tribute to Billy article
Jim Cuff
this thing last night.........I would kill to be able to hear this
show.......
Recording Academy News - February 26, 2002
GRAMMY Fest: Serenading The Piano Man
Billy Joel is celebrated as the 2002 MusiCares Person Of The Year
GRAMMY.com
As always, the annual MusiCares Person Of The Year celebration was an
informal living room performance by some of music's biggest stars.
On Monday night, Feb. 25 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, honoree
Billy Joel - who has taken an almost decade-long break from writing and
recording pop music - was treated to a dozen renditions of his own songs by
artists who ranged from Garth Brooks and Don Henley to current Best New
Artist nominee Nelly Furtado.
The effect served to remind Joel himself of the power of his own music, as
he casually mentioned, to large applause, a possible return to writing rock.
Most of Joel's musical time over the last 10 years has been spent writing
what he calls "piano pieces," which have been released in an album,
Fantasies & Delusions, that has ridden the top of the classical music charts
since its release. The music on the album is performed by pianist Richard
Joo, who turned in a beautifully nuanced version of "Waltz #1."
Another brave moment during the performances was Tony Bennett's "New York
State Of Mind," for he and Joel are nominated this year in the Best Pop
Collaboration With Vocals category. Vestiges of Joel's own performance on
the "Tribute To Heroes" telecast were still fresh in the minds of the VIP
audience.
The night was replete with other winning performances.
Despite lightly complaining that she was given "20 seconds to learn this
song," Natalie Cole turned in a sassy jazz version of "Leave A Tender Moment
Alone." Diana Krall's "And So It Goes" had a smoky flavor. Recording Artist
Coalition leader Don Henley, perhaps anticipating his own tribute somewhere
down the line, remarked "interesting experience, huh Bill?" before crooning
a sweet "She's Got A Way."
Garth Brooks cemented his reputation as one of the definitive live acts of
his era with a dynamic version of "Goodnight Saigon" that brought the crowd
to its feet. Stevie Wonder also got the up with a soulful "Just The Way You
Are."
Wonder and Bennett are both former Person Of The Year honorees.
Other performances included a piano and vocal version of "All For Leyna,"
Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas on "Only The Good Die Young," Jon Bon Jovi and
Richie Sambora's "Say Goodbye To Hollywood" and Melissa Etheridge's "It's
Still Rock And Roll To Me."
Los Angeles city councilman Eric Garcetti was also on hand to announce that
the city council had passed a proposal to allow Encore Hall Los Angeles -
MusiCares senior living facilty - to move forward.
The MusiCares Foundation focuses its attention on human service issues that
directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. Proceeds from
the Person Of The Year dinner and silent auction benefit emergency financial
assistance, addiction recovery, and outreach and leadership programs.
Previous MusiCares Person Of The Year honorees have included Paul Simon,
Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Luciano Pavarotti, Phil Collins, Quincy Jones,
Tony Bennett, Gloria Estefan, Natalie Cole, Bonnie Raitt and David Crosby.