June 9 – Unlike the George Lucas tribute (see below), some bright young lights paid respect to those who’ve paid their dues at the Songwriters Hall of Fame awards in New York. Smokey Robinson, Isaac Hayes, Bill Withers, John Fogerty and guitar legend Les Paul were among this year’s honorees. One Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Cropper, may not be a household name, but some of his songs are: “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” and “Knock on Wood”, for example.

The annual bash always draws a slew of music legends, but this year some up and comers in the business – Alicia Keys, Rob Thomas, Faith Evans and Ryan Cabrera and his Svengali, Joe Simpson - joined the festivities.

Meanwhile, on the same evening in West Hollywood, young musicians were the story at the House of Blues Spring benefit concert, where the Goo Goo Dolls, Dwight Yoakam, Josh Groban, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley and Angelina Jolie castoff Billy Bob Thornton raised funds for the American Society of Young Musicians.