Keep Memory Alive's 24th annual Power of Love® gala at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, March 7, 2020 brought top artists and performers Billy Ray Cyrus, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Kelsey Grammer, Sammy Hagar, Derek Hough, Chris Isaak, Jimmy Kimmel, Katlyn Nichols, Greg Phillinganes and more together to honor music legend Neil Diamond and raise crucial funds and awareness for Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.
Also in attendance were Paula Abdul, star of E!’s hit TV show “Botched” Paul Nassif, M.D., "Bar Rescue" star Jon Taffer, British singer Matt Goss, jeweler Steven Lagos, chef Hubert Keller, magician Hans Klok, photocomposer Ryszard Horowitz and owner Mark Davis, president Marc Badain and coach Jon Gruden of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Paying tribute to Diamond's iconic music, Cyrus opened the show with a rousing performance of “I’m a Believer,” followed by Isaak’s cover of “Solitary Man.” Hough introduced Edmonds and Nichols’ soulful rendition of "You Don’t Bring Me Flowers," before Grammer announced Hagar's performance of "Thank the Lord for the Nighttime."
Keep Memory Alive Founder and Chairman Larry Ruvo and Kimmel presented Diamond with an award in honor of his impactful musical contributions to the world, followed by a proclamation of March 7 as “Neil Diamond Day” in Las Vegas.
Diamond then took to the stage, delivering a surprise mini concert of his hits including, "Hello Again,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” "Cracklin’ Rosie,” “Love on Rocks,” “I Am...I Said” and “September Morn.” The audience jumped to their feet and sang along for a finale of “Sweet Caroline,” as Cyrus, Hagar, Isaak, Kimmel and Nichols joined him on stage. Marking his first live performance since announcing his retirement from touring in 2018 due to his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, Diamond looked great, wearing a black leather jacket and and sounding as if no time had passed.
Earlier in the evening, Larry Ruvo and Keep Memory Alive Vice Chairwoman and Co-Founder Camille Ruvo presented Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson with the Keep Memory Alive Community Leadership award in honor of their generous philanthropic endeavors and vast contributions to medical research, education and many Jewish causes and organizations.
Celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck and Masaharu Morimoto prepared exquisite cuisine paired with wines from Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, followed by a showstopping dessert from MGM Grand Pastry Team that featured a cocktail wrapped with cotton candy.
The evening generated the majority of annual revenue for Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health to provide service, care and resources for patients and their caregivers in the fight against neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases; multiple system atrophy; frontotemporal dementia and related disorders; multiple sclerosis and more. There is a chance to help raise money each year, so make sure to save the date for the 25th annual Power of Love gala happening on May 22, 2021 at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
For additional information, call 702.263.9797, visit keepmemoryalive.org or follow on Instagram @keepmemoryalive, Twitter @keepmemoryalive and keepmemoryalive.