Given his massive contributions to the music industry, Clive Davis is not only a top name but also the man behind stars like Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Aerosmith, and even Whitney Houston. Outside of the studio, he also fashioned the famous Pre-Grammy Gala. Although once held to celebrate Barry Manilow, the gala took on a life of its own and continued for 50 years. And during the gala this year, Post Malone took a moment to celebrate not his accomplishments but those continuing to fight the wildfires ripping through Los Angeles.
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Taking the stage at the gala, Malone offered those in attendance a special performance of “Sunflower.” The singer joked with the crowd, calling the hit “my only good song.” He also took time to celebrate Universal Music Publishing Group CEO Jody Gerson, who signed him. But not forgetting about the wildfires and the devastation in Los Angeles, the singer focused on those brave enough to face the flames. “Please take care of the people out there kicking ass on the frontlines.”
While Malone celebrated the first responders, the night featured more than just a performance from the singer. Legendary performer Joni Mitchell,, who is considered one of the greatest songwriters ever by Rolling Stone, also took the stage. With Mitchell holding such respect in the industry, the room fell silent as she performed hit songs “Summertime” and “Both Sides Now.”
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Post Malone Not The Only One Focusing On Los Angeles Fires
Even before Malone highlighted the workers, the gala moved to help raise funds for MusiCares. Speaking about the ongoing tragedy, Davis said, “We must acknowledge the pain, the loss and the devastation of the wildfires that befell Los Angeles earlier this month. The Recording Academy and I decided to transform this evening, along with tomorrow’s Grammy Awards telecast, into a fundraiser for MusiCares.”
During the gala, attendees were asked to make a $500 contribution to the MusiCares Fire Relief Fund. As for Davis, he admitted to making a donation that climbed into six figures. The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. also spoke about the importance of giving back, explaining, “We’re facing a long road ahead. When the fires started, there were actually a lot of questions about whether the Grammys should even go on. After consulting the state and city leaders, we decided to move forward. It was not an easy decision, but we knew we could use this platform to raise awareness, support first responders and celebrate the resilience of this community.”
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for TSX Entertainment)
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