Santana, Rob Thomas, Mary J, Prince Set for All-Star Party

Clive Davis‘ annual pre-Grammy shindig is my favorite party of the year. It’s the best of the season, a tie maybe with Vanity Fair’s Oscar party. Everyone in Hollywood wants to be in the Beverly Hilton Hotel ballroom this Saturday night. Not all of them will make it.

Yesterday I spent party of the morning observing while Clive did interviews and pre-press with Harry Connick, Jr. Harry is very funny, and the duo made for a good team as all the shows like “Access Hollywood” and “ET” got a crack at them.What I can tell you exclusively is that Mary J. Blige as well as the Black Eyed Peas will perform for Universal Music’s Doug Morris, who’s being honored for his Lifetime Achievement by the Grammys at this party. Morris, like Clive, is one of the last real music men. His UMG is a towering success.

Also set for performances are Jennifer Hudson, Kesha, and Carrie Underwood, and Maxwell.

But the big excitement will be the return of Carlos Santana with matchbox twenty star Rob Thomas. They’re set to perform their new cover version of Eric Clapton’s “Sunshine of Your Love.” It’s from the forthcoming Santana album in which the guitar hero “Santana-izes” a dozen classics with guest vocalists. Here’s hoping Carlos and Rob will also do their big hit, “Smooth,” and maybe Rob’s current hit, “Someday.”

My colleagues at Billboard, by the way, have just cited Rob for having the most #1 Hot Adult Contemporay hits. The infectious “Someday” is now headed for the pop charts.

As for Clive’s guests, they’ll run the gamut from NARAS chief Neil Portnow to Jane Fonda and Richard Perry, Sheryl Crow, the Jonas Brothers, Jackie Collins, Berry Gordy, Quincy Jones, and the Kings of Leon. That’s just a taste of who’s coming. There’s also going to be a tribute to a BIG SUPERSTAR who I don’t think has ever attended Clive’s soiree. It’s a surprise! If I revealed the’name in advance, who knows what would happen?