Preceding the big Latin Grammy night on November 5 was the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala at Mandalay Bay on November 4, which honored Juan Gabriel. And with more than 1,000 guests attending “De Fiesta With Juan Gabriel,” the tribute dinner and concert in his honor was itself no ordinary pre-party.
Charged with carrying out Gabriel’s wish to make it a party with friends rather than a staid honorarium was Gabriel’s longtime friend Mary Black, who produced the event. The tribute dinner is one of the most prestigious happenings during Latin Grammy week, attended by nominees, celebrities, and entertainment industry V.I.P.s, and Black went to lengths to ensure that it was a celebration to remember.
“Juan Gabriel has provided an elementary school for underprivileged children called Semjase, based in his hometown of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where they also learn music; he has paid for everything himself for 22 years. This event was a celebration of his life and a testimony to his love,” said Black, a trustee of the Latin Academy of Arts and Sciences, and whose husband, Cisco Suarez, is executive producer of the Latin Grammys.
Black, who had six months to create the gala after Gabriel was named the Academy’s 2009 musical and philanthropic honoree, chose dark blue and silver decor, dark blue being Gabriel’s favorite color. White roses, his favorite flower, adorned the tables. She also created, with Gabriel, a list of 30 artists to whom he felt connected, invited them, coordinated their travel and rehearsals, did the stage set design, and hired a scriptwriter, Carlos Aguilar, with whom she worked to ensure that everything said in the tribute had personal significance for Gabriel.
Venezuelan television host Maite Delgado and Latin Grammy winner Enrique Iglesias hosted the evening. The 11 performing artists included David Bisbal, Franco De Vita, Shaila Dúrcal, Luis Fonsi, India, Juanes, Playa Limbo, and La Quinta Estación. In the concert, for which there were two-and-a-half days of rehearsals (the first two at a Las Vegas studio since the ballroom stage wasn’t set up until noon on the day of the event), all the performers sang songs composed by Gabriel, who has written some 1,500 tunes. Black also flew in Gabriel’s 32 band members and mariachis from all over the world. Gabriel performed at the end of the tribute, at times walking off the stage and into the crowd where he got up on the tables and sang and danced. Sebastian Krys was the event's musical producer.
The concert, complete with videos of Gabriel’s life and testimonials from the children at Semjase, took place after dinner. After a cocktail reception, guests moved into the main ballroom where they sat at round tables of 10 and feasted on a Latin appetizer trio, short ribs, and a meringue dessert with caramel sauce, all prepared by Mandalay Bay chefs.
The after party was hosted by the Latin Grammys official spirits sponsor, Hennessy cognac. Besides presenting a $20,000 check at the dinner (which was raised to $50,000 during the presentation) in support of Semjase, the liquor brand transported invited guests to an exclusive private mansion a few minutes off the Strip for the official Person of the Year after-party at the House of Hennessy.
Other sponsors included Heineken, Univision Radio, the American Heart Association, Axe, and McDonald’s. Hennessy also hosted the after party following the Latin Grammys, which took place at Mandalay Bay the following evening.
