Rock Stars, Politicians Make Pre-Grammy Rounds

ByABC News
February 23, 2001, 7:41 PM

February 21 -- LOS ANGELES Jesse Jackson sure gets around. A short time after receiving an award at the Rock the Vote event Tuesday night at the House of Blues in Hollywood where the Foo Fighters, Black Eyed Peas, and Jill Scott performed, Jackson arrived at the Tony Beverly Hills Hotel for Clive Davis' exclusive pre-Grammy party featuring Wyclef Jean, Dido, Joe, Stevie Wonder, Angie Stone, Gladys Knight, and Luther Vandross.

The parties were just two of the star-studded events around Los Angeles, as the city buzzes with the arrival of musicians and label executives for tonight's 43rd Annual Grammy Awards.

At Rock the Vote, Jackson was given a Patrick Lippert Award in recognition of his registering more voters than any individual in America. He gave a short but moving speech, leading the rock audience in a chant of "keep hope alive." Also honored at the event were MTV executive Judy McGrath, Carlos Santana, and Mary J. Blige.

Santana and Blige also made it over to Davis' annual exclusive soiree. Other musical luminaries were there: 'N Sync (whose members went relatively unnoticed for a change), Matchbox Twenty's Rob Thomas, Eve, Boyz II Men, Gloria Estefan, Annie Lennox, Babyface, O-Town, R.L. of Next, and Brad Paisley.

Davis typically uses this gala to showcase the artists on his label, which had been Arista for the past 25 years. But last year, after a forced retirement because of an age policy at parent company Bertelsmann, he started J Records.

Newcomer Alicia Keys impressed with a bluesy gospel voice in her one-song cameo. Vandross, J's established star, was predictably suave and soulful on his three hits.

Other friends of Davis also performed, to fill out the offerings from his fledgling label. Knight sparkled on "Neither One of Us," with Stone joining in. Dido performed "Thank You," accompanied only by an acoustic guitarist, and Joe crooned "I Wanna Know." Jean took the mic for a spontaneous freestyle rap about who was in the house.

Wonder closed the two-hour show with a short, rambling set that ended with him showcasing a new song for Vandross, who, by the third chorus, was singing along.