#1.26.2018

January 26, 2018: Harry Styles joined Lorde, Haim, OneRepublic, and other artists influenced by Fleetwood Mac to give a special performance as tribute honoring the band as recipients of MusiCares 2018 Person of the Year. Held in New York at Radio City Music Hall this was the first time that a band was honored for the prestigious award. Some past recipients have included Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young and Tom Petty yet for the first time Fleetwood Mac, the band, will be celebrated. MusiCares chose Fleetwood Mac to honor this year for their extraordinary creative accomplishments and their extensive charitable contributions.

When the selection was announced, Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the MusiCares Foundation and the Recording Academy, stated: “Our 2018 MusiCares‘s Person of the Year tribute is a celebration of firsts — the first time our annual signature gala will be held in New York City in 15 years, and the first time in the benefit’s history that we will honor a band. This excitement is only matched by the genuine thrill and privilege of paying tribute to Fleetwood Mac, a legendary and influential group of artists whose music has provided the soundtrack for music lovers around the world.”

Many artists, like Harry, have mentioned Fleetwood Mac’s impact on their musical career. Harry performed a cover of Fleetwood’s hit single “the Chain” from their Rumors album on his past world tour.

Indeed, as Harry was launching his solo career at the Troubadour in May of last year, he welcomed Stevie Nicks to his stage for a rare performance.

    Mick Fleetwood wrote a statement about the band’s reception of the award (members include Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks, Lindsay Buckingham, Bobby and Christine McVey): “It’s a tremendous honor to be the first band to receive the MusiCares Person of the Year award. Independently and together, we all set off on a journey to spend our lives as artists, songwriters and musicians. None of us did it alone and there were plenty of helping hands along the way, so we applaud and celebrate MusiCares’ guiding principles of giving musicians a helping hand and a place to turn in times of need.”

This is the 28th year that the annual Person of the Year tribute celebration will be providing essential support for MusiCares, which ensures musicians have a place to turn in times of financial, medical, and personal need.

Earlier this week Harry also auctioned off a signed Gibson guitar on eBay to benefit this charity with bids starting at $5,000. You can view the auction and place your bid at this link.

  At the concert last night, Harry performed with Fleetwood Mac “the Chain” the only single from the 1977 album Rumors that is credited to all the band members, which Harry has covered during his own tour as well, as stated above. In introducing Fleetwood Mac Harry stated: “Ladies and gentlemen, there are several things that I thought I would never be doing in my life: 1. is sharing a stage with these legends. I am one of the babies that Stevie was talking about earlier.” 

Below are some of the pictures taken by the audience at the MusiCares concert honoring Fleetwood Mac last night.

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