Wow...the first Rock 'n Rollers r honored in L.A. I can hear Little Richard now..."Good Golly Miss Molly.....Shaddup!" Gotta love 'em!


Berry, Diddley, Little Richard Honored in L.A.
Wed May 15, 8:15 AM ET
By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In a rare public reunion of three of the greatest names in rock 'n' roll, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Bo Diddley were toasted Tuesday for their "unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers."

The musical pioneers picked up inaugural BMI Icon Awards at performing rights group Broadcast Music Inc.'s 50th annual pop music awards black-tie dinner at a Beverly Hills hotel.

Rather than address the crowd, they let their timeless tunes do the work. George Thorogood, Jonny Lang, Mavis Staples and Ivan Neville took turns performing versions of such pop classics as Diddley's "I'm A Man," Richard's "Rip It Up" and Berry's "Living in the USA."

Afterwards, they took the stage to receive silver bowls inscribed, "In recognition of your unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers."

Lang, who covered Berry's first hit "Maybellene," marveled at the singer/songwriter/guitarist's poetic abilities

"He writes books. He writes short stories," he told Reuters after the performance.

But Berry, 75, prided himself on giving one-word answers when chatting with reporters beforehand.

How does it feel to be an icon, he was asked.

"Wonderful. These are one word answers!"

Are you excited about getting this award?

"Extremely."

When was the last time you and Little Richard and Bo Diddley were in the same room together?

"Never!"

But he did reveal that he was putting all his energy into writing songs for an album that he hoped to release this year via an as-yet-unspecified label. Berry released his last studio album in 1975.

Diddley, 73, separately denied that this was the first time the three had hung out together.

"Oh no, man. I'm 48 years out here with these guys, you know?" (Diddley and Berry cut an album together in 1964.)

He described them as his brothers: "We don't hug and kiss each other, but they're my buddies, you know?"

Like Berry, he is working on material in his studio, "so I can show 'em what Grandpa's doing."