At Clive Davis’ and the Recording Academy’s annual pre-Grammy gala on Saturday night (Feb. 3), two-time Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks proved to be an incredibly effective hype man. The actor delivered a six-minute intro for the legendary record executive, listing more than 50 artists that Davis discovered or worked with, concluding with only slight irony that “the only reason the names Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky haven’t been mentioned is because they all died before Clive Davis graduated from Harvard [and] before he got a desk and a phone at Columbia Records.”
Davis arrived on stage at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., to thunderous applause as he pledged once again to deliver an unforgettable evening, as he has since the party started 48 years ago.
“So, this night is really so special for me and I hope for all of you,” Davis said. “I look out among you, and I see so many familiar faces. You know, the whole thing began long ago in 1976 and I really have to pinch myself that it’s going still so strong. I mean, the demand this year has just been incredible. I’m happy to say that music is alive and well and that you all see the best of the new tonight, as well as the best of those artists who inspire all of us with the truly electrifying length of their careers.”
Read Melinda Newman’s full report from the Feb. 3 event here and check out photos from the star-studded event below.
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Victoria Monét
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Green Day
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Dionne Warwick
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Maluma
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Lainey Wilson
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Keyshia Cole
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Jelly Roll
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Noah Kahan
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Public Enemy
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin The Isley Brothers
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin The War and Treaty
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Josh Groban
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Rickey Minor
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Image Credit: Sami Drasin Victoria Monét and Keyshia Cole