Bob Dylan Honored By All-Star Lineup At MusicCares Gala

On Friday night, Bob Dylan was honored in Los Angeles as the 2015 MusicCares Person Of The Year in one of the kickoffs to GRAMMYs weekend. An all-star cast of musical performers paid tribute to Bob by performing his songs during an event that also saw Dylan speak for nearly 40 minutes.

Beck was the evening’s first performer and covered Dylan’s “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat.” Other performances early in the show included Aaron Neville’s take on “Shooting Star,” Los Lobos covering “On A Night Like This,” Willie Nelson giving his own spin to “Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)” and Jack White’s rendition of “One More Cup Of Coffee.” Later in the night, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi teamed up for “Million Miles,” while CSN tackled “Girl From The North Country” and Bonnie Raitt sang “Standing In The Doorway.” The tribute came to a climax with Bruce Springsteen leading the house band through “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” and Neil Young turning in a solo acoustic performance of “Blowin’ In The Wind.”

Former President Jimmy Carter introduced Bob Dylan, who went on to thank many of the acts who recorded his songs over the years as well as took aim at some industry folks he felt snubbed him. The Star Tribune called Dylan’s speech “at turns insightful, scorching and humorous” and noted “it was probably the longest public speech about himself that the fiercely private music icon has given in his career.” The late Ahmet Ertegun was just one of Dylan’s targets. “Ahmet Ertegun didn’t think much of my songs, but Sam Phillips did. Ahmet founded Atlantic Records. He produced great records: Ray Charles, Ray Brown, LaVern Baker, just to name a few. There were some great records there. No question about it. But Sam Phillips, he recorded Elvis and Jerry Lee, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash, radical artists that shook the very essence of humanity. Revolution and style and scope, every shape and color. Radical to the bone. Songs that cut you to the bone. Renegades in all degrees. Doing songs that would never decay and still resound to this day. Oh, yeah. I would rather have Sam Phillips’ blessing any day,” Dylan said as per Showbiz411.

If past MusicCares ceremonies are to be a guide, we should see the performances and Dylan’s speech released in the future. MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. Last night’s event raised $7 million for MusicCares according to The Star Tribune.

UPDATE (2/10 11 a.m. PT): Stereogum points out that MusicCares organizers have shared a professionally-shot recap of the event, which gives us a taste of Jack White’s “One More Cup Of Coffee,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door,” Neil Young’s “Blowin’ In The Wind” as well as Dylan’s instant classic speech:

Setlist (via Grammy.com)

Beck
“Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat”

Aaron Neville
“Shooting Star”

Alanis Morissette
“Subterranean Homesick Blues”

Los Lobos
“On A Night Like This”

Willie Nelson
“Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power)”

Jackson Browne
“Blind Willie McTell”

John Mellencamp
“Highway 61 Revisited”

Jack White
“One More Cup Of Coffee”

Tom Jones
“What Good Am I?”

Norah Jones
“I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight”

Derek Trucks And Susan Tedeschi
“Million Miles”

John Doe
“Pressing On”

Crosby, Stills & Nash
“Girl From The North County”

Bonnie Raitt
“Standing In The Doorway”

Sheryl Crow
“Boots Of Spanish Leather”

Bruce Springsteen
“Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”

Neil Young
“Blowin’ In The Wind”