Music lovers can take a trip down memory lane with what may be considered some of the best melodies of all time in “The Songs of Our Lives”, a musical tribute to songwriters being held on Saturday, June 7, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

Prolific songwriter Charles Fox created the “Songs of Our Lives” to benefit the Fulfillment Fund. (photo courtesy of Harlan Boll)

The performance is a benefit for the Fulfillment Fund, a nonprofit organization that assists economically disadvantaged college students. The show is the brainchild of Charles Fox, a prolific songwriter and composer who has written music for more than 100 motion pictures and television shows.

Fox is known for composing the theme songs to shows like “Happy Days”, “Laverne and Shirley”, “Love Boat” and “Wonder Woman”. He also wrote popular hits such as “Killing Me Softly With His Song”, performed by Roberta Flack. Fox, who along with his wife Joan are longtime members of the Fulfillment Fund, created the show seven years ago to honor songwriters in a format that is entertaining and would raise funds for the nonprofit. He said the show gets better every year, and the upcoming 7th anniversary production will be the best yet.

“I have a lot of friends who are songwriters, and they are people who like to help other people. They feel like their lives are improved when they help other people,” Fox said. “They are thrilled to do this and help the children. It’s a wonderful organization and a wonderful opportunity to help.”

This year’s show will honor legendary songwriter Lamont Dozier, a member of the songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, and David Crosby, perhaps best known for his work with The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Dozier and his colleagues are known for writing hits in the 1960s such as “Baby Love”, “You Can’t Hurry Love”, “I Hear a Symphony”, “It’s the Same Old Song”, “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)”. He worked extensively with iconic groups such as The Supremes and The Four Tops, as well as Marvin Gaye. He continues to be a driving force in music, working with artists such as Kanye West and Solange Knowles, and currently serves as an artist-in-residence professor at the USC/Thornton School of Music.

Crosby is known for hits such as “Turn!, Turn!, Turn!”, “Eight Miles High”, “Guinnevere” and “Wooden Ships”. He continues to tour with Crosby, Stills and Nash, as well as with his own band.

Dozier and Crosby are scheduled to perform. There will also be performances of the songwriters’ work by other vocalists and groups. Fox added that it is important to recognize songwriters because they sometimes do not receive the credit they deserve.

“Within the industry, they are well-known, but it is the performer who everybody knows,” Fox said. “It’s the songs that everybody knows in our memories and our hearts. This is a songwriters concert.”

Music is a language that transcends cultures, Fox said, which is a message he hopes to convey in “The Songs of Our Lives”. This year’s show is also special because it celebrates the 50th anniversary of Holland-Dozier-Holland’s string of number one hits with “Where Did Our Love Go”, “Baby Love” and “Come See About Me”, as well as the 50th anniversary of Crosby’s forming The Byrds with Roger McGuinn and Gene Clark.

“It’s like a Motown greatest hits show, and of course, David Crosby, who everybody knows, is coming with his own band,” Fox added. “These people are giving their time to help kids, and 2,000 kids a year will benefit from this concert. It’s going to be an evening of celebration. I hope everybody has a good time.”

Tickets for “The Songs of Our Lives” begin at $150. The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. For information, call (310)201-5033, or visit www.fulfillment.org.