Backbeat: Primary Wave Hosts 7th Annual Pre-Grammys Party with CeeLo, 'Voice' Contestants

Above, L-R: T Mo, CeeLo Green, David Chidekel (CeeLo Lawyer), Khujo, Gipp

Primary Wave hosted their annual pre-Grammy party on Saturday night at BOA Steakhouse in West Hollywood. Guests arrived at 7pm and were escorted to an outdoor patio outfitted with an arsenal of heat lamps. An industry-filled crowd mingled over champagne, skinny margaritas, and fried peanut butter and jelly bites before wandering into an adjacent room for a gourmet buffet. Throughout the evening, DJ Papercha$er spun tunes, while attendees put on hats and sunglasses to snap goofy shots in a Nivea-sponsored photo booth.

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The Primary Wave staff was busy managing the party, but did occasionally sneak in a few cocktails. CFO Ramon Villa told Billboard that this year marks the 7th Grammy party that the company has hosted. “It used to be a small event with our writers and artists. We started with about 20 people and now it’s turned into 600 people. It’s all about partnering with our artists and having fun. Even though it’s an industry event, we want to make it younger and hipper and fun.”

L-R: Wendy Goodman, Larry Mestel (CEO, Primary Wave Music Publishing), Dina Lapolt (Entertainment Attorney), Ramon Villa (CFO, Primary Wave Music Publishing)

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Villa also mentioned that Primary Wave is going through an expansion into new management partners and that they would be announcing some fresh deals in a press release in the coming weeks. Following our conversation, Villa went on to socialize with Primary Wave CEO Larry Mestel and Dina Lapolt, Steven Tyler’s entertainment attorney.

CeeLo Green arrived around 9pm with guests including Goodie Mob members T-Mo, Big Gipp, Khujohis, and his lawyer, David Chidekel. He posed for photos on the carpet and went inside to hang out with Juliet Simms, The Voice Season 2 runner up who he has personally taken under his wing.

L-R: Brian Kennedy (producer/songwriter), Kevin Seals, Shy Carter (Interscope recording artist), Aika Hirahara (Recording artist)

We caught up with Simms, who mentioned that she’s heading into the studio to work on new material with Green soon. “I’m also heading to Vegas early March. ‘Lo’ is going to be directing the music video for ‘Wild Child.’ After that, I’m getting on [a] tour with Secondhand Serenade.” Simms also revealed that she is going for a style that brings back the music she listened to as a younger girl. “Girl power! Real rock and roll rock star women. That’s what I’m going for. CeeLo is my artistic, creative, inspirational manager. We’re putting together a record, an idea, a concept, everything. We’re in this together,” she told Billboard.

CeeLo spent the majority of the party mingling with friends and colleagues (Eric Benet, Shy Carter, etc) and doing an occasional round of shots. While he’s not going to the Grammys, Green says he definitely plans to watch them tomorrow. “I have the best seat in the house, right in front of my TV at home on the couch. I may have a few scantily clad young ladies over to watch the awards with me. Why not? I haven’t been following who is being nominated or who is performing. I am completely oblivious to the goings-on so I think I’m going to just sit in front of the television and be pleasantly surprised.”

L-R: Primetime (hip-hop artist), Cameron Penny (Rick Dees Entertainment), Trevin Hunte, Ty Scott (Fireworks)

Green also mentioned that his Vegas “Loberace” show is kicking off at Planet Hollywood later this month. “I’m doing four shows a week. You have no fucking excuse not to come and see me,” he said jokingly. When we asked if the show will involve outrageous outfits, Green replied: “Don’t you ask me silly questions you know the answer to. Of course there will be!”

Also spotted on site was "The Voice" season 3 Team CeeLo contestant, Trevin Hunte. Hunte’s manager, Cameron Penny (Rick Dees Entertainment), announced that his client would be featured on the soundtrack for an upcoming film titled “From The Road,” which is set to hit theaters in the fall. The former Voice contestant told Billboard that he recently moved from Atlanta to Los Angeles to take his music career more seriously and that we can hopefully expect a new track from him by March.

L-R: Gary Shefton, Jaron Lowenstein, David Wells (former MLB pitcher), Larry Mestel (CEO Primary Wave Music Publishing)

Also in attendance: Trevor Jackson, Brian Kennedy (producer), Brent James, Foy Vance, BJ Britt, Aika Hirahara (Japanese recording artist), Andrew McDonnell, Robert Lamm & Jimmy Pankow (Chicago), The Chevin, Ali Tamposi, Underdogs, Nicole Ryan (radio personality), L.P. (recording artist), The Twilite Tone (Grammy nominated producer), Gary Shefton, and David Wells (former MLB pitcher).