Bryan-Michael Cox, multi-Grammy award-winning producer hosted his 16th Annual “The Breakfast Club” pre-Grammy brunch in Beverly Hills.
The mood was high, you could feel the excitement in the air. It was the morning of the 62nd annual Grammy Awards. Guest gathered at the luxurious SLS Marriott Bonvoy. The hotel’s (massive) indoor/outdoor courtyard was bright, plush, and perfect for a dreamy Sunday brunch. Cameras were flashing. Cocktails were flowing. Bombay Sapphire provided specialty drinks as pretty as their limited edition glasses. Chatter buzzed around the room as brunch-goers exchanged predictions of who would take home a Grammy.
The brunch was held in support of Music & Memory nonprofit. Donations generated from the event benefitted the program, which is committed to helping patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other cognitive loss overcome physical challenges through music. Cox also uses the brunch to highlight and celebrates a well-deserving musician. This year’s honoree was Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, author, and R&B staple, the uncomparable Faith Evans. Celebs and guests continued to pour in as we all awaited the women of the hour. Kenny Lattimore, Malinda Williams, Paul Wall, Rocsi Diaz, and Cox himself hit the green carpet at the plush media lounge provide Cricket Wireless.
As I prepared for interviews, Hip-Hop Celebrity photographer abruptly approached me, phone in his hand, “have you seen this?” he asked in shocked. In disbelief, I quickly brushed his message off. “That’s fake news” I told him. Within just minutes I learned the unfortunate truth, the news was real. As everyone else learned of the divesting news, the buzzing room grew silent and still. Then a single voice cried out hysterically, “No! No, no, no, nooooo!” Tears began to fall down faces and people began to console each other. Rocsi Diaz visibly upset walked off the carpet without interviewing. Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant, along with 7 others had perished in a helicopter crash in Southern California.
Angela Mack took to the mic and opened up the program with a moment of silence to pay respect to those whose lives were lost. Cox followed with a heartfelt speech about life and death. He continued his speech sharing his personal memories and transition to a touching introduction of the one and only Faith Evans. Evans took to the mic and thanked everyone “I’m not use to being awarded. This means a lot”. Finally, Rocsi Diaz kept it short and sweet with closing remarks. “We are here to support a great cause. We lost a great man and in his honor donate 24! Every dollar counts”.
The program concluded and guests mingled and snapped photos. Although hearts were heavy, the room shared an overall sense of appreciation and gratitude.
Photos by Tammy B
More About Music & Memory
Music & Memory is a program that brings personalized, digitized music selections to patients or residents with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other cognitive loss. Started by social worker Dan Cohen in a nursing home in New York in 2006, the program has since been expanded to hundreds of facilities throughout the United States and Canada. By providing patients with iPods filled with their favorite songs and/or familiar
music, Music & Memory demonstrates the powerful ability of music to engage, lift the effect, and support memory retrieval, even in severely debilitated Alzheimer’s patients. Patients who previously were remote, disengaged and completely unresponsive remarkably become animated, tap, sway and sing to favorite rhythms, can answer questions, and hold conversations. Music & Memory reduce patients’ reliance on medication which can, in turn, impact safety, quality, and satisfaction measures.
Another sponsor was SunTrust Banks.
