Bob Dylan will be feted by the music industry's finest ahead of next year's Grammys show, after being named Tuesday as the MusiCares Person of the Year. Artists including Jack White, Neil Young, Norah Jones, Tom Jones, Beck and the Black Keys will perform at a gala two nights before the Sunday, February 8 Grammys show, music's version of the Oscars.
Dylan's "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, head of the MusiCares Foundation and The Recording Academy. "Bob 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," added Bill Silva, Chair of the MusiCares Foundation Board.
Recent recipients of the MusiCares prize, established in 1989, include Carole King, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand. Other past winners include Elton John, Paul Simon, Billy Joel and Bono. The MusiCares Foundation is aimed at providing a "safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need." It helps out in a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, as well providing services for "issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community."