BMI to honor Bee Gees

In the '70s, they sang the soundtrack for the disco scene with hits including "You Should Be Dancing" and "Stayin' Alive." Now, the Bee Gees are being honored as icons at BMI's 55th annual Pop Awards.

The awards, which honor the songwriters and publishers of the past year's top songs, will be presented May 15 at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Broadcast Music Inc. announced Monday.

BMI Icons are selected for "their unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers." Past recipients include Crosby, Stills & Nash, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, James Brown, Carlos Santana and Dolly Parton.

The Bee Gees, short for the Brothers Gibb, included twins Maurice and Robin, and older brother Barry. Maurice Gibb died in January 2003 after emergency surgery for an intestinal blockage. He was 53.

Their younger brother, Andy Gibb, who had a successful solo career, died in 1988 at age 30 of a heart ailment.

The Bee Gees were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

BMI represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music.