Hattiesburg, Miss., and spent a chunk of his youth in Lake Charles, La., struck up a friendship with McDermott over their shared love of the music of 19 th century composer Louis Gottschalk, a forebear of ragtime composer-performer Scott Joplin.

Join two L.A. music legends from different generations as they pool their talents for a special concert, backed by a chamber orchestra led by concert master Peter Kent. Van Dyke Parks is known for his work with the Beach Boys, U2, the Grateful Dead, Ringo Starr and the Byrds. Inara George is the lilting voice behind the indie-rock duo the Bird and the Bee. Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood. 7:30 p.m. Sat. Admission free with advance reservations. (310) 440-7300. http://www.getty.edu.

Inara George with Van Dyke Parks "An Invitation"get called experimental, because her music sounds so sweet. Yet she is a risk-taker -- just one whose voice is clear and accessible. In the past few years, the 34-year-old L.A.

Re "At Last, a 'Smile' for the Ages," by Randy Lewis [Sept. 27]: "Smile" is bloody brilliant! Poured myself a nice stiff drink, read the booklet and then put on the headphones, turned out the lights and listened to it from beginning to end. As many times as I've heard all the old bits and pieces, it sounded fresh from the first note -- then I found myself alternately laughing and crying (and I do mean that literally) at the sheer beauty and bravado of it all. The segues are simply amazing, and the musicality of it all