PHOTO: (top row): George Clinton | Patrick Simmons, Michael McDonald and Tom Johnston p/k/a The Doobie Brothers | Mike Love ; (bottom row): Ashley Gorley | Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins | Tony Macaulay
Musical icons George Clinton; Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons p/k/a The Doobie Brothers; Ashley Gorley; Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins; Mike Love; and Tony Macaulay will become the latest inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization’s 2025 Induction and Awards Gala. These legendary songwriters are credited with mega-hits such as “Atomic Dog,” “Listen to the Music,” “Last Night” “Say My Name,” “California Girls,” and “Baby Now That I’ve Found You.”
The star-studded event is slated for Thursday, June 12th at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Additional special award honorees will be announced soon.
SHOF Chairman Nile Rodgers said, “The foundation of the music industry exists because songwriters compose great songs. Without them, there is no recorded music, no concert business, no fans, or merchandising; it all starts with the song and the songwriter. We are therefore very proud that we are continually recognizing some of the culturally most important writers of all time and that this year's slate represents not just iconic songs, but also diversity and unity across genres and ethnicity. These songwriters have enriched the lives of billions of listeners the world over. It's our honor to honor them.”
Key songs in each 2025 inductees catalog include:
George Clinton
* Atomic Dog * Flash Light * (Not Just) Knee Deep * I’d Rather Be With You * Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker) *
Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons p/k/a The Doobie Brothers
* Listen to the Music * Takin' It to the Streets * Black Water * What a Fool Believes * Long Train Runnin' *
Ashley Gorley
* I Had Some Help * Last Night * You Should Probably Leave * Play It Again * You’re Gonna Miss This *
Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins
* Say My Name * The Boy Is Mine * You Rock My World * Deja Vu * Telephone *
Mike Love
* California Girls * Good Vibrations * The Warmth of the Sun * I Get Around * Fun, Fun, Fun *
Tony Macaulay
* Baby Now That I’ve Found You * Build Me Up Buttercup * Don’t Give Up on Us * (Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All * Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) *
Established in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) serves as a vital bridge between music’s past and future. In the Hall, musical pioneers are enshrined and celebrated, while the organization’s outreach to the music community grooms the next generation of troubadours. To qualify for induction, a songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.
Watch the announcement made live on CBS TV, CBS Mornings!