ROCK 'N' ROLL ICONS FETED AT BMI SHOW.

Byline: Sandra Barrera Staff Writer

ROCK 'N' ROLL pioneers Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley were honored for their lifetime contributions to music, while an all-star lineup played a rollicking tribute Tuesday at the BMI Pop Awards.

The black-tie dinner and awards ceremony at the Regent Beverly Wilshire, now in its 50th year, recognized songwriters and publishers of the most-performed songs of 2001. Topping the list of recipients was Brad Arnold, frontman of the alt-rock band 3 Doors Down, who accepted the prestigious BMI Songwriter of the Year Award for ``Kryptonite.''

Another big winner was Universal Music Publishing, which took home the BMI Publisher of the Year Award. Many people in the music industry were on hand to support all the winners.

Attendees included actress and singer Connie Stevens, ZZ Top's bearded Billy Gibbons, country singer Lee Ann Womack, producer and composer David Foster, identical twin singers Evan & Jaron and the excessively tattooed, pierced members of Crazy Town. But the musicians who drew the biggest response were clearly the BMI Icon Award recipients - Berry, Diddley and Richard - who were treated to a tribute from some of the artists their music has touched.

George Thorogood opened with his blues-soaked renditions of Diddley's hits such as ``Who Do You Love'' and ``Bo Diddley/I'm a Man,'' while the piano-playing Ivan Neville, son of Aaron Neville, conjured the rambunctiousness of Little Richard's ``Good Golly, Miss Molly,'' ``Keep- a-Knockin' '' and ``Rip It Up.''

Blues guitarist Jonny Lang honored Berry with a passionate performance of ``Maybellene,'' and gospel singer Mavis Staples finished off the tribute with her rich contralto on Berry's ``Rock & Roll Music'' and ``Back in the USA.''