The New York Chapter of the Recording Academy celebrated its most prestigious VIP dinner
GALA December 11 honoring Clive Davis, Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Marc Anthony,
Dionne Warwick and Beverly Sills. The events presenting sponsor was BMG with other
sponsors ASCAP, BMI and the Toys 'R Us Foundation. Proceeds from the event will go
towards the education and community outreach programs of the Academy's New York
Chapter.
In its seventh year, NARAS continues to recognize their heroes, whose creative talents and
accomplishments cross all musical boundaries and who are integral to the vitality of the
music community.
This year's event was hosted once again by Dominic Chianese ("Uncle Junior" on the
"Sopranos"). On hand to congratulate the honorees were Atlantic Records founder and
chairman Ahmet Ertegun, who while presenting to his good friend and music mogul Clive
Davis, reminisced how they used to be rivals and competitors. Broadway performer and
choreographer, Ann Reinking, presented to Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and Carlos
Alomar, vice chair of the Recording Academy, presented to Marc Anthony who had his wife
Dayanara Torres by his side after they tied the knot for the second time last week. Luther
Vandross, who presented to Dionne Warwick, told how Warwick was his inspiration and
Beverly Sills who thanked her presenter executive director of the New York Philharmonic,
Zarin Mehta and SRO crowd by saying "I'm 73 year's old, and this lady loves it so keep
saying those nice things!"
