Jon Platt, Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell Music, today announced the first superstar to join him at this fall’s eagerly anticipated event in Los Angeles supporting City of Hope, an acclaimed nonprofit clinical research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases.
Eleven-time Grammy Award-winning artist, songwriter, and producer Pharrell Williams will host the Oct. 11 celebration that will see Platt honored with the organization’s prestigious Spirit of Life Award. Further announcements about the all-star lineup will be made in the coming weeks.
“I’m honored to join my good friend Jon to support the groundbreaking and life-saving advances at City of Hope,” said Pharrell. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with this amazing organization before, and I’m looking forward to what promises to be a fantastic event.”
“I’m excited that my one of my closest friends and an iconic artist, Pharrell, has agreed to host the October gala,” said Platt. “As a committed philanthropist in his own right, I knew Pharrell would understand the importance of City of Hope’s mission and want to get involved. It’s going to be an amazing evening.”
In 2016, City of Hope honored Pharrell with the Songs of Hope Legend in Songwriting Award, presented by Clive Davis. An international megastar and dominant force in popular music, Pharrell has worked with a long list of contemporary icons, including Beyoncé, JAY-Z, Justin Timberlake, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Migos, and many others. He most recently co-wrote and co-produced “APES**T,” the debut single from The Carters’ first joint album, Everything Is Love, and co-produced Ariana Grande’s much-anticipated album, Sweetener. Pharrell is also behind Camila Cabello’s catchy chart-topper, “Havana,” co-writing and producing what has become Spotify’s most-streamed song ever by a solo female artist. The “Happy” singer recently collaborated with Cabello for summer jam “Sangria Wine,” and appeared on Rae Sremmurd’s single, “Chanel,” and Janelle Monáe’s “I Got The Juice.” Warner/Chappell administers Pharrell’s pre-2010 songwriting catalog, including hits such as Nelly’s “Hot In Herre,” Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl,” and Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot.”
Each year City of Hope recognizes a philanthropic leader whose work has fundamentally impacted music, film, or entertainment. The coveted Spirit of Life Award is its highest honor, having been given to such noted figures as Mo Ostin, Clive Davis, Quincy Jones, Frances W. Preston, Shelli and Irving Azoff, Edgar Bronfman Jr., Doug Morris, and Sir Lucian Grainge. For more information about donating to City of Hope and purchasing tickets to the upcoming gala dinner, please visit CityofHope.org.
