It was fitting that Marty Diamond was honored with the SummerStage Icon Award at the 30th Anniversary Gala for the City Parks Foundation. He has helped promote free music and brought many acts to the park including tonight’s performers David Gray, Sara Bareilles and Janelle Monáe. The event began with a cocktail hour that ended with the drum corps of Batalá New York leading the guests into the venue. This year, a large tent was erected over the whole venue to ensure that evening thunderstorms did not dampen the festivities. While dinner was served, various City Parks VIPs spoke in addition to the 2019 People and Parks Award presented to Gerald Walker, CEO of ING Americas, and the 2019 SummerStage Icon Award presented to Marty Diamond, Head of Global Music at Paradigm Talent Agency.
NOTE: all photographs are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography
Cocktail Hour (click to enlarge)
Batalá New York (click to enlarge)
Speakers & Awards (click to enlarge)
David Gray performed a three song set that gave the audience a better taste than his brief appearance at the Global Citizens Festival on Saturday.
Sara Bareilles was introduced by Marty Diamond’s daughters, Apple and Story. They also joined her to sing her last song “Brave”!
Janelle Monáe got the party seriously started when she took the stage. Prompting memories of Prince, her choreographed dance routines and energy as she bounced on and off the stage had the crowd on their feet and grooving. Her show the previous night at Pier 17 was just a warm up to this evening’s festivities.
