John Mellencamp ready to honor mentor

NEW YORK, June 9 (UPI) -- John Mellencamp has been chosen to induct former Creedence Clearwater Revival leader John Fogerty into the U.S. Songwriter's Hall of Fame.

The two will begin a summer tour on June 24 and Mellencamp says Fogerty has been a lifelong influence on him.

In addition to his speech at a Thursday ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York, Mellencamp is planning to perform a version of CCR's "Green River" in tribute to Fogerty.

This year's other Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees include Bill Withers, Booker T & the MGs guitarist Steve Cropper, and the teams of Isaac Hayes and David Porter and Richard and Robert Sherman.

Smokey Robinson will receive the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award and the Righteous Brothers' hit "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" gets the Towering Song Award. Alicia Keys will receive the organizations Starlight Award and guitar legend Les Paul will get the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award.