
Macklemore
MusiCares Honors Macklemore At The 2019 Concert for Recovery
Last night (May 16), The Recording Academy held its 2019 MusiCares Concert For Recovery presented by Amazon Music at The Novo in L.A. Live in downtown, Los Angeles, CA. The event, hosted by Joel McHale, included a star-studded slate with performances by Kesha, Fitz And The Tantrums, Royce Da 5'9, and Mary Lambert. Guests filled the room to see a lively and emotional show as well as authentic and transparent expression around being a recovering addict. The evening concert honored Macklemore for his contributions to MusiCares as well as his continued work in helping others with their addiction recovery processes.
Mary Lambert kicked off the night performing an unreleased song off of her upcoming project. Donning a long, sparkly black gown, the crooner sang poignantly themes of love and life. In another part of the show, Royce da 5'9 followed with an energetic set of lyrical and dynamic vocals, rapping songs like "Shake This" and "Caterpillar" to a satisfied crowd.
Vince Staples at the MusiCares® Concert For Recovery presented by Amazon Music, which honored Macklemore at The Novo at L.A. Live on May 16, 2019 in Los Angeles.
Vince Staples Pays Tribute To Mac Miller
Taking a moment of silence and space to move into the part of the night where the late rapper Mac Miller was given a proper tribute. To kick off this segment, rapper Vince Staples gave a speech about what Miller meant to him and how bright his light truly shined. "He offered me something that he offered a lot of people in music which is sanctuary, opportunity, optimism."
He added by saying, "things that he probably was missing himself but he used music to filter through it or used music to create with other artists whether it was recording at the studio, whether it was taking us on tour even when it wasn't beneficial for him financially." A video montage of Miller in his childhood as well as his prominence as an artist displayed on the screen as the audience reflected on the life that was.
At the conclusion of the video montage, Recording Academy President and CEO Neil Portnow took the stage to announce a new partnership MusiCares had entered. "MusiCares offers a wide range of programs and services for members of the music community," he remarked while running through the statistics of the growth and breadth of people impacted by MusiCares.
In addition, he announced the Mac Miller Legacy Fund. Housed within the Pittsburgh Community Foundation who made a donation on behalf of the Miller family, the fund will open its application process to prospects who meet general MusiCares eligibility. The Mac Miller Legacy Fund will be an option on the dropdown menu of the MusiCares website's donation page starting Friday, May 17.
Macklemore and Kesha at the MusiCares® Concert For Recovery presented by Amazon Music, which honored Macklemore at The Novo at L.A. Live on May 16, 2019 in Los Angeles.
Rob Lowe Comments On His Recovery
A nice surprise of the night was actor Rob Lowe emerging from backstage as a surprise guest to give Macklemore the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award. Speaking on his own recovery, he noted, "I'm in recovery. Happy, proud, grateful alcoholic." He added by saying, "I got my 29th chip" referencing the number of years he's been sober.
Moving on to speak about Macklemore, he referenced the rapper's kindness and humanity saying, "To me, what he's emblematic of is that we're all brothers and sisters and family."
Taking the stage, Macklemore detailed a fateful day in 2008 when he decided to take the necessary steps to become sober. "I was introduced to my disease. One that I had lived with ever since I took my first drink at age 14," he said before reflecting on the difficulty in realizing his alcohol use was not healthy or just social but a significant vice in his life.
After his speech, Macklemore gave a stirring performance bringing out Mary Lambert to perform "Same Love," Kesha to perform "Good Old Days" as well as rapping powerful songs like "Starting Over" and "Otherside." Closing out his set with "Can't Hold Us," it was evident from the money raised as well as energy and respect lifted, the night was a success.
Mary Lambert & Royce 5'9 Added To Lineup For Concert For Recovery Honoring Macklemore