RECORDING ACADEMY GALA
WELCOMES DEMOCRATS

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences put the "band" in political bandwagon Monday, hosting a closed-door reception in honor of Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and welcoming the Democratic National Convention to Los Angeles.

Held at the Academy's Santa Monica headquarters, the Wolfgang Puck-catered event featured performances by Melissa Etheridge, the Goo Goo Dolls, Dave Koz and the Grammy High School Jazz Ensemble. Chevy Chase hosted the event.

"They basically hoodwigged me into doing this by telling me that Gore and Clinton were coming," Chase told hitsdailydouble.com. "Seriously, music education is extremely important and the Democrats are the ones behind that. I've been a Democrat all my life, and I thought this would be a worthwhile thing to do."

Shortly after performing the "Star Spangled Banner" at the Staples Center, site of the Democratic Convention, Etheridge arrived at the reception to perform a short acoustic set.

Jazz saxophonist Koz—who was joined during his performance by Montell Jordan for a cover of Wham's "Careless Whisper"—noted his support of Joseph Lieberman's vice presidential nomination, saying that he would very much like to attend "Shabbat dinner at the White House."

"Steny Hoyer is probably not a household name to most people, but he has been working for years on behalf of music education, saving the [arts] endowments, national public radio and all of those kinds of things," offered Academy President/CEO Mike Greene. "This is a great opportunity to not only give Steny an honor, but also to say welcome to the democrats here in Los Angeles."