And when Townshend and Daltrey accepted Kennedy Center honors seven years later, they were surprised with a chorus made up of New York City uniformed services singing their tribute.
As a symbolic gesture to the public, the venue is marking the changeover with a free concert on Thursday that will include acts from Broadway shows ("Chicago, " "Avenue Q, " "Phantom"), plus the New York City Gay Men's Chorus, the Town Hall Broadway's Rising Stars Chorus, and others.