MusiCares Highlights A Memorable 2023 Grammy Week In L.A.

As someone who has been fortunate to attend the Grammy Awards many times, this year’s show was arguably the best I have ever seen. From the brilliance of performances like Mary J. Blige’s show-stopping vocal intensity and the deservedly much praised 50 years of hip hop medley to the surprise winners, like Bonnie Raitt and Samara Joy, and the heartfelt speeches such as Lizzo and Beyonce, the show was fun, fast paced, moving and, most importantly, much looser than in other years.

But having been to several Grammy events during the week, some official Recording Academy events, some ancillary, the success of the show was not a surprise. The vibe around L.A. all Grammy week was one of joy.

At the Academy’s official Producers & Engineers event, at the iconic Village Studios, where Terri Lyne Carrington and Judith Sherman were honored in a joyous celebration; at the excellent Warner Music party at the Hollywood Athletic Club, a fantastic hang with Omar Apollo performing, and all over L.A. the music industry felt alive and buoyant again after two-plus years of COVID lockdown.

But, as always, the crown jewel of Grammy week remains the annual MusiCares gala, where some of the biggest names in music gather to honor a legend yearly for their contributions both to music and philanthropy.

This year’s event promised to be extra special with Motown legends Berry Gordy Jr. and Smokey Robinson being honored. And it was magic, with superb performances by Stevie Wonder, Trombone Shorty, John Legend, Brandi Carlile, Samara Joy, Rita Wilson and Sebastian Yatra together, and others.

What makes MusiCares so special is that everyone wants to be there to support the cause, celebrate their heroes and gather with friends. You can even feel it on the red carpet, normally the bane of both a journalist and artist’s life. But as the conversations Sage Bava and I had with everyone from Sheryl Crow and Yatra to Joy and fellow Best New Artist nominee Molly Tuttle show, it is just a good vibe. How good? Bava got to sing a portion of “Misty” with the legendary Nile Rodgers on the carpet. That’s the magic of MusiCares. People are genuinely excited to be there.

Sage Bava: What are you most excited for tonight and in the future of music?

Sheryl Crow: First and foremost, I am really excited to perform this Jackson 5 song (“I Want You Back”) for Berry and Smokey because it is the first album I ever got. It’s a great Motown record and so it all comes full circle. And also I’m excited about the future of music. There’s so much great stuff out there, a lot of great songwriters. It might not be what’s on pop radio, but if you look hard you can find great stuff.

Steve Baltin: Now that you are actually here how does it feel to be in this moment?

Samara Joy: I’m like what am I doing here, literally. Am I supposed to be here? Did they get the wrong person? Is it a mix up? But I’m excited.

Baltin: What are you doing tonight?

Joy: I’m singing “Ain’t That Peculiar.” It’s a bit of a medley with some other Best New Artist nominees – Molly Tuttle and Domi and JD Beck. I think I met all the Best New Artist nominees at this point, everybody is so cool.

Bava: What are you most excited about next and in the coming months?

Joy: I’m most excited for Sunday, I have two or three costume changes. And I’ve never done that before. So I’m very excited to be like, “Bam, another me.” I’m excited for the whole thing. I’m excited for my parents, they just got here and they got to their Airbnb. I’m gonna stay with them tonight. I’m excited for all this. This is a weekend I will not forget.

Bava: I know you grew up mostly on Motown. What was the song that first excited you about Motown?

Joy: Oh gosh, there are too many. I love anything by the Supremes, anything by the Temptations.

Baltin: Why are these songs, like “My Girl” for example, still so relevant today?

Joy: I think the message of the song, combined with the fact that you know and you hear just how genuine and authentic it is, I think that’s what it is.

Bava: Do you think you’ll create Motown music in the future? Or a record that’s more in that vein?

Joy: I think that what’s been created is standing the test of time. And so I hope to take whatever influence that I’ve had and continue to grow into the artist that I will become.

Bava: Congratulations on this year. Your story is so inspiring. When was the time that you found this unique thing that you have with the guitar picking and this space you created within bluegrass?

Molly Tuttle: I think it took me a few years to kind of develop my voice as a guitar player. When I first started out making records I didn’t know how to combine my songwriting with my guitar playing and my voice. Sometimes I felt like I would write a song but couldn’t figure out how to weave my guitar playing into it. But with my last record I kind of leaned into that part of who I am. I grew up playing bluegrass and the songs that I wrote kind of catered to that musical background I have.

Bava: So this last record there was a light bulb moment that went off. Everything came together?

Tuttle: Yes, that’s what it felt like.

Bava: And I know you’ve had a relationship with MusiCares for a while.

Tuttle: Yeah, they’ve been really supportive of me. I moved to Nashville eight years ago now. I remember moving to town. I had so much anxiety about being in a new place, starting my career. And they sponsored mental health care for me, going to see a therapist every so often. It was really helpful for me and then when everything shut down during the pandemic they were giving out these grants to musicians. Helped out so many of my friends, so many people in the community. So it’s been cool to see their direct support throughout the years being a musician in Nashville.

Baltin: Tell me about Motown and its influence on you. How old were you the first song you heard?

Trombone Shorty: I probably was a newborn. My mom was obsessed with Motown and listening to Marvin Gaye. That was her favorite artist of all time, even over me, her son. So everything I did she always used to say, “Marvin did that, you gotta do it a little better.” I’ve listened to Motown my entire life. It’s a part of my musical DNA just by having it played in the house.

Bava: What are you most excited about for the future of Motown?

Shorty: I’m excited to see what new music they’ll produce and what new artists they can develop to keep that legacy going for the next 50 years or so.

Baltin: What was your first Smokey memory?

Nile Rodgers: My first time with him was playing with him. We did a BET special and I got to play a bunch of his great songs. But I’ve been a fan ever since I can remember. When I was a child I bought the Miracles records, every single one, those were the days you could buy ’45s, so I’d just run to the store, get “Going to A Go-Go,” anything they put out.

Baltin: How does it inspire you being around all these great artists?

Sebastian Yatra: You just get their energy, their vibes and it adds a lot to you. I went to dinner with Rita [Wilson] and Tom [Hanks] the other night since I’m going to be singing here with Rita Wilson. We’re going to be singing “It Takes Two” and we’re going to have a lot of fun with it. She is pure magic as a person and an artist. She has such a beautiful voice and great heart. So we just had dinner the other night and talked about life and really got to know each other and made jokes. That’s what, for me, music is. It’s having fun. And I want to have fun onstage and offstage and have the people I’m around be in that same energy and with those same things as a priority.

Bava: What are you most excited for tonight?

Laila Hathaway: Performing, I’m most excited to get up there and sing and give my love letter to Berry and Smokey. I’m singing “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” with PJ Morton.