Mark Cuban's AXS TV is set to toast Quincy Jones.
The music cable network has signed on to be the exclusive broadcast partner for the Keep Memory Alive’s Power of Love Gala honoring the 80th birthdays of Jones and Michael Caine. The net will air the special live April 13 from MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
The event marks the third time the two men -- the former a music icon, the latter an Oscar-winning actor -- have joined forces to celebrate their birthdays together. A-listers expected to make appearances with special performances and tributes include Bono, Carlos Santana, Chaka Khan, Chris Tucker, Herbie Hancock, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Scarlett Johansson, Terrence Howard, Patti Austin, Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder, Whoopi Goldberg, will.i.am and Barbra Streisand.
“There are no two greater living icons with a larger influence on the worlds of music and pop culture than Quincy Jones and Sir Michael Caine,” said Cuban, chairman and founder of AXS TV. "Joining the celebration of their 80th birthdays with the Power of Love Gala as the broadcast partner underscores AXS TV’s commitment to being the foremost live destination on television for fans of music and pop-culture events."
Added Larry Ruvo, founder of Keep Memory Alive, whose gala raises funs in support of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and its fight against neurode-generative brain disease such as Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s and Parkinson’s diseases; multiple sclerosis; ALS (aka Lou Gehrig's disease); and memory disorders of all kinds: "We are committed to improving the lives of patients and their families as they face the many challenges associated with brain diseases. We put together an exciting show and are thrilled that the mission of Keep Memory Alive will be shared and supported by the viewers of the live broadcast."
In a bid to drum up preshow attention, Jones -- a 27-time Grammy winner who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame five days after his birthday -- will appear live Monday night on the network’s nightly music program, AXSLive.
