MusiCares To Honor Lionel Richie As Person Of The Year

Richie joins a very select list of top artists to receive MusiCares’ highest honor.  Past recipients include Bob Dylan, Gloria Estefan, Neil Young, Billy Joel, Bonnie Raitt and Don Henley. The gala, including a reception, dinner, and silent auction as well as an all-star concert, happens Feb. 13 – two days before the 58th annual Grammy Awards take place at Los Angeles’ Staples Center.  As with the Grammys, the MusiCares Person Of The Year Award is presented by the National Academy Of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).

In addition to his musical accomplishments, the former Commodores singer is being honored for his charity work in such areas as AIDS, human rights and women’s issues, and for his efforts to end famine and poverty.  Richie has worked with a number of organizations including Breast Cancer Research Foundation, City Of Hope, Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, UNICEF and Art of Elysium.

“I’m really very proud of this,” Richie said.  “As far as I’m concerned, this is the highest honor in our music business because it means you have a career. You’ve survived the journey, if you will. The people who have been there defy categories.  When you say Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney – are you kidding me?  When I got in this business I wanted to be like them.  When you get recognition like this, it’s everything.  It really is the top of the mountain when it comes down to what your industry gives as recognition for great work, and the opportunity to help raise funds to sustain MusiCares’ critical safety net of programs for members of the music community is momentous to me.”

Check out this link for more information about MusiCares.