The Grammy-winning legend, whose career began as a songwriter at the Brill Building and spans five decades, will be honored at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles Feb. 6 for his artistic achievements and philanthropic efforts over the years.
Attendees include President/CEO of MusiCares and The Recording Academy Neil Portnow and MusiCares Foundation Board Chair John Branca as dinner chairs and Irving Azoff, Marshall Gelfand, Tim Leiweke and Rick Rubin as honorary chair.
"As we enter the next 50 years for The Recording Academy and the Grammy Awards, and approach the 20th anniversary of our MusiCares foundation, it is fitting that we honor a most enduring artist and songwriter whose musical influence is truly unmatched - the extraordinary Neil Diamond," Portnow said in a statement.
The MusiCares Person of the Year dinner and concert is an annual highlight of Grammy Awards week. Past honorees include Tony Bennett, Bono, Natalie Cole, Brian Wilson, Phil Collins, David Crosby, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin and Don Henley.
The honor is the latest milestone for Diamond, who is currently touring in support of his first career No. 1 album debut, Home Before Dark.
The 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year gala kicks off with a special reception and silent auction sponsored by Red Stripe Plane Music with luxury items, VIP experiences and celebrity memorabilia. There’s a special live online auction followed by a gala dinner, an award presentation and the tribute concert. The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will then be televised live on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
MusiCares was established in 1989 by The Recording Academy to provide a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need, including services and resources covering a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies.