Pharrell Williams hosting City of Hope event honoring Warner/Chappell’s Jon Platt

Acclaimed Artist, Songwriter & Producer Is First Superstar Announced for Spirit of Life Gala

Pharrell Williams has been tapped as the first superstar and host of this fall’s City of Hope event honoring Warner/Chappell Music Chairman and CEO Jon Platt. City of Hope is an acclaimed nonprofit clinical research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases. The October 11th celebration 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,” Williams states. “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,” states 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 Williams with the Songs of Hope Legend in Songwriting Award, presented by Clive Davis. An international megastar and dominant force in popular music, Williams 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. Williams 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 Williams’ 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. Tickets for the event can be purchased at cityofhope.org.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com