the poster above) and had decided to give up his seat on the plane to take the bus to the next gig.  Interestingly, he says "the day the music died" doesn't define that day for him.  He refers to it as "the day the music was born".  The legacy those 3 left inspired people from all over to continue developing their craft.  Read more of his interview HERE.

Enjoy some select tunes from Buddy, Ritchie and Bopper as we remember the day the music was born:

Buddy Holly- "Peggy Sue"

Buddy Holly- "Oh Boy"

Ritchie Valens- "La Bamba"

Ritchie Valens- "Ooh My Head"

Big Bopper- "Chantilly Lace"

Big Bopper- "White Lightning"