via BMI
The Council of State Restaurant Associations wrapped up it’s 2024 conference at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland where BMI songwriter and Rock Hall inductee John Sebastian of The Lovin’ Spoonful regaled the audiences with the stores behind some of the 60’s band’s biggest hits as well as the iconic theme to the television show “Welcome Back Kotter” that he both composed and recorded. The Lovin’ Spoonful’s first 7 singles made it into the top 10 of pop radio and cemented the group’s hall of fame status. After the band broke up in 1969, Sebastian went solo and was best known for his legendary and impromptu performance at Woodstock where he performed for more than 400,000 fans and cemented his status as a true rock star. Sebastian shared his stories and songs with BMI’s Dan Spears, who concluded their “fireside chat” by presenting him with multiple BMI Million Air awards for some of the prolific songwriter’s biggest hits including: “Do You Believe in Magic,” “Daydream,” “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice,” “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind,” “Summer in the City” and “Welcome Back Kotter.” The CSRA promotes the success of state restaurant associations and their members and their annual conferences attract executives with hospitality associations from across the country.