Hanson and Brian McKnight are among the first wave of performers tapped for the thirty-first annual Songwriter's Hall of Fame Induction Awards and Dinner, to be held June 15 at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in New York City. The sibling trio have been tapped to perform a medley of Beach Boys songs to honor inductee Brian Wilson. McKnight will offer up covers to honor the late Curtis Mayfield.

Other performers include Aaron Neville, who will turn in a tribute to Johnny Mathis; Carole King, who takes on her pal James Taylor's songs; and J.D. Souther, who will sing the tunes of his co-writing buddies Glen Frey and Don Henley. Phoebe Snow has also been brought onboard to cover some songs by publisher Julian Aberbach.

The remainder of the lineup will be finalized in the coming weeks. James Brown, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (the Johnny Mercer Award), Neil Diamond (Lifetime Achievement Award), Gerald Marks and Seymour Simmons (Towering Song Award for "All of Me") and Jimmie Davis (Towering Song Award for "You Are My Sunshine") are among the evening's other honorees.

"We are really happy with the way the talent lineup is progressing and there is palpable excitement growing in the industry for the event this year," said Mark Krantz, co-executive producer of the event. "But be assured there are still a few surprises to be announced."

ANDREW DANSBY
(June 2, 2000)