Miami Beach, FL (Top40 Charts/ Elliott Stares) The most exclusive invitation-only event during this year's Art Basel Miami Beach turned in to an award-winning bombshell on Friday night, when one hundred of the music industry's closest contemporaries were taken by complete surprise by one today's leading music icons during a private dinner party at Vic & Angelo's in South Beach.
Half way through devouring mammoth sized dishes of 11oz kobe meatballs, one hundred of the closest friends of acclaimed songwriter and music producer, Rico Love, stopped to listen while one of the co-hosts of the evening stood up on his chair to address the party as the music stopped.
"I have something very special to give Rico tonight, and I'm glad you're all here to share it with me."
With a large sized black leather bag on the table in front of him, and with a starry-eyed
Rico Love sitting alongside, legendary pop icon, Usher, unzipped the bag and reached in. In front of an audience of dozens of astonished onlookers, the king of urban pop touchingly presented his last Grammy award to his good friend and mentor.
"This is one of many, but I just wanted to say how my successes are your successes. Without him, I wouldn't have completed this journey, so I wanted to present this to you as a good friend." The crowd cheered in delight.
"This category of Best Male R&B Artist no longer exists, so I wanted to give you something memorable from my personal collection."
A whole host of well-known personalities came out in force to celebrate the 29th birthday of
Rico Love at the newly opened Vic & Angelo's Coal Oven Enoteca that was attended by a who's who list from the sports and entertainment world. Lining up on the red carpet inside the patio of the restaurant were: co-host and R&B legend Mary J. Blige, actress
Gabrielle Union, R&B singer-songwriter and actress Deborah Cox, Miami HEAT kingpin Chris Bosh, Miami HEAT NBA All-star Juwan Howard, emerging Hip Hop artist Yelawolf, E! News correspondent and DJ for the night Clinton Sparks, Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis, Singer-songwriter Teairra Marí, A&R legend Sylvia Rhone and local philanthropist Tracy Mourning.
Following the main course, servers treated guests on each table to Tiramisu, ice cream and a Vic & Angelo's specialty, the giant cotton candy tree served with a raging sparkler - a popular talking point on Rico Love's table. Following dessert, Rico Love,
Usher and
Mary J. Blige gathered around the three-tower chocolate birthday cake as the giant sparklers were lit.
"I want to thank you all for being here with me on this special day," said Love. "I wouldn't have made it this far without each and every one of you."
