A Starry Night To Honor Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa With The Grammy Foundation Leadership Award

SANTA MONICA, CA (The GRAMMY Foundation) - The GRAMMY Foundation today announced that it will host A Starry Night - an intimate benefit concert and dinner - at Villa Casablanca, a private Malibu estate, on Saturday, July 22, 2006. The special fundraiser will honor Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with the GRAMMY Foundation Leadership Award. The honor recognizes the mayor's commitment and dedication to improving the lives of countless numbers of at-risk youth by providing high quality after-school programs and experiences.

The evening will feature performances by multi-GRAMMY Award-winning producer and GRAMMY Foundation Board member David Foster along with multi-Latin GRAMMY Award nominee and GRAMMY Award winner Pepe Aguilar, British singer/songwriter Natasha Bedingfield, GRAMMY Award nominee Eric Benet, singer/songwriter/pianist Peter Cincotti, multi-GRAMMY Award winner Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, GRAMMY Award nominee Josh Groban, singer Renee Olstead, and multi-GRAMMY Award winners Dionne Warwick and BeBe Winans. In addition, students from the 2006 GRAMMY CampSM and former members of the Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles will perform. Other special guests and performers will be announced.

"Antonio Villaraigosa is known as a tireless and dynamic leader, renowned for his exceptional skills at building broad bi-partisan coalitions," said The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation President Neil Portnow. "As the mayor of our great city, he continues to support activities that motivate, educate and engage the youth of Los Angeles in positive ways. This evening's festivities and the presentation of our Leadership Award provide an opportunity to celebrate the mayor's achievements and reflect on the GRAMMY Foundation's strong and ongoing commitment to foster future generations of music professionals."

Tickets for A Starry Night range from sponsor tables at three levels with varying benefits - Celestial ($17,500), Benefactor ($12,500) and Patron ($7,500) - to individual tickets priced at $1,750, $1,250 and $750. For tickets and information, contact Kelly Darr or Taworia Davis at the GRAMMY Foundation: 310.392.3777, [email protected], [email protected]. Sponsors of A Starry Night include Classic Wines of California, Jewels and Pinstripes and to the maxx productions.