Santa Monica, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Recording Academy) - Intimate Gala Under The Stars - Presented By Gibson Foundation - To Benefit The GRAMMY Foundation:
WHO: Honoree: Quincy Jones, 27-time GRAMMY winner and the ambassador of The Recording Academy's 50th Celebration, will receive the GRAMMY Foundation's Leadership Award in recognition of a lifetime of commitment and dedication to social, cultural, economic and educational issues spanning the globe. Jones' work in the music industry has earned him a record 79 GRAMMY Award nominations, GRAMMY Awards, and the GRAMMY Legend Award in 1991. He has been a member of The Recording Academy for more than 40 years, and has written the foreword for The Academy's 50th Celebration coffee table book, which will be released in October. GRAMMY Foundation and Recording Academy President Neil Portnow will present the award to Jones at Starry Night, one of the first celebrations of The Recording Academy's 50th Anniversary milestone.
Performers: The star-studded event will feature performances by some of the most celebrated artists in the world and multi-GRAMMY Award-winning producer and GRAMMY Foundation Board member David Foster will serve as the evening's musical director. A varied and outstanding array of musical luminaries have committed to perform including multi-GRAMMY Award nominee Patti Austin, multi-GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Latin and multi-GRAMMY- winning artist Gloria Estefan, multi-GRAMMY nominee Anthony Hamilton, multi-GRAMMY- winning musician Herbie Hancock, multi-GRAMMY-winning vocalist James Ingram, R&B and multi-GRAMMY-winning songstress Patti LaBelle, multi-GRAMMY-winning soul man John Legend, multi-GRAMMY nominee Brian McKnight, multi-GRAMMY nominated legends James Moody and Clark Terry, newcomer Alice Smith, multi-GRAMMY-winning rap sensation Kanye West and multi-GRAMMY-winning artist Nancy Wilson. In addition, students from the 2007 GRAMMY Camp and members of the Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles will perform. Other special guests and performers will be announced.
Dinner Chairs and Honorary Chairs: A distinguished list of political and entertainment industry elite have agreed to lend their names in support of this event as Dinner and Honorary Chairs. Dinner Chairs include Herb Alpert, Clarence Avant, Marilyn and Alan Bergman, Clint Eastwood, Benny Medina, Jerry Moss and Mo Ostin; Honorary Chairs include Maya Angelou, Harry Belafonte, Tony Bennett, Bono, former President Bill Clinton, Robert De Niro, Jermaine Dupri, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Whoopi Goldberg, Berry Gordy, Jimmy Jam, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Sir Paul McCartney, Dick Parsons, General Colin Powell, Will Smith, Kanye West and will.i.am.
WHAT: The GRAMMY Foundation's annual signature gala Starry Night - presented by Gibson Foundation - will honor legendary composer, record producer, artist, film producer, arranger, conductor, instrumentalist, TV producer, record company executive, magazine founder, and multi-media entrepreneur Quincy Jones. This intimate dinner and concert will benefit the GRAMMY Foundation, which provides programs that foster future generations of music professionals and helps preserve our nation's musical heritage. Tickets range from sponsor tables at three levels with varying benefits - Celestial ($25,000), Constellation ($17,500), Polaris ($12,500) and Twlight ($7,500) - to individual tickets priced at $2,500, $1,750, $1,250 and $750. For tickets and information, contact Dana Tomarken or Kelly Darr at 310.392.3777, [email protected], [email protected]. Other sponsors include Borders, Heineken, Patron, Rodnik Vodka, Tommy Bahama Rum, Classic Wines of California, Empire CLS, Icelandic Glacier and Madison & Mulholland.
WHERE: University of California Los Angeles
Straus Stadium
Los Angeles, Calif.
WHEN: Saturday, July 28, 2007
5:15 p.m. Media check-in
6 p.m. VIP arrivals begin
8 p.m. Dinner
9 p.m. Award presentation and concert
MEDIA R.S.V.P. MANDATORY: [email protected] or 310.581.8790 (e-mail preferred)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If you are interested in covering this event, you MUST request credentials no later than Tuesday, July 24, 2007. Credentials will be picked up at media check-in on the day of the event. All crews must be self-contained, ENG crews. All satellite truck/van parking must be coordinated with Christina Cassidy no later than Tuesday, July 24, 2007. ALL MEDIA MUST BE CREDENTIALED for this event.
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture - from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with The Recording Academy to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyfoundation.com.
Established in 1957, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., also known as The Recording Academy, is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards, The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs - including the creation of the national public education campaign What's The Download (www.WhatsTheDownload.com). For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.
Gibson Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Gibson Guitar Corp., the world's premiere musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology. The mission of Gibson Foundation is to make the world a better place for children by creating, developing and supporting programs and other nonprofit organizations in their efforts to advance education, music and the arts, the environment and health and welfare causes. For more information, please visit www.gibsonfoundation.org.
