The 2024 edition of the Kennedy Center Honors celebrated an eclectic assortment of entertainers Sunday night: filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, singer Bonnie Raitt, trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and surviving members of the Grateful Dead. The organization also bestowed its honor on an entertainment venue for the first time, New York’s iconic Apollo Theater.
As per tradition, the honorees observed the proceedings from the presidential box in the Kennedy Center Opera House, accompanied by President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and First Husband Doug Emhoff. Freshly arrived from a White House reception, all received rousing ovations from an appreciative audience when introduced.
That White House tradition could go on hiatus during the incoming Trump administration, since Donald Trump notably declined to participate in the affair during his first presidency. Nonetheless, invitations will be extended by the rigidly nonpartisan arts institution, the Kencen assures.
Slated to air on CBS Dec. 22, the Honors production in its 47th year is a seamless and eye-popping spectacle produced again by Done + Dusted. It is filled with pleasant surprises as unannounced participants saunter on stage to toast and entertain. For example, the Opera House stage replicated the Apollo Theater’s venerable space during that lively segment, while the Grateful Dead tribute was adorned with suitable props including an iconic Volkswagen bus.
Queen Latifah, the evening’s official host, opened the proceedings with introductions and a medley of tunes appropriate for each honoree, with help from Bonnie Raitt. Opera vocalist J’Nai Bridges sang the National Anthem, backed by a marching military band.
First up was the tribute to Raitt emceed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, whose accolades included a description of the honoree as “all red hair and no B.S.” The set opened with the classic, “Angel From Montgomery,” performed by Dave Matthews and Emmylou Harris, followed by “Walking Blues” by Keb Mo and Susan Tedeschi.
Sheryl Crow and Brandi Carlile combined on “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” The tribute concluded with the touching Raitt classic, “Nick of Time,” performed by Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Crow and Arnold McCuller.
The Sandoval segment highlighted the saga of the Cuba-born trumpeter and composer whose love affair with jazz sent him to prison for violating edicts against the genre there. He and his family ultimately made it to the U.S. via London, and his musical career began. On hand for his salute were actor/director and fellow countryman Andy Garcia, and Cuban pianist/bandleader Chucho Valdés. Trumpeter/composer Chris Botti performed a soulful version of “Smile.”
An assortment of talented musicians combined on Sandoval’s composition, “A Mis Abuelos.” They included Ruben Rodriguez, Trombone Shorty, Chucho Valdés, Pedrito Martinez, Yasser Tejada, Randy Brecker, and José Sibaja.
The Apollo Theater segment followed, a golden opportunity for the Done + Dusted team to flourish. It wasn’t wasted. For one memorable tribute, the Opera House stage “became” the vintage Apollo, ready to showcase the facility’s critical role as a launching pad for countless black entertainers. In the rear was a big band ready for its assignment.
Representing the theater in the presidential box were CEO Michelle Ebanks and former CEO Jonelle Procope.
The set’s participants included comedian Dave Chappelle (a Kencen Mark Twain Award honoree), who revealed his own experience as an intrepid 15-year-old performing there. It was a brief but memorable experience, he conceded. He “got the hook” in short order by the theater’s famously judgmental audience when his jokes fell flat, turning it into an invaluable learning experience.
Others included rapper/record producer Doug E. Fresh, Queen Latifah, saxophonist Kamasi Washington, and actor/dancer Savion Glover. The musical duet The War and Treaty performed “You’re All I Need to Get By,” “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Participants credited the iconic theater’s longevity to a “collective achievement of generations,” and called for the next generation to maintain the tradition.
The tribute to Coppola debuted with a touching version of “The Impossible Dream” by singer/actress Grace VanderWaal. Introduced by Robert De Niro, it included an impressive list of L.A.-based chums sitting on stage, including George Lucas, Laurence Fishburne, Al Pacino, Coppola’s sister, actress Talia Shire, his nephew Jason Schwartzman, his granddaughter Gia Coppola and director Martin Scorsese.
They took turns praising Coppola’s roles as film trailblazer, risk-taker, visionary, and fierce advocate for perfection in every pursuit. He even violated Hollywood’s most important rule, Pacino noted: “Never put your own money in your own film!”
Other testaments to the honoree’s ingenuity included Scorsese’s account of an evening at Coppola’s home that was interrupted by a screening of Scorsese’s “The Last Waltz.” Coppola was cooking a red sauce that needed to be stirred. No problem. He rigged an old projector to stir the sauce with an attached spoon, so the story went.
The evening ended with the Grateful Dead tribute, which drew an eclectic list of admirers of all ages. An opening video included testimonials from ice cream entrepreneurs Ben and Jerry and musicians John Mayer and Norah Jones.
David Letterman was also on hand, “stumbling” out of the VW bus in a faux altered state. Actor Miles Teller and actress Chloe Sevigny also offered their perspectives as confirmed Deadheads.
Topics included the Dead’s ever-changing performances of their classics and the culture they have nurtured for generations. As expected, the tribute honored the band’s late members including co-founders Jerry Garcia and bassist Phil Lesh, who died Oct. 25.
The robust set included a touching video of Garcia performing with the group and versions of Dead classics including “Ripple,” “Friend of the Devil,” “Sugaree” and “Not Fade Away.”
Other performers include Sturgill Simpson, Grahame Lesh, Don Was, Kendrick Scott, Terrence Higgins, Jeff Chimenti, Rick Mitarotonda, Maggie Rogers, Leon Bridges, Dave Matthews, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi.
Per its tradition, the Honors celebration began the previous evening with a private dinner for recipients and colleagues at the U.S. State Department, where honorees receive their signature ribbons amid praise from colleagues. Soprano Renee Fleming, an honoree last year, emceed the affair.
Highlights of that event included Sandoval’s trumpet solo of “God Bless America” and wry commentary about the Grateful Dead from comedian Al Franken, a self-proclaimed Deadhead. Musician Sheryl Crow and past honoree Mavis Staples heaped praise on Raitt.
Film editor/director/writer Walter Murch touted honoree Coppola and reminisced about their longstanding relationship. “I met Francis while he worked on (the 1969 pic) ‘The Rain People,’” he said, adding that an unexpected job offer ensued.
The Apollo Theater’s toast was emceed by actress/singer Phylicia Rashad, who praised the longstanding venue known for its eclectic format and “visionary leadership,” especially under former president and CEO Procope. She praised its long history of showcasing iconic entertainers of every stripe, its artistic innovations and its lasting contribution to American culture.
(Pictured: Grateful Dead members Bill Kreutzmann, Bob Weir and Mickey Hart attend the Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 8)
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