2016 Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party

The Clive Davis Annual Pre-Grammy Party

Sunday, February 14, 2016 is not only Valentines Day but the date of one of the hottest parties in Los Angeles during Grammy weekend.  The entire week leading up to the Grammys are filled with parties throughout the City but none creates the hyper madness as Clive's pre-grammy affair.  This year there is a battle for A-list star attendance between Davis and the wedding of Apple Executive and Interscope Records founder Jimmy Iovine's marriage to Liberty Ross (ex-wife of movie director Rupert Sanders). Low and behold they are both schedule for the same date and time. The Iovine/Ross wedding is being held at David Geffens Beverly Hills mansion which is only a few miles from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, site of the Davis annual A-list soiree. There was an attempt made by the Davis organizing team to change the date to Saturday evening which has been the day of the party for the past 40 years, but unfortunately the hotel had already booked the date.  The reason for this years Sunday date is because the pre-grammy party was always held the day before the Grammy and this year the Grammy's have been moved to Monday instead of Sunday, thus canceling out the Saturday date.

The logistics this year included a massive security checkpoint for partygoers with scanners and waning of guest before they are even checked into the ticket line.

From my perch in the Beverly Hilton lobby I spotted a number of A-Listers and B-Listers lining up to be waned and scanned, dressed in black tie and evening gowns.

The annual pre-Grammys event honored music manager Irving Azoff, who received the Recording Academy’s Industry Icon Award and a cast of movie stars, music industry hotshots were also in attendance. Party goers included Jamie Foxx, Sylvester Stallone, Chris Rock, Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Jane Fonda, Christina Aguilera, Carly Simon, Barry Manilow, John Legend and a whole lot more.

There were several musical performances with Beck and Dave Grohl providing a tribute to David Bowie by performing his song “The Man Who Sold the World.”  Some other performances included Carly Simon, Barry Manilow, Fetty Wap, and  Earth, Wind & Fire, who honored the recently deceased founder and front man Maurice White.


At the pool the next day I spotted several of the attendees (Dionne Warwick, Chaz Ebert) resting up and getting some sun before the nights Grammy Awards.  I actually hung out with Jamie Foxx who was babysitting his daughter and some young relatives while they played in the hotel pool. We sang some old school music that he was playing on his boombox, including the Average White Bands, Play That Funky Music White Boy and Bell Biv Devoe's Poison. He was busy signing autographs for anyone who came up to him and taking selfies with anyone who asked. He finally turned it into a party when he and another pool attendee started dancing to BBD's song.  He kept turning the sound up until finally security came over to see what was going on.  It was funny watching the guys face when he realized it was Jamie. Of course he couldn't do anything about it because it was Jamie.  The perks of being an A-lister. #CliveDavisGrammyParty @JamieFoxx #BeverlyHiltonHotel #Grammy #Pool #Party #BellBivDevoe

Jamie Foxx with his daughter and nieces and nephews in the Beverly Hilton Hotel Pool

Jamie Fox, Evelyn Wheeler and Linda O'Bannon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel

Jamie Foxx and Evelyn Wheeler and the Beverly Hilton Hotel

Jamie Foxx and friend dancing to BBD, Poison at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Pool


Jamie Foxx and friend dancing to BBD, Poison at the Beverly Hilton Hotel Pool

The 58th Grammy Awards

Monday February 15 was the Grammy Awards at the Staples Center hosted by LL Cool J.

66th Cannes Film Festival 2013 and my 13th Attendance

View of the Palais de Festival 2012
Credit: Festival de Cannes

View of the Palais de Festival 2011

One month from today I will wing my way to the French Riviera and my 13th Cannes Film Festival. Although the festival doesn't begin until May 15-26, I will spend some time at my place in Nice before venturing down the road to Cannes and the biggest and most prestigious film festival in the world.  It has been said that 80 percent of the world's wealth is in Cannes during the 11 days of the festival. Judging by the number of yachts in the Cannes harbor and marina, and the overwhelming number of Rolls', Bentley's, Ferrari's, Lamborghini's and any other fine automobile you can name, I would venture to say it's not far from the truth.  It's fairly easy to get rundown by a Rolls' or Bentley. Trying to board one of the yachts is not so easy and getting invited to a party aboard one of them is even harder.

This year because of my enthusiasm for past festivals, a number of people I have met are making the trek this year. I think the festival owes me for my PR work. My Cannes friend and sidekick for the past three years, Yolonda Brinkley (YRB International Exposure) is also upping her visibility at this years festival with her 4th Beyond Borders: Diversity In Cannes Filmmaker Symposium and her 1st Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase and Awards (check out her web site, www.diversityincannes.com). Last year during the festival an article in the UK Guardian mentioned her Diversity in Cannes Symposium because of the number of women on the panel and why so few women filmmakers were not being featured in the overall festival. Yolonda also received a 2012 European Diversity Award nomination.

This is looking to be a pretty big festival this year with Australian director Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby"opening the festival (starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan and the musical score by Jay-Z that also features a song by Beyonce, all of whom are expected to walk the famous red carpeted stairs). You can view the movie trailer on the Video Bar in my blog.

Just announced a few minutes ago via Festival de Cannes - Page Officiele that French actress Audrey Tautou will host the opening and closing ceremonies. Last year was my first time actually attending the opening ceremony. Steven Spielberg is President of the Festival Jury this year. Remember in 2011 when Robert De Niro was President of the Jury people were mistaking me for "Madame De Niro," to my delight.

As in the past, I will be blogging here during the Festival trying to keep everyone abreast of all the happenings and fun that I am sure I will be getting into this year. Stay tuned.

See you at Nikki Beach at the 66th Annual Cannes International Film Festival May 15-25 2013

Scenes from 65th Festival de Cannes 2012

Cast of Madagascar 3, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ben Stiller
Jessica Chastain and Chris Rock
Credit: Festival de Cannes

Cast and Director of Madagascar 3, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock
Ben Stiller, Martin Short, Jessica Chastain
Credit: Festival de Cannes

Director and Cast of Beast of the Southern Wild, Quvenzhane Wallis
Credit: Festival de Cannes

Director and Cast of Beast of the Southern Wild, Quvenzhane Wallis
Credit: Festival de Cannes

Cast of The Paperboy, John Cusack, Matthew McConaughey,
Nicole Kidman, Zack Efron, David Oyelowo, Macy Gray and Director Lee Daniels
Credit: Festival de Cannes

Cast of Red Tails, Cuba Gooding, David Oyelowo
and Director George Lucas and Mellody Hopkins
Credit: Festival de Cannes

Cast of The PaperBoy, Macy Gray, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey,
John Cusack, Zack Efron and Director Lee Daniels
Credit: Festival de Cannes

2012 Cannes film festival - Day 2 and Day 3

2012 Cannes Film Festival - Day 2 

Jada Pinkett-Smith  Photocall Madagascar 3

I didn't make it back to Cannes today because I am still tired from Day 1's adventure and my walk of shame. Have to sleep it off so I can do Day 3.

Jada Pinkett-Smith jumped off the ‘Men In Black 3’ tour bus to head to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival to promote her new movie, ‘Madagascar 3’. She opted to go all out for the photocall earlier today wearing a Versace. You can check out the picture on my Facebook page.

I hear Diddy showed up in Cannes with a 50 member entourage. I'm sure that means a big party is in the works somewhere, probably on his yacht. The last time I got a peak at him in Cannes a couple years ago, he was closing down the Gucci store on the Croisette.

2012 Cannes Film Festival - Day 3 -  Madagascar 3

Today was a work day. I spent it with my client getting her ready for the President's party Saturday night. That meant making sure the dress I brought from Boston for her fit properly (and that she liked it, which she did), then it was off to find shoes and accessories for the perfect finish. She was thrilled when I took her to my favorite shoe store here in Cannes (Mercedeh Shoes), and they were thrilled to see me back again after my big shoe breakdown last year (4 pairs), and no, the name is not spelled incorrectly it is Mercedeh. The shoes in this store will cause a major heart attack for shoeholics.

By the time I made my way back to Nice I was exhausted but exhilarated. Have to get ready for Saturday, Day 4 and the Beyond Borders Diversity in Cannes symposium. My friend Yolonda will be expecting me to show up on time (there is a backstory to this).

Stay with me everyone.