At The Maybourne Hotel, in Beverly Hills, CA on September 11, 2025
What a treat! Last Thursday night, I was a guest of the Guitar Center Foundation for their 4th Annual Gala at the beautiful Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills. We were there to celebrate two music industry icons: John McBride, sound engineer extraordinaire and owner of Blackbird Studios in Nashville, received a lifetime achievement award, and legendary producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis received the Vanguard award for their unmatched contributions to music and education. The evening started with a cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by a lovely dinner, an energetic auction, and award presentations. Martina McBride shared sweet stories about her husband, John, but it was surprise guest, Garth Brooks, who presented him with his award.
Before Jimmy Jam + Terry Lewis gave their thank-you speeches, we were treated to some of their work with live performances from among others, R&B veteran Johnny Gill and international sensation Estelle. The evening came to a climax when Morris Day & The Time, featuring Jimmy and Terry, helped everyone work off their dessert by bringing the crowd to their feet for a rousing version of their smash hit, Jungle Love. It was a perfect evening, enjoyed by all. Thank you to Guitar Center Foundation Board Chairman David Helfant and Croshal Entertainment owner and foundation board member, Fred Croshal, for letting me crash your party.