Last night was my 4th year attending the MusiCares event, this one was honoring Paul McCartney.

[louslobbs]

Last year the honoree was Barbra Streisand and she was outstanding! As were all of the artists who

covered her tunes, some being the same artists that covered the tunes of Paul McCartney last night.


Paul McCartney was outstanding as well. These events are really enjoyable, because others in the music

industry, many famous in their own right, come together and perform songs either written by

or made famous by the honoree.


The show began with the Cirque du Soleil cast of the Beatles “Love” show in Las Vegas which

was unique and exciting. McCartney took to the stage after that with his touring band and

began his set with "Junior's Farm," a single from his Wings-era. Alison Krauss performed

"No More Lonely Nights," The Foo Fighters did an excellent version of "jet," Katy Perry sang

"Hey Jude," Norah Jones entertained with "Oh Darling," Tony Bennett did a stylized version

of "Here, There and Everywhere" to a swinging jazz tune, Neil Young handled "I Saw Her

Standing There," Alicia Keys performed a beautiful version of "Blackbird," Sergio Mendes did

"Fool On The Hill" with a Latin flair, James Taylor crooned a version of "yesterday" and

Coldplay did a really cool version of "We Can Work It Out."

I could see Paul McCartney with his wife two tables over, with McCartney standing often to

applaud the performances.


McCartney took to the stage a second time and perfomed a medley

of songs from his new "Kisses On The Bottom" album, with backing support from Krall and an

orchestra. McCartney's band then re-joined him on stage for a medley of songs from his "Band

on the Run" album concluding with songs from the Beatles' 1969 "Abbey Road."

McCartney thanked everyone and told the audience, "That's it.......go home!" jokingly. He then added,

"Thank you for coming and thank you for caring."


The audience was provided with MusiCare gift bags loaded with fun stuff, everthing from

haircare products, skin products, certificates for massage, spa and day of beauty, DVD's,

CDs, guitar pick bracelet (very cool) I'm wearing mine and loads of other fun stuff.

There was a silent auction as well, with hundreds of items of artwork, music, jewelry,

travel, food and entertainment packages.... a customized Acura that sold for $80,000 and a

Peter Max hand-painted grand piano that had belonged to Ringo Starr that sold for

$175,000.....there were plenty of 1%ers who care in attendance: hit maker Diane Warren, Yoko Ono,

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Piers Morgan and Berry Gordy et al. to name just a few.


MusiCares, run by the Recording Academy, provides financial assistance to individuals in the

music industry during times of need. Recording Academy president Neil Portnow said "the

charity served 2,700 people in 2011," the most in a single year.

He said Perry has pledged to donate a minimum of $250,000 to MusiCares from sales of a

benefit single she was moved to record after learning more about the MusiCares organization.


Tomorrow night, My husband and I will be attending the Grammy Awards at the Staples Center.......It's a

large venue, and we're sitting in a 1%er who cares, sky box. I'll let you know if I get into any political

conversations during the mingling portion before the awards show begins. and if so, what they entailed.


Thanks again, to those who gave me those wonderful hearts, I only know for sure who gave me two

because we"re friends in private as well, but just knowing you're out there caring makes me smile and fills

my heart as well.

Lou

[badhair77]

1. Thanks for your observations.

I wonder if there will be a version for TV. James Taylor's year was on PBS and it was great. I even bought the DVD.

[louslobbs]

3. Could be, there were cameras there and you are welcome badhair77

Lou

[Major Hogwash]

2. Wow, that sounds like fun.

I have a thing for Norah Jones.

[louslobbs]

4. She's very attractive and even more attractive when she performs. At the event in 2009 honoring

Neil Diamond, Jeniffer Hudson sang Diamonds "Holly Holy" and blew the audience away.......Neil also auctioned off his 1957 white Thunderbird with 50,000 original miles on it I believe it was. Thanks for the comment Major Hogwash.
Lou

[msongs]

6. here's a brief clip of her singing that...

the grammys were too chintzy to put up the whole thing lol

[louslobbs]

12. Thanks msongs for posting the video.

Lou

[GReedDiamond]

5. I get "invited" to these Grammy related events every year....

...but I can never afford even the cheap seats.

This is not meant to be snarky on you/your husband, but, I kinda wish The Academy would give its members more of a price break than they currently seem to. After all, we pay our dues, both literally and figuratively, as members of the Academy, and in the day-to-day trenches of the "music biz."

I remember, back in the early-to-mid 90s, when one "silver" level ticket price for voting members got you into the awards show, yeah, way up in the rafters, but, more importantly, you got into the official afterparty - and I think the price for that was in the $350-450 range.

Now you gotta buy two tickets to get into both...at a significantly higher price (although, to be fair, maybe not, after being adjusted to dollar value 20 years later?)

The Musicares Person of the Year event is a whole nuther story, dollar-wise on the tickets. They're raising $$$ for the organization which helps musicians with substance abuse, and health issues in general, so the tix prices are top-dollar. It's a good cause, so that is to be expected.

Lastly, I would like to plug http://www.Grammy365.com - which is democratizing the Grammy Awards selection process, and I am very happy to be a part of.

[louslobbs]

8. I happen to agree with you. The current system really is the old story, it's who you know or work

for. I've been working in live TV for going on 27 years, starting as a young production assistant and working my way up to my current postition. If I didn't know, work for or have connections to Gil Cates (may he rest in peace),Doty, or Seligman or Horvitz or Mischer or Ratner or Grazer or Gelfand et al. I wouldn't get the kind of invites I get which includes ticket comps. Each year I get my Governors Ball tickets for the after show gathering of the Academy Awards, and I'm amazed at the price listed on the ticket, $750.00 to enter the event and have dinner and rub elbows with the rich and famous. The first seats and ticket comps to any of these large events, and even some of the smaller ones, always go to those who work in the business, then to family, then to friends and so on. One of the problems has been change of venue. If you're doing you production from the Shrine Auditorium, but then you change the Venue to the Kodak, you now have fewer seats available for the live audience. Anyway, I agree with you and no snark taken.....I appreciate the Grammy365 plug as well. Also, I won't stop trying to change the system from within if and when I can.
Thanks for the comment,
Lou

[GReedDiamond]

11. Thanks Lou...I hear ya...nt

[sabrina 1]

7. Thanks, lou, great report on what sounds like a wonderful event.

It's nice to know that there are people who are helping musicians in need.

Looking forward to your report on tomorrow's event.

[louslobbs]

9. Sure Sabrina, looks like it's going to go from what should be a celebration, to a celebration w/

sadness, reflection and mourning. I'll send you a private email on Monday.
Lou

[sabrina 1]

10. Sad, yes, bitter sweet that she will be there in spirit and hopefully we will

get to hear her beautiful voice. I can only imagine that work that will have to be done to do this gratitude to those talented people who will manage to get it done.

I truly wish that rather than spending all the money spent on the failed 'war on drugs' that money had been spent on finding a cure for addiction. As I am one of those who believes it really is a desease, and one day when it is given the kind of attention and funding necessary, we will find a cure.