# Dave Matthews honors manager Coran Capshaw at gala

> Three major artists performed at the T.J. Martell Foundation's record-breaking fundraiser to celebrate their manager's lifetime of giving back.
- Title: Dave Matthews honors manager Coran Capshaw at gala · Billboard
- Summary: Three major artists performed at the T.J. Martell Foundation's record-breaking fundraiser to celebrate their manager's lifetime of giving back. Coran…
- Keywords: dave matthews, trey anastasio, chris stapleton, coran capshaw, red light management, t.j. martell foundation, cancer research fundraising, music industry philanthropy, cipriani manhattan, concert for charlottesville, Dave, Matthews
- Source: Billboard — https://billboard.com/pro/matthews-anastasio-stapleton-capshaw-tj-martell-foundation
- Author: Eric Renner Brown
- Published: 2026-09-16T18:41:37+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: dave matthews, trey anastasio, chris stapleton, coran capshaw, red light management, t.j. martell foundation, cancer research fundraising, music industry philanthropy, cipriani manhattan, concert for charlottesville
## Record-breaking night for cancer research
Dave Matthews, Trey Anastasio, and Chris Stapleton performed at the T.J. Martell Foundation gala in Manhattan on September 15, raising over 3.2 million dollars for cancer research.
## Manager Capshaw gets lifetime award
Coran Capshaw, founder of Red Light Management and manager to all three performers, received the lifetime music industry award at the event for his business success and philanthropy.

> Coran gives back. Coran and his artists have an incredible spirit of philanthropy supporting so many worthy causes.
## Capshaw's quiet approach to giving
Dave Matthews recalled how Capshaw quickly organized a healing concert for Charlottesville after the 2017 Unite the Right rally, deliberately keeping it low-profile rather than seeking media attention.

> Coran said, 'We have to do something.' Within a month, we had a concert.
## Cancer hits close to home
Capshaw initially hesitated to accept the honor due to the spotlight, but reconsidered after Brad Arnold from Red Light client 3 Doors Down died of kidney cancer in February.

> We all get hit by cancer, whether it's an artist we work with, whether ourselves, friends and family.
## Three artists, three foundations
Matthews founded the Bama Works Fund in 1999, Anastasio's Phish created the Waterwheel Foundation in 1997, and Stapleton runs Outlaw State of Kind with his wife Morgane.
## Acoustic performances honor the honoree
Matthews played 'Save Me' and 'Don't Drink the Water,' Anastasio performed 'Waste' and 'More,' and Stapleton played 'Where Rainbows Never Die' and 'Tennessee Whiskey.'

> There are two things he deeply loves. Music and giving back.
## Foundation reaches 300 million milestone
The T.J. Martell Foundation has raised over 300 million dollars to date for cancer research, with the 51st annual gala marking the most successful event in more than two decades.
## Key takeaway

Coran Capshaw, who manages Dave Matthews, Trey Anastasio, and Chris Stapleton, was honored for using his success to support cancer research and other causes.