Santa Monica, CA (Top40 Charts/ Recording Academy) Clive Davis and The Recording Academy will continue the tradition of the annual Pre-GRAMMY Gala, and this year's event will take place onSaturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., the evening before the53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards (www.grammy.com). This exclusive, star-studded celebration will feature special musical performances and is attended by artists and industry VIPs in music, film and television. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys.
As part of the evening's celebration, the 2011 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons will honor Geffen Records founder and DreamWorks SKG co-founder David Geffen. The Recording Academy will present Geffen with the President's Merit Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the music industry and the impact his efforts have had on music and the business of music. Past recipients of the GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons President's Merit Award includeHerb Alpert and Jerry Moss, Clive Davis, Ahmet Ertegun, Berry Gordy, Doug Morris, and Mo Ostin.
"It is a true pleasure to again partner with the legendary Clive Davis to present our Pre-GRAMMY Gala, a memorable evening of special musical moments and camaraderie," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "This year, we are especially pleased and proud to honor David Geffen, a unique and pioneering entrepreneur in music, stage, and film who has had a profound impact on our culture, on the entertainment industry, and whose notable philanthropy has positively affected the lives of so many through his charitable acts."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Geffen began his career in the mailroom at William Morris Agency, where he worked his way up as an agent for top talents. He launched his first record label, Asylum, in 1971 signing such artists as Jackson Browne, the Eagles, and Joni Mitchell. In 1980, he formed Geffen Records, building a roster that included Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, Elton John,John Lennon and Yoko Ono. During this time he began Geffen Pictures, which would produce such films as Beetlejuice, Little Shop of Horrors, and Risky Business. After selling Geffen Records to MCA in 1990, Geffen remained Chairman/CEO and inaugurated another label, DGC, which launched successful acts such as Beck, Counting Crows, Nirvana, and Sonic Youth.
In 1994, Geffen parlayed his creative vision into a bigger venture by co-founding DreamWorks SKG, the first new studio to be formed in 50 years, with partners Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg. He helped shepherd the launch of DreamWorks Animation which would create the successful Shrek films, among many others. He financed Broadway productions of "Cats" and "Dreamgirls," a project he would later make into a motion picture through DreamWorks. He brokered the sale of DreamWorks Pictures and its catalogue to Paramount Pictures in 2006. In 2009 along with Spielberg, he secured private funding to once again make DreamWorks a private company before retiring from the entertainment industry.
Passionate about many causes, Geffen is a philanthropist who has made many charitable donations to a diverse array of organizations. In 2002, he made a $200 million donation to the UCLA School of Medicine, as well as gifts to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Save the Children. As an industry leader in the fight against AIDS, he has contributed to AIDS Project Los Angeles, amfAR, Project Angel Food, and more. A prolific supporter of the arts, he is a lead benefactor of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles and has made generous donations to the Museum of Contemporary Art, National Public Radio, andUSC School of Cinema-Television, among others.
The Pre-GRAMMY Gala is part of the GRAMMY Week series of events, culminating with Music's Biggest Night. The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live in high-definition TV and 5.1 surround sound on CBS from 8 - 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT).
Clive Davis began his career at Columbia Records where he was appointed president in 1967 and signed such legendary rock artists as Janis Joplin, Santana, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Chicago, Loggins & Messina, and Earth, Wind & Fire. In 1974, Davis went on to co-found Arista Records and signed Barry Manilow, Patti Smith and Whitney Houstonand developed the careers of The Grateful Dead, Eurythmics, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin and Carly Simon among the diverse roster under his leadership. His business ventures include forming LaFace Records in 1989 with Babyface and L.A. Reid, and creating Bad Boy Records in 1994 with Sean "Diddy" Combs. In 2000, J Records was born (in partnership with BMG) and emerged as a dominant force, releasing the works of Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross and Maroon 5. Davis was then appointed Chairman/CEO of BMG U.S. Label Group in which he oversaw an expanded RCA Music Group including J Records, RCA Records, and Arista Records. After BMG and Sony Music merged in 2008, Davis was appointed Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music Worldwide.
Established in 1957, 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 preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music - The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, a Facebook fan atwww.facebook.com/thegrammys, and a YouTube channel subscriber at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.
