The 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards welcomed its newest members at its annual event in New York City on the night of June 12. This year’s inductees include Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers, funk pioneer George Clinton, country songwriter Ashely Gorley, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and British songwriter Tony Macaulay.
“It’s feel-good music, it’s undeniable Doobies, and some of the greatest songwriting ever,” Garth Brooks said in his surprise appearance to pay tribute and induct Simmons, Johnston and McDonald.
Brooks performed a medley of “China Grove” and “Long Train Runnin.’” “You remember exactly where you were the first time you heard the Doobie Brothers. I was the last of six kids and we had an eight-track tape. Our father, a Marine Corps Korean War veteran, wouldn’t let us listen to it simply because of the name Doobie Brothers. We had to listen to it in secret!”
Brooks addressed the band’s change in sound when vocalist Michael McDonald joined the band in 1975, replacing vocalist/guitarist Tom Johnston. It’s a potential for alienating fans, he said, but “when two unstoppable forces hit, the only place they have to go is up. And that’s what happened with the Doobie Brothers.”
Guitarist/vocalist Tom Johnston recognized the joy that his craft brings to people. “Songwriting is a way to express what’s going on inside you and telling the people about it. But at the same time, if people like what you write, then you can bring them up. And that’s what touring is all about. You get on the road, get people singing along to your songs. We all feel a responsibility to lift people up and that’s important, especially right now.
“Music is a gift. And I have been very lucky to have it in my life.”
Patrick Simmons acknowledged the importance of record producer Ted Templeman (Van Halen, Little Feat, Van Morrison). “He’s responsible for so much success in our career. Ted gave us the opportunity as songwriters to express ourselves and really listened to us as we made our way into the music business. Ted was hugely responsible for some of the songs that I wrote that connected with our audience. He gave me so much hope in my life as a songwriter.”
For their performance, Simmons plucked a few chime-y harmonics on his Collings acoustic guitar before launching into the classic double-drop D intro to their 1974 hit “Black Water.”
McDonald then took over lead vocals for a powerful, groove-filled performance of “Takin’ It to the Streets.” The band’s early signature sound — a two-guitar attack featuring Johnston’s crunchy, percussive rhythm combined with Simmon’s laid-back fingerstyle picking — took center stage on “Listen to the Music,” the band’s first hit and lead track from 1972’s Toulouse Street.
Living Colour kicked off the festivities by going deep into George Clinton’s extensive and oft-sampled catalog, with an extended spacey jam of Funkadelic’s 1973 track “Cosmic Slop.” Guitarist Vernon Reid, wielding his signature Reverend electric guitar, shredded over bassist Doug Wimbish’s steady, repeating bass line.
Sporting a bright purple Sly and the Family Stone T-shirt in tribute of the artists’ recent passing, Clinton joined the house band, featuring guitarist Erick Walls, bassist James Genus and musical director Rob Mathes, for a solid rendition of “(I Wanna) Testify,” his 1967 hit with his group the Parliaments.
Beach Boys co-founder Mike Love commented on the recent passing of his partner Brian Wilson.
“I especially wish to thank my cousin Brian Wilson. 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 then took to the stage, joining current Beach Boys guitarists Christian Love, John Wedemeyer, Brian Eichenberger and John Stamos. The band faithfully recreated the classic guitar and bass riffs that anchor “California Girls,” “I Get Around” and “Good Vibrations.”
The red-carpet artist interviews prior to the evening’s festivities always prove to be insightful check-ins with artists for their thoughts on the event and current activities.
Living Colour bassist Doug Wimbish discussed the heavy influence George Clinton had on his musical career.
“I’m an old Hendrix head,” Wimbish said, “so when he passed, George Clinton came to save the day in1970 with ‘Mommy, What’s a Funkadelic?’
“From that point in time, it was like the gods were just blessing me with more light. I started to embrace his music from 1970. I was fortunate to write with George, ‘Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends,’ together with Thomas Dolby. And Sugarhill Gang. He was the first person to bring hip-hop out on the road. Very important and a key person in this game”
John Oates, a 2004 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, discussed his upcoming self-titled album set for release August 29. The record marks a return to his soul sound, after several acclaimed Americana-based releases which highlighted Oates’ fingerpicked country blues acoustic playing.
“I’ve been doing this acoustic singer/songwriter show for the past three years and it’s been great. I did a whole tour with Guthrie Trapp, and it was wonderful. It’s a part of me.
“But I just started writing songs and I just wanted to jack it up a little bit energy-wise. I started listening to bands like [pop-soul group] Lawrence, who I collaborated with on this new record. I loved what they were doing, and I wanted to get back to this groove-oriented stuff. I pulled together songs and it just seemed to be where I was feeling it. I pulled out my ’58 Strat and just started playing.”
Nile Rodgers, Chic guitarist and SHOF chairman, served as the evening’s host. The event also recognized singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams as the 2025 recipient of the Hal David Starlight Award, and Broadway and film composer Stephen Schwartz with the 2025 recipient of the esteemed Johnny Mercer Award.
