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February 9, 2008
MusiCares Honors Aretha Franklin as its 2008 Person Of The Year
GRAMMY.com
Chuck Crisafulli
Music royalty was celebrated with appropriate pomp on Friday night at the Los Angeles Convention Center when Aretha Franklin — the Queen of Soul — was honored as the 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year. The award acknowledged Ms. Franklin's extraordinary music career (including 17 GRAMMY wins) and her deep commitment to a wide variety of philanthropic organizations. Candles, white roses and black linen tablecloths turned the convention center into an appropriately majestic dining room for the evening, and the capacity crowd in attendance included such industry luminaries as Clive Davis, Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole and Bill Cosby.
The most appropriate way to pay tribute to the Queen, however, was through music and the evening's star-studded performances were kicked off by BeBe and CeCe Winans, who brought a slow, gospel groove to Carole King's "You've Got A Friend," which the pair recorded with Franklin for the Tapestry Revisited album. GRAMMY Best New Artist nominee Ledisi kicked things into an up-tempo groove with a funky version of "Rock Steady"; after a brief film clip of Franklin's appearance from the original The Blues Brothers movie, the brothers themselves (actors Dan Akyroyd and Jim Belushi) turned up with GRAMMY-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz to help the house band power through "Think."
In a tribute to Franklin's memorable pinch-hitting GRAMMY performance of "Nessun Dorma," GRAMMY-nominated pianist Lang Lang took to the stage's grand piano and delivered a stirring and characteristically exuberant improvisation.
The youngest performer of the night, 11-year-old Jamia Simone Nash, showed how enduring Ms. Franklin's influence remains. The young singer belted out, in true poised diva fashion, "Raise It Up," from the film August Rush. Fantasia of "American Idol" fame, raised the temperature in the room with a scorching "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man," and Anthony Hamilton brought a soulful, modern R&B feel to "Can't Let Go."
Song Of The Year nominee Corinne Bailey Rae gave one of the most emotionally stirring performances of the night, sitting center stage with an acoustic guitar to sing a version of Franklin's "Angel" that began with quiet tenderness and ended with full-throated longing. Hip-hop artist Lil' Mama took the evening's bold step in updating one of Franklin's signature tunes, "Respect," into a fiercely delivered rap.
The star-power was then tripled with a transcendent, jazzy performance of "I Say A Little Prayer" featuring Patti Austin providing vocals, Herbie Hancock playing piano, and Roy Hargrove on flugelhorn. GRAMMY-nominated Trin-I-Tee 5:7 brought some funky punch to a medley of "Spanish Harlem" and "Until You Come Back to Me," and John Legend added his consummately smooth piano and vocal stylings to the Franklin hit "Daydreaming."
The guest-star portion of the concert came to a rousing close when longtime Franklin friend Shirley Caesar took the stage and, with the aid of a full gospel choir, brought the crowd to its feet with a glorious, high-energy performance of "Sweeping Through the City."
After a short film of Franklin's career highlights, the Queen herself took the stage. Looking resplendent a in full, floor-length gown, she apologized that her voice was a little weary from recent travels, but said "With what little voice I have left, I'll try to sing a few songs for you." Her voice was, in fact, well up to its royal reputation, as she launched into a thrilling, masterfully soulful "Chain of Fools." She soared to further heights on the gospel classic "One Night With The King," and moved to the piano to treat the audience to one of her new song's, "How Long I've Been Waiting," that will appear on her forthcoming Aretha: A Woman Falling Out of Love album. Her son Eddie then joined her onstage to sing another gospel classic, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow."
Finally, after a heartfelt thanks for the night of honors, Franklin took the audience to church one more time with the roof-raising, triumphant "Old Landmark." Without question, it was a night fit for a Queen of Soul.
A fundraising silent auction preceded the gala dinner, and the night's entertainment began with a live auction of such big-ticket items as a cruise down the Nile, a VIP trip to the Indy 500, a saxophone signed by Bill Clinton, a pink Cadillac signed by Franklin, and the Tiffany diamond necklace the Queen was actually wearing on this night. Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow would later announce the evening's fund drive had set a new record in raising $4.5 million to support MusiCares' ongoing mission of providing all manner of assistance to musicians in need. | |