Ten-time Grammy Award winner Bob Dylan will be honored as the 2015 “MusiCares Person of the Year” at a benefit gala dinner and concert to be held in Los Angeles during Grammy week, it was announced today.
Proceeds from the 25th annual event to be held on Feb. 6 — two nights prior to the 57th annual Grammy Awards — will provide essential support for the Recording Academy’s MusiCares Foundation, which aids people in the music industry in times of financial, medical and personal need.
Performers at the tribute concert will include Grammy winners Beck, the Black Keys, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Norah Jones, Tom Jones, Los Lobos, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Eddie Vedder, Jack White and Neil Young.
“In celebrating the 25th anniversary of our MusiCares Person of the Year tribute, it is most fitting that we are honoring Bob Dylan, whose body of creative work has contributed to America’s culture, as well as that of the entire world, in genuinely deep and lasting ways,” said Neil Portnow, president/CEO of the MusiCares Foundation and The Recording Academy.
Bill Silva, chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board, added that “Dylan’s songwriting ability is unmatched, and it will be an extraordinary evening to hear his work showcased by such a remarkable group of artists.”
Established 20 years ago, the MusiCares Foundation offers programs and services to members of the music community, including emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses, medical expenses, and treatment for critical illnesses.
MusiCares also offers nationwide educational workshops covering a variety of subjects, including financial, legal, medical and substance abuse issues, and programs in collaboration with health care professionals that provide services such as flu shots, hearing tests and medical/dental screenings.
The MusiCares MAP Fund allows access to addiction recovery treatment and sober living resources for members of the music community.
MusiCares holds weekly addiction support groups, and its Sober Touring Network of individuals across the United States takes music people to recovery support meetings while on the road.
