Clive Davis and The Recording Academy® will present the annual Pre-GRAMMY® Gala on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., the evening before the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards® (www.grammy.com). Sponsored by Harman, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Hyundai, and MasterCard Worldwide, this exclusive, star-studded celebration will feature special musical performances and will be attended by the world’s most renowned artists and top industry VIPs in music, film, television and new media. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy’s social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys.
As part of the evening’s celebration, the 2013 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons® will honor Epic Records’ Chairman and CEO Antonio “L.A.” Reid. The Recording Academy will present Reid with the President’s Merit Award in recognition of his significant contributions to the music industry and the impact his efforts have had on music and the business of music. Past recipients include Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, Sir Richard Branson, Clive Davis, Ahmet Ertegun, David Geffen, Berry Gordy, Doug Morris, and Mo Ostin.
“We are thrilled to once again collaborate with Clive Davis on this legendary gala filled with unique performances and stories,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “With his keen ability to foster and guide young artists, Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid has brought to the world some of the most accomplished and beloved musicians. We are delighted and excited to pay tribute to this luminary who has shaped the contemporary music landscape with his passion, diversity, dedication, and musical judgement.”
Before becoming the consummate executive, Reid was a recording artist, drummer, songwriter, and producer. In 1989 he co-founded LaFace Records with Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, in partnership with Clive Davis and Arista Records and introduced a string of multi-platinum artists, including Toni Braxton, OutKast, TLC, and Usher. The label, which reshaped R&B and hip-hop, became one of the premier record companies of its time
In 2000 Reid was named president and CEO of Arista Records and brought successes to the label by signing such multi-platinum artists as P!nk, Ciara and Avril Lavigne. Additionally, during his tenure at Arista he oversaw OutKast’s GRAMMY-winning album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below and executive produced Usher’s Confessions, which went on to win a GRAMMY and sell more than 10 million copies in the United States.
As chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group, reins he took in 2004, Reid supervised the revitalization of Mariah Carey’s career with The Emancipation Of Mimi; helped Kanye West achieve multi-platinum status and worldwide recognition with Late Registration and its follow-up Graduation; nurtured Bon Jovi’s platinum selling album Have A Nice Day and their platinum follow-up Lost Highway; managed the Killers’ 2004 triple-platinum debut Hot Fuss and Fall Out Boy’s 2005 major label debut album, From Under The Cork Tree; and hesigned and oversaw Justin Bieber’s multi-platinum, GRAMMY-nominated My World and Never Say Never and Rihanna’s succession of worldwide multi-platinum best-sellers Music Of the Sun, A Girl Like Me, Good Girl Gone Bad, and Loud.
Throughout his illustrious career, Reid has produced and co-written more than 30 No. 1 singles and garnered three GRAMMY Awards. In 1999 he was accepted into Harvard Business School’s prestigious Advanced Management Program and received intensive MBA training. And in 2006, Reid was honored with the Music Visionary of the Year Award from the UJA-Federation of New York and the Music for Youth Foundation for making quality music education available to underprivileged young people. As chairman and CEO of Epic Records and a judge on “The X Factor,” Reid continues to develop and guide young artists and inspire music fans around the world.
Clive Davis began his career at Columbia Records where he was appointed president in 1967 and signed such legendary rock artists as Janis Joplin, Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel and Earth Wind & Fire. In 1974, Davis went on to co-found Arista Records where he signed Barry Manilow, Patti Smith and Whitney Houston and developed the careers of The Kinks, The Grateful Dead, Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin. His business ventures include forming LaFace Records in 1989 with Babyface and L.A. Reid, and creating Bad Boy Records in 1994 with Sean “Diddy” Combs.
In 2000, J Records was born (in partnership with BMG) and emerged as a dominant force, producing the works of Alicia Keys and Maroon 5. Davis was then appointed Chairman/CEO of BMG U.S. Label Group in which he oversaw an expanded RCA Music Group including J Records, RCA Records, and Arista Records. After BMG and Sony Music merged, in 2008 Davis was appointed Chief Creative Officer, Sony Music Worldwide, where he continues to nurture and develop talent. In 2000, Davis received the Trustees Award from The Recording Academy and was recognized as the 2009 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons®.
As a humanitarian, Davis has made tireless efforts in the battle against AIDS, spearheading donations of millions of dollars for AIDS research. In 2002, the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music was created at his undergraduate alma-matter, New York University. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like “The GRAMMYs” on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs’ social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.
