Red Light Managements Coran Capshaw Leads Star-Studded T.J. Martell Foundation Gala for Cancer Research

The 51st annual T.J. Martell Foundation gala, scheduled for September 15 at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, will feature a rare one‑night lineup of Dave Matthews Band, Phish and Chris Stapleton. The event, the foundation’s flagship fundraiser, is set to raise money for cancer research and will be sponsored by Live Nation.

The foundation, founded in 1975 by record executive Tony Martell in memory of his son T.J., has spent decades funneling industry wealth to leukemia, cancer and AIDS research. Its website reports that the organization has raised close to $300 million and has supported nine leading cancer treatment centers across the United States.

Coran Capshaw, the founder of Red Light Management, will receive the foundation’s Lifetime Music Industry Award. Capshaw has managed the Dave Matthews Band since 1991, when he first booked the group at his Charlottesville club, Trax. Under his leadership, Red Light Management has grown to become the largest independent artist‑management company in the world, representing acts such as Phish, Chris Stapleton, The Strokes, Primus, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie and Alabama Shakes.

The gala’s headlining acts are all clients of Red Light Management. Capshaw’s ability to assemble three of the company’s most bankable touring artists for a single night illustrates the concentration of power that characterizes the modern music business. The event is described as a “family reunion” in which the manager’s roster performs for the benefit of the foundation.

According to the foundation’s press release, the digital tribute journal will close in early September, and the venue is already sold out. Live Nation’s role as the inaugural red‑carpet sponsor underscores the partnership between live‑event promoters and music‑industry philanthropy.

The T.J. Martell Foundation’s gala is one of several high‑profile music‑industry charity events that rely on the personal networks of managers, agents and label heads. While the event’s star‑powered lineup attracts media attention, the primary outcome is the transfer of funds to cancer research institutions.

The foundation’s history reflects a long‑standing tradition of music‑industry philanthropy. Tony Martell, a veteran of the industry, established the organization after his son’s death from leukemia. Over the past five decades, the foundation has maintained a focus on high‑risk, high‑gain research projects that might otherwise lack funding.

The 51st gala will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street, a venue that has hosted numerous industry fundraisers. The event’s schedule will include a tribute to Capshaw, a performance by the three Red Light acts, and a closing address by foundation representatives.

The gala’s success demonstrates how a single manager’s roster can mobilize resources for a charitable cause. The event also highlights the broader trend of consolidation within the music‑management sector, where a handful of firms wield significant influence over touring, promotion and philanthropy.

In summary, the T.J. Martell Foundation’s September 15 gala will bring together three of the industry’s most prominent touring acts under the management of Coran Capshaw. The event, supported by Live Nation and hosted at Cipriani 42nd Street, will raise funds for cancer research and continue the foundation’s legacy of channeling music‑industry wealth into medical science.