Bee Gees to receive music industry honor in L.A

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Bee Gees will receive a lifetime achievement award from a music industry group in Beverly Hills in May, organizers said on Monday.

The pop legends will be presented with the Icon Award during performing rights group BMI's 55th annual pop music awards on May 15 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

A BMI spokeswoman said it was unclear if surviving brothers Barry and Robin Gibb would perform at the invite-only, black-tie event. They have sung together only twice since Robin's twin Maurice died suddenly of a heart ailment in 2003 -- at charity events last year in Florida and London

Last year's honoree,

Ray Davies of the Kinks, did not play. But previous recipients, such as

Paul Simon,

Merle Haggard and Carlos Santana, did. Either way, the events include performances of the honorees' tunes by other artists.

The awards dinner honors the BMI-represented writers and publishers of the year's most-performed compositions. Rival group ASCAP will honor

Melissa Etheridge at its annual event in Hollywood on April 18.

Reuters