Last night at the Los Angeles Convention Center, in a room full of roses, hydrangeas and candles in glass vases, legend after recording artist legend stepped onstage to pay tribute to Barbra Streisand, one of the greatest singers of all time.
 Barbra Streisand, the 2011 MusiCares Person of the Year performs at the Los Angeles Convention Center. (Photo: Lester Cohen/WireImage) |
They sang her songs — to her — and the standouts were Diana Krall, and Tony Bennett, and the MusiCares 2011 wildly soulful trio of Jeff Beck, LeAnn Rimes and Bebe Winans. Stevie Wonder tore the roof off Streisand’s “People.” Leona Lewis nailed “Somewhere.” Faith Hill’s version of “Send in Clowns” was heartbreakingly strong and beautiful.
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Streisand is MusicCares’ 2011 Person of the Year and being honored for her accomplishments as a creative artist and as a humanitarian at the annual dinner to raise funds for MusicCares.
As for the ambiance? Formal but not stuffy. The dinner-and-show remains one of Grammy Week’s most coveted tickets. MusicCares’ silent auction seems to grow in quantity and quality every year. The not-silent auction went on too long, but a stay on a yacht went for $85,000. Prince (who introduced Streisand herself) walked among the crowd of wowed music industry titans like a humble king.
Before she went into a medley of some of her signature hits, Streisand mentioned that her niece had recently watched “a DVD of ‘Funny Girl,’ and wondered why she was singing songs from ‘Glee.'” In addition to heartfelt thanks for Marty Erlichman, her manager of fifty years, Streisand also remembered her label. “I want to thank Columbia Records,” she said, “for believing in me since 1962.”
When Streisand herself began to sing it was clear that while her range is fraying slightly at the outermost edges, her voice is still a singular instrument, and her phrasing is still matchless. And: Barbra Streisand’s sass remains intact.
MusicCares provides assistance to musicians in times of medical, personal, and/or financial, need. The foundation’s programs include addiction recovery, and senior housing. MusiCares has been in existence since 1989.
 Mr. & Ms. Diana Krall and the great Tony Bennett, the latter two were amongst the evening’s standout performers. (Photo: Lester Cohen/WireImage) |
 Is he smirking? Prince, NARAS President Neil Portnow and the 2011 MusiCares Honoree Barbara Sreisand. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage) |
 Stevie Wonder in the act of tearing the roof off Streisand’s “People” and the L.A. Convention Center. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage) |
 A Gleekster & an American Idiot: Actors Lea Michele and Theo Stockman. Michele performed Babs’ classic “My Man.” (Photo: Larry Busacca/WireImage) |
 Who would have thought? The wildly soulful trio of LeAnn Rimes, Jeff Beck and Bebe Winans. (Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) |
 A judge and a real American Idol: Randy Jackson and Quincy Jones. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images) |
 “Glee” music producer Adam Anders, Nikki Anders and music co-producer Peer Astrom (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images) |
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