The Grammy Award Lifetime Achievement inductees have been announced.
And what a gang. Perfection:
Black Sabbath, George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Billy Eckstine, Donny Hathaway, Julio Iglesias, Sam & Dave, and Dionne Warwick will be honored with Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award
Lou Adler, Ashford & Simpson, and Johnny Mandel will be honored with Trustees Award; Saul Walker to Receive Technical Grammy® Award.
It’s literally all the best people they could think of. This group is also heavy on classic R&B, which is amazing.
I’m particularly happy for Sam Moore, the living member of Sam & Dave, who’s had a remarkable solo career, and Valerie Simpson, who with her late husband Nik Ashford wrote a big chunk of the Motown and pop song book.
Dionne Warwick, one of the titans of pop and R&B, famous for groundbreaking hits with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and her Arista years of hits.
Lou Adler gave us Monterey Pop, Dunhill Records, and Carole King.
Donny Hathaway was the most brilliant R&B star of the 70s, his life cut short. Between his seminal album “The Ghetto,” duets with Roberta Hathaway, he’s sorely missed.
Then there’s the creator of funk– George Clinton. And jazz stylist, influencer Billy Eckstine. The great songwriter Johnny Mandel. Not to mention Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath, and Julio Iglesias.
Imagine all these people (the living ones) in one room! How about all that music!
“Each year, the Recording Academy has the distinct privilege of celebrating music industry giants who have greatly contributed to our cultural heritage,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. “This year, we have a gifted and brilliant group of honorees and their exceptional accomplishments, contributions, and artistry will continue to influence and inspire generations to come.”
The honorees will be announced on the Grammys February 10th and then treated to a tribute concert in Los Angeles on May 11th.
