Devendra Kumar
The evening was filled with music as the stars aligned at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. The rare sight of tennis champion Serena Williams, known for her composure and confidence, was visibly nervous as she introduced the opening act, Green Day. This was no ordinary night, as the Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award was being presented to Jon Platt, the chairman and chief executive of Sony Music Publishing. Platt’s speech was a testament to his dedication to improving the compensation of songwriters, particularly in the hip-hop and R&B genres.
As the evening progressed, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, and Stevie Wonder took the stage, leaving the audience in awe. Wonder’s opening statement, “Music is love,” set the tone for their performance, which included a singalong of Warwick’s What The World Needs Now. The trio’s chemistry and enduring talent was evident as they harmonized on The Way We Were/Try to Remember, before being joined by Warwick for That’s What Friends Are For. Wonder closed the performance with a harmonica solo, solidifying the trio’s legendary status.
Earlier, Platt accepted the 2024 Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award, using his speech to emphasize the importance of teamwork in the music industry, stating, “It always takes a village” to move the needle. The evening’s host, Clive Davis, chief creative officer of Sony, was praised by actor Tom Hanks, who described him as “the chef, in the kitchen, of the food of love of music, music, music. And he’s the host of this, the most bitchin’ party in the year.” The guest list was a veritable who’s who of music royalty, with attendees including Smokey Robinson, Meryl Streep, Babyface, Jon Bon Jovi, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, and many more.
The night featured a diverse range of musical talents, including Maluma, The Isley Brothers, and Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt. Country singer Lainey Wilson even took the stage, filling in for actor Ryan Gosling, who was originally scheduled to perform. As Davis noted, “We concentrate on the pure celebration of music,” and by the end of the night, that was evident. With its star-studded guest list and musical performances, the Grammy Salute to Industry Icons Award was truly a night to remember.