Spinner

MusiCares Honors Neil Young as 2010 Person of the Year

Grammy week 2010 isn't for another five months and we don't know a single nominee yet, but we already have January 29 marked on the Spinner calendar as one to remember. Why the early excitement? Because Neil Young is being honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year for his incredible resume of philanthropic efforts, from his annual Bridge School benefits to his work with Farm Aid. The 63-year-old Young will join the prestigious past honorees such as Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Sting, James Taylor, Brian Wilson, Bono, Don Henley, Paul Simon and the 2009 winner, Neil Diamond.

"Neil has set a standard of artistic integrity and iconoclastic creativity for more than four decades, and his achievements have been matched by his unwavering humanitarianism," said Recording Academy president Neil Portnow in a press release. "He is a shining example of how music people offer their creative gifts to the world, and how they also give back through their commitments to charitable endeavors."

What has us so psyched, though, is the annual dinner that accompanies the presentation. The show, always one of the highlights of Grammy week, finds the honoree being treated to a musical celebration of their work by their peers. For example, this year's fete featured the Foo Fighters, Coldplay and more rocking out Diamond tunes. And past years have seen the likes of Garth Brooks covering Joel and the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jeff Beck musically toasting Wilson.

Given that this year is the 20th anniversary of MusiCares, the fact that Young -- who has never won a Grammy -- is one of music's most respected and beloved figures and almost anyone who's mattered in music in the last two decades has performed at his annual Bridge School benefit in the Bay Area, we certainly anticipate this show should be unforgettable.

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Steve DeGrave

Neil is the best of the best. The most inspirational artist of the last 40 years. His music, his politics, his generosity, his consistency.....seen him many times..never disappointed. Congrats Neil. Rock on. Steve DeGrave

January 22 2010 at 6:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lisa McDonald

Fabulous news!

August 11 2009 at 3:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Lisa McDonald's comment
Russ

Long overdue for the Rock Legend that is Neil Young.

August 13 2009 at 4:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Martina Lee

I saw Neil play at Malahide Castle in June 2008. I was standing 10 feet away from him. He made eye contact with me and sang the remainder of the song to me, he blew me away. What a man -

He's done so much for so many, and got involved in projects like Farm Aid, Bridge School Project, his passion for the environment and electric cars, he rocked the vote for Barrack Obama, the list is endless.

His music is a head of its time, particularly his album "Trans" inspired by his son Ben who suffers from CP. This album was recorded years before this type of music ever hit the charts.

It totally made my day to know that Neil will be honoured with the Person of the Year award which recognised how great he is. He's an amazing man, he's inspirational, conpassionate, the legend of all legends

Congratulations Neil, you're one in a million

December 24 2009 at 8:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply