Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile and John Legend took to the stage to carry out renditions of traditional Motown tunes on the annual Person Of The Year gala final Friday (February 3), as held by The Recording Academy‘s trade nonprofit MusicCares.
Legend sung The Jackson 5‘s 1970 track ‘I’ll Be There’, whereas Crow sung their 1969 hit ‘I Want You Back’. For her components, Carlile carried out Smokey Robinson & The Miracles‘ 1965 hit ‘The Tracks Of My Tears’. Robinson himself was honoured as one of many occasion’s titular People Of The Year, alongside Motown Records founder Berry Gordy.
In an announcement shared within the weeks main as much as the occasion, Robinson stated that he was “so excited” for the gala performances. “These artists are my friends, and I not only love them, but I’m honored that they will be performing my music, along with hits from the Motown catalogue,” he stated.
Elsewhere through the evening, Chloe x Halle coated ‘Baby Love’ by The Supremes, whereas Dionne Warwick coated ‘My Guy’ by Mary Wells and Mumford & Sons coated ‘Money (That’s What I Want)’ by Barrett Strong. The Doobie Brothers‘ Michael McDonald covered ‘Lonely Teardrops’ by Jackie Wilson, whereas Trombone Shorty coated ‘Shotgun’ by Junior Walker & The All Stars.
Just a few artists joined forces for his or her tributes, too. Valerie Simpson and Jimmie Allen linked as much as sing ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ (finest identified through Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s 1967 rendition, or Diana Ross‘ 1970 take), while actress Rita Wilson and Sebastián Yatra took on the duet of ‘It Takes Two’ by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston. A quadrant of Best New Artist nominees at this yr’s Grammys – Samara Joy, Molly Tuttle, Domi and JD Beck – additionally teamed up for a medley of Motown hits.
The Isley Brothers delivered a Four Tops medley, together with renditions of ‘Baby I Need Your Loving’, ‘It’s The Same Old Song’, ‘Reach Out (I’ll Be There)’ and ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)’. They additionally carried out their very own 1966 tune, ‘This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)’.
Other acts who carried out their very own materials included The Temptations (who delivered renditions of ‘My Girl’ and ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’) and Stevie Wonder (‘I’ll Try Something New’ and ‘The Tears Of A Clown’). “It is more than a pleasure to be here,” Wonder stated earlier than his mini-set, “because were it not for the two people that are here that we’re recognising, I wouldn’t be here.”
Have a take a look at some footage from the evening beneath:
Dionne Warwick @dionnewarwick pays tribute to @smokeyrobinson & Berry Gordy @MusiCares #dionnewarwick #MusiCares #GRAMMYs #smokeyrobinson #berrygordy pic.twitter.com/cqmXt3aY9j
— Jennifer Su (Jen Su) (@jennifer_su) February 4, 2023
Sway with the legendary #FourTops at @MusiCares #LA pic.twitter.com/51p9rjTHBw
— Ann Elizabeth Donlan (@RedSky_at_Night) February 4, 2023
This needs to be probably the most particular moments I’ve ever witnessed in music. @smokeyrobinson wrote essentially the most stunning tune for his pricey good friend #BerryGordy to honor their 6 a long time lengthy friendship and sang it to him tonight at @MusiCares.
I cried my pretend eyelashes off. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/wGxi0iM2Rk
— Cassie DiLaura (@CassieDiLaura) February 4, 2023
2023 Best New Artist nominee Samara Joy (@SamaraJoy99) simply blew the roof off the MusiCares tribute with “Ain’t That Peculiar” pic.twitter.com/qhkjIMJrLR
— Andrew Hampp (@ahampp) February 4, 2023
@LionelRichie shares a young second about his friendship with Berry Gordy and @smokeyrobinson throughout a @motown extravaganza at @MusiCares. pic.twitter.com/pU1gdzz2Q0
— Ann Elizabeth Donlan (@RedSky_at_Night) February 4, 2023
At #Musicares with @brandicarlile #LA pic.twitter.com/xiEtrOskMU
— Ann Elizabeth Donlan (@RedSky_at_Night) February 4, 2023
The Smokey & Berry tribute at MusiCares simply opened with The Temptations 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/20YkwINy1H
— Andrew Hampp (@ahampp) February 4, 2023
Chloe x Halle protecting “Baby Love” for his or her #MusiCares Persons of the Year tribute pic.twitter.com/qfhAQLEofR
— Chloe x Halle Now | #PRAYITAWAY 🙏🏾🫀 (@cxhnow) February 4, 2023
MusiCares beforehand honoured Joni Mitchell as its 2022 Person Of The Year, whereas Aerosmith had been celebrated with the title in 2020, and Dolly Parton in 2019. Last yr’s ceremony was significantly notable, because it noticed Mitchell ship her first public efficiency in 9 years when she joined Carlile, Beck, Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Stills, Jon Batiste and extra to sing her 1970 classics ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ and ‘The Circle Game’.
Robinson, in the meantime, lately introduced his first album of latest materials in over a decade, ‘Gasms’. The nine-track album will arrive independently on April 28, and has been previewed with lead single ‘If We Don’t Have Each Other’.