| NEWS 02.12.07 |
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| Early Grammy Luncheon Creates Scheduling Conflicts |
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FROM LOS ANGELESGrammy celebrations got off to an early start on Sunday with the Artist Empowerment Coalition (AEC) and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers’ (ASCAP) fifth annual luncheon at the Beverly Hilton.
In his opening address to the crowd, AEC cofounder L. Londell McMillan acknowledged that the coalition had been a bit “ambitious” with its 10 a.m. red-carpet arrival time, citing the abundance of Saturday-night pre-Grammys bashes as potentially deterring guests from rising early in the
morning.
Among those who set their alarms was Jennifer Hudson, who had spent the previous evening performing at Clive Davis’s party. She presented Sheryl Lee Ralph—of the original Broadway cast of Dreamgirls—with an award.
The luncheon’s hours proved problematic for honoree Chris Brown, who missed the event altogether because he was tied up with Grammy telecast rehearsals. And host Shaun Robinson of Access Hollywood had to skip out early on her M.C. duties because she was due at the Staples Center for red-carpet coverage. (Doug E. Fresh took over.)
The event was overseen by the coalition’s former in-house event manager Dana Storm Santiago, who recently left for a full-time position with Shiraz NYC Inc. Having managed every luncheon to date, Santiago volunteered her services this year. She kept the event decor to a minimum, using topiary arrangements dotted with pink roses as centerpieces. “We normally go with floral arrangements, but I wanted to jazz things up this year,” said Santiago. “I didn’t want it to look like the typical event at a banquet hall.”
Posted 02.12.07
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