Legendary producer and entrepreneur feted at GRAMMY Foundation's Starry Night event in Los Angeles
GRAMMY.com
John Sutton-Smith
In a stirring, star-studded tribute to the ambassador of The Recording Academy's 50th Celebration, Quincy Jones, an array of leading lights from the worlds of music, film and television — including Robert De Niro, Gayle King, Naomi Campbell, Patti LaBelle and Kanye West — paid tribute to the esteemed producer and industry icon. The evening was in recognition of Jones' lifetime of artistic achievement and dedication to social, cultural, economic and educational issues spanning the globe.
The GRAMMY Foundation gala event was called Starry Night, and it was exactly that, as some of the biggest names in entertainment gathered for dinner and a show celebrating the extraordinary life of the man called "Q" on a hot summer's evening under a near full moon in the decked-out Strauss Stadium on the Westwood campus of the University of California Los Angeles.
"What a great man," exclaimed longtime GRAMMY producer Pierre Cossette, while producer Phil Ramone reflected, "He's the brother I always wanted."
GRAMMY Foundation and Recording Academy President Neil Portnow presented Jones with the GRAMMY Foundation's Leadership Award, saluting noteworthy humanitarians whose charitable work and contributions align with the mission of the Foundation. Portnow characterized the award as "a salute to a true musical genius and his tireless social activism." He also announced that the evening had raised a record-breaking $1 million.
In a heartfelt speech, Jones observed that "this is what happens when you survive 74 years," and paid tribute to The Academy and a long list of those he has worked with over the years, from one of his earliest colleagues, trumpeter Clark Terry, to musicians Herbie Hancock and David Foster, as well as singers Nancy Wilson and Gloria Estefan — all of whom performed during the evening — actors De Niro and Will Smith, and record executives including Berry Gordy and Clarence Avant, the latter of whom he called "my best friend on the planet."
Video tributes from former President Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Smith and U2 singer Bono acknowledged Jones' astounding range of achievements as artist, composer, producer, arranger, conductor, TV producer, record company executive, magazine founder, and multi-media entrepreneur.
Clinton praised "his dedication as a humanitarian" while Bono joked that Jones was "someone I would want to go to church with and rob a bank with." Smith waxed lyrical about "the power of the Q."
Jones is widely known for his work with indelible names such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Michael Jackson. The musical segment of the evening featured performances by a host of celebrated artists including Patti Austin and James Ingram, Estefan, Hancock, John Legend, James Moody, Kanye West and Wilson, all re-working material either written, arranged or produced by Jones.
Foundation Chairman Steve Schnur introduced the evening's proceedings, emphasizing the importance of the mission of the GRAMMY Foundation, and irrepressible former Foundation Chair David Foster emceed the evening.
The music kicked off with the Gibson/Baldwin GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble and GRAMMY Camp performers before Foster introduced the duo of Terry and Hancock on a jazzy “Billie Jean,” with Terry taking a solo, blowing two horns at the same time.
Among the other performers, singer Steve Tyrell worked Jones' inimitable arrangement of Sinatra's "Fly Me To The Moon" and Estefan, fresh off a plane from Miami and with no rehearsal, did the same with "Teach Me Tonight," dedicating it to Jones as "the ultimate teacher." Legend did a short, rousing version of "Let The Good Times Roll" then James Ingram and Patti Austin brought the dinner crowd to its feet with "How Do You Keep The Music Playing."
The show continued with moving performances by Bebe Winans ("Tomorrow [A Better You, A Better Me] "), Kanye West ("Goodlife") and newcomer Alice Smith (“Stormy Weather”). Closing the show was Patti LaBelle’s "Over The Rainbow."
Starry Night was the first official event of The Recording Academy's 50th Celebration, and proceeds from the intimate concert and dinner benefit the GRAMMY Foundation.