Friday, December 19, 2025
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Stevie Wonder Parties with The Weeknd, DNCE: “I’m surprised Beyonce didn’t win”

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Stevie Wonder brought his extended family to the snazzy Republic Records after party last night, held at very hot spot Catch LA in West Hollywood. When I asked him what he thought of the Grammy Awards, the music legend replied: “I was surprised Beyonce didn’t win.” We did talk about Adele’s heartfelt speech in which she practically gave Beyonce the award, and Stevie acknowledged that. But like a lot of people who don’t get how the Grammys work these days, he didn’t get it. Those gargantuan sales for “25” made it the defacto winner for over a year.

At the Republic party Stevie was deluged with well wishers including The Weeknd, Fifth Harmony, Joe Jonas with DNCE, Jessie J, David Foster, actor Anthony Mackie, Adrien Grenier from “Entourage,” Maya Henry (the “it” girl philanthropist from Texas), hot new Republic group The YRS.

There were Paris Jackson sightings, although I didn’t see her. Paris did a great job as a Grammy presenter early in the show. On Instagram her brother Prince posted a tribute to her, and revealed that she had designed her own dress. She looked smashing. Good for her. I just hope she takes her climb to fame slowly. She has a tremendous future!

The Grammy parties were a scattered lot, and it wasn’t that simple to get from place to place quickly. DefJam and Universal Music had theirs at the Ace Hotel, where Katy Perry held court and chatted with UMG chief Lucian Grange. That’s where I ran into Don Cheadle, Russell Simmons, and amazingly a real legend: John Cale of the Velvet Underground.  Even though VU received a Lifetime Achievement Award, they and Cale were largely ignored last night. Pity.

Up at the Hotel Bel Air, Sony Music spent a lot of money but I don’t how much bang they got for their buck. Adele showed up, but she wouldn’t take photos. Only one turned up on the photo service sites. John Legend, who was very moving with Cynthia Erivo for the In Memoriam segment, popped in. Otherwise, Sony was light on talent.

And there was no sign of Beyonce after her loss to label mate Adele. But heavily pregnant with twins, and no doubt exhausted from staging her unusual Grammy presentation  about birth, life, and the Last Supper, Bey probably went home.

Adele, Off Key And Always Off Beat, Takes the Lion’s Share of Grammy Awards

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If you didn’t know that Adele’s “25” would win Album of the Year at the Grammys, then you don’t  know the Grammys. “25” sold millions and millions of albums. It was a sales phenomenon. No other album for 2015-16 stood a chance against it. Even Beyonce couldn’t take lemons and made Lemonade. But  Adele did give a heartfelt speech when she won. And Beyonce gets twins.

The best segments of the 2017 Grammys? John Legend and Cynthia Erivo should have been able to sing “God Only Knows” all the way through, it was so good. Bruno Mars was excellent. Lady Gaga really rocked Metallica’s world, but the mic glitch for Metallica was a horror show. Chance the Rapper, who thanked God a lot, is a breakthrough artist. I really liked Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood on their duet.

The technical glitches were really terrible. Adele’s start over should have been prevented. After all, the same thing happened a few hours earlier, at rehearsal. She stopped, cursed, and started again on George Michaels’ “Fast Love.” And what a weird song choice. She insisted on it, apparently. “Careless Whisper” would have been so much better. As it was, Adele was flat. Maybe she didn’t have her “ears” in. And why didn’t they let “Hello” writer Greg Kurstin speak? That was just rude.

A shout out to Stax Records’ original hit maker William Bell, who gave a dynamic performance with Gary Clarke Jr.

But holy moley– what the heck was that Bee Gees tribute? It was so awful that Barry Gibb left the Staples Center the minute it was over. And why wasn’t John Travolta in that segment? At least he belonged in it. When he turned up earlier, it was just random.

And about the Bee Gees– they were the only Lifetime Achievement winners who were highlighted. No nod to Nina Simone or the Velvet Underground? And no nod to classical music, jazz, or opera at all?

GENERAL FIELD

Record Of The Year:

WINNER: “Hello” — Adele
“Formation” — Beyoncé
“7 Years” — Lukas Graham
“Work” — Rihanna Featuring Drake
“Stressed Out” — Twenty One Pilots

Album Of The Year:

WINNER: 25 Adele
Lemonade
— Beyoncé
Purpose — Justin Bieber
Views — Drake
A Sailor’s Guide To Earth — Sturgill Simpson

Song Of The Year:

WINNER: “Hello” — Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin, songwriters (Adele)
“Formation” — Khalif Brown, Asheton Hogan, Beyoncé Knowles & Michael L. Williams II, songwriters (Beyoncé)
“I Took A Pill In Ibiza” — Mike Posner, songwriter (Mike Posner)
“Love Yourself” — Justin Bieber, Benjamin Levin & Ed Sheeran, songwriters (Justin Bieber)
“7 Years” — Lukas Forchhammer, Stefan Forrest, Morten Pilegaard & Morten Ristorp, songwriters (Lukas Graham)

Best New Artist:

WINNER: Chance The Rapper
Kelsea Ballerini
The Chainsmokers
Maren Morris
Anderson .Paak


POP FIELD

Best Pop Solo Performance:

WINNER: “Hello” — Adele
“Hold Up” — Beyonce
“Love Yourself” — Justin Bieber
“Piece By Piece (Idol Version)” — Kelly Clarkson
“Dangerous Woman” — Ariana Grande

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:

“Stressed Out” — Twenty One Pilots
“Closer” — The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey
“7 Years” — Lukas Graham
“Work” — Rihanna Featuring Drake
“Cheap Thrills” — Sia Featuring Sean Paul

Best Pop Vocal Album:

WINNER: 25 — Adele
Purpose — Justin Bieber
Dangerous Woman — Ariana Grande
Confident — Demi Lovato
This Is Acting — Sia

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:

WINNER: Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin — Willie Nelson
Cinema —
Andrea Bocelli
Fallen Angels — Bob Dylan
Stages Live — Josh Groban
Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway — Barbra Streisand


DANCE/ELECTRONIC MUSIC FIELD

Best Dance Recording:

WINNER: “Don’t Let Me Down” — The Chainsmokers featuring Daya
“Tearing Me Up” — Bob Moses
“Never Be Like You” — Flume featuring Kai
“Rinse & Repeat” — Riton featuring Kah-Lo
“Drinkee” — Sofi Tukker

Best Dance/Electronic Album:

WINNER: Skin — Flume
Electronica 1: The Time Machine — Jean-Michel Jarre
Epoch — Tycho
Barbara Barbara, We Face A Shining Future — Underworld
Louie Vega Starring…XXVIII — Louie Vega


CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FIELD

Best Contemporary Instrumental Album:

WINNER: Culcha Vulcha — Snarky Puppy
Human Nature
— Herb Alpert
When You Wish Upon a Star — Bill Frisell
Way Back Home: Live From Rochester, NY — Steve Gadd Band
Unpsoken — Chuck Loeb


ROCK FIELD

Best Rock Performance:

WINNER: “Blackstar” — David Bowie
“Joe (Live From Austin City Limits)” — Alabama Shakes
“Don’t Hurt Yourself” — Beyoncé Featuring Jack White
“The Sound Of Silence” — Disturbed
“Heathens” — Twenty One Pilots

Best Metal Performance:

WINNER: “Dystopia” — Megadeth
“Shock Me” — Baroness
“Slivera” — Gojira
“Rotting in Vain” — Korn
“The Price Is Wrong” — Periphery

Best Rock Song:

WINNER: “Blackstar” — David Bowie, songwriter (David Bowie)
“Burn the Witch” —Radiohead, songwriters (Radiohead)
“Hardwired” — James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich, songwriters (Metallica)
“Heathens” — Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots)
“My Name Is Human” — Rich Meyer, Ryan Meyer & Johnny Stevens, songwriters (Highly Suspect)

Best Rock Album:

WINNER: Tell Me I’m Pretty — Cage The Elephant
California
— Blink-182
Magma — Gojira
Death Of A Bachelor — Panic! At The Disco
Weezer — Weezer


ALTERNATIVE FIELD

Best Alternative Music Album:

WINNER: Blackstar — David Bowie
22, A Million
— Bon Iver
The Hope Six Demolition Project — PJ Harvey
Post Pop Depression — Iggy Pop
A Moon Shaped Pool — Radiohead


R&B FIELD

Best R&B Performance:

WINNER: “Cranes in the Sky” — Solange
“Turnin’ Me Up” — BJ The Chicago Kid
“Permission” — Ro James
“I Do” — Musiq Soulchild
“Needed Me” — Rihanna

Best Traditional R&B Performance:

WINNER: “Angel” — Lalah Hathaway
“The Three Of Me” — William Bell
“Woman’s World” — BJ The Chicago Kid
“Sleeping With The One I Love” — Fantasia
“Can’t Wait” — Jill Scott

Best R&B Song:

WINNER: “Lake By the Ocean” — Hod David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
“Come and See Me” — J. Brathwaite, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib, songwriters (PartyNextDoor Featuring Drake)
“Exchange” — Michael Hernandez & Bryson Tiller, songwriters (Bryson Tiller)
“Kiss It Better” — Jeff Bhasker, Robyn Fenty, John-Nathan Glass & Natalia Noemi, songwriters (Rihanna)
“Luv” — Magnus August Høiberg, Benjamin Levin & Daystar Peterson, songwriters (Tory Lanez)

Best Urban Contemporary Album:

WINNER: Lemonade — Beyoncé
Ology — Gallant
We Are King — KING
Malibu — Anderson .Paak
Anti — Rihanna

Best R&B Album:

WINNER: Lalah Hathaway Live — Lalah Hathaway
In My Mind
— BJ The Chicago Kid
Velvet Portraits — Terrace Martin
Healing Season — Mint Condition
Smoove Jones — Mya


RAP FIELD

Best Rap Performance:

WINNER: “No Problem” — Chance The Rapper Featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
“Panda” —Desiigner
“Pop Style” — Drake Featuring The Throne
“All The Way Up” — Fat Joe & Remy Ma Featuring French Montana & Infared
“That Part” — ScHoolboy Q Featuring Kanye West

Best Rap/Sung Performance:

WINNER: “Hotline Bling” — Drake
“Freedom” — Beyoncé Featuring Kendrick Lamar
“Broccoli” — D.R.A.M. Featuring Lil Yachty
“Ultralight Beam” — Kanye West Featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream
“Famous” — Kanye West Featuring Rihanna

Best Rap Song:

WINNER: “Hotline Bling” — Aubrey Graham & Paul Jefferies, songwriters (Drake)
“All The Way Up” — Joseph Cartagena, Edward Davadi, Shandel Green, Karim Kharbouch, Andre Christopher Lyon, Reminisce Mackie & Marcello Valenzano, songwriters (Fat Joe & Remy Ma Featuring French Montana & Infared)
“Famous” — Chancelor Bennett, Ross Birchard, Ernest Brown, Andrew Dawson, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, Kejuan Muchita, Patrick Reynolds, Kanye West & Cydel Young, songwriters (Kanye West Featuring Rihanna)
“No Problem” — Chancelor Bennett, Dwayne Carter & Tauheed Epps, songwriters (Chance The Rapper Featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)
“Ultralight Beam” — Chancelor Bennett, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Kirk Franklin, Noah Goldstein, Samuel Griesemer, Terius Nash, Jerome Potter, Kelly Price, Nico “Donnie Trumpet” Segal, Derek Watkins, Kanye West & Cydel Young, songwriters (Kanye West Featuring Chance The Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & The-Dream)

Best Rap Album:

WINNER: Coloring Book — Chance The Rapper
And the Anonymous Nobody — De La Soul
Major Key — DJ Khaled
Views — Drake
Blank Face LP — ScHoolboy Q
The Life of Pablo — Kanye West


COUNTRY FIELD

Best Country Solo Performance:

WINNER: “My Church” — Maren Morris
“Love Can Go To Hell” — Brandy Clark
“Vice” — Miranda Lambert
“Church Bells” — Carrie Underwood
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” — Keith Urban

Best Country Duo/Group Performance:

WINNER: “Jolene” — Pentatonix Featuring Dolly Parton
“Different for Girls” — Dierks Bentley Featuring Elle King
“21 Summer” — Brothers Osborne
“Setting The World On Fire” — Kenny Chesney & P!nk
“Think Of You” — Chris Young With Cassadee Pope

Best Country Song:

WINNER: “Humble and Kind” — Lori McKenna, songwriter (Tim McGraw)
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” — Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey & Steven Lee Olsen, songwriters (Keith Urban)
“Die A Happy Man” — Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett & Joe Spargur, songwriters (Thomas Rhett)
“My Church” — busbee & Maren Morris, songwriters (Maren Morris)
“Vice” — Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)

Best Country Album:

WINNER: A Sailor’s Guide to Earth — Sturgill Simpson
Big Day in a Small Town
— Brandy Clark
Full Circle — Loretta Lynn
Hero — Maren Morris
Ripcord — Keith Urban


NEW AGE FIELD

Best New Age Album:

WINNER: White Sun II — White Sun
Orogen
— John Burke
Dark Sky Island — Enya
Inner Passion — Peter Kater & Tina Guo
Rosetta — Vangelis


JAZZ FIELD

Best Improvised Jazz Solo:

WINNER: “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” — John Scofield, soloist
“Countdown” — Joey Alexander, soloist
“In Movement” — Ravi Coltrane, soloist
“We See” — Fred Hersch, soloist
“I Concentrate On You” — Brad Mehldau, soloist

Best Jazz Vocal Album:

WINNER: Take Me To The Alley — Gregory Porter
Sound Of Red
— René Marie
Upward Spiral — Branford Marsalis Quartet With Special Guest Kurt Elling
Harlem On My Mind — Catherine Russell
The Sting Variations — The Tierney Sutton Band

Best Jazz Instrumental Album:

WINNER: Country for Old Men — John Scofield
Book of Intuition
— Kenny Barron Trio
Dr. Um — Peter Erskine
Sunday Night At The Vanguard — The Fred Hersch Trio
Nearness — Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:

WINNER: Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom — Ted Nash Big Band
Real Enemies — Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
Presents Monk’estra, Vol. 1 — John Beasley
Kaleidoscope Eyes: Music of the Beatles — John Daversa
All L.A. Band — Bob Mintzer

Best Latin Jazz Album:

WINNER: Tribute To Irakere: Live In Marciac — Chucho Valdés
Entre Colegas
— Andy González
Madera Latino: A Latin Jazz Perspective On The Music Of Woody Shaw — Brian Lynch & Various Artists
Canto América — Michael Spiro/Wayne Wallace La Orquesta Sinfonietta
30 – Trio Da Paz


GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC FIELD

Best Gospel Performance/Song:

WINNER: “God Provides” — Tamela Mann; Kirk Franklin, songwriter
“It’s Alright, It’s OK” — Shirley Caesar Featuring Anthony Hamilton; Stanley Brown & Courtney Rumble, songwriters
“You’re Bigger [Live]” — Jekalyn Carr; Allundria Carr, songwriter
“Made A Way [Live]” — Travis Greene; Travis Greene, songwriter
“Better” — Hezekiah Walker; Jason Clayborn, Gabriel Hatcher & Hezekiah Walker, songwriters

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song:

WINNER: “Thy Will” — Hillary Scott & The Scott Family; Bernie Herms, Hillary Scott & Emily Weisband, songwriters Track from: Love Remains
“Trust In You” — Lauren Daigle; Lauren Daigle, Michael Farren & Paul Mabury, songwriters
“Priceless” — For King & Country; Benjamin Backus, Seth Mosley, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone & Tedd Tjornhom, songwriters
“King of the World” — Natalie Grant; Natalie Grant, Becca Mizell & Samuel Mizell, songwriters
“Chain Breaker” — Zach Williams; Mia Fieldes, Jonathan Smith & Zach Williams, songwriters

Best Gospel Album:

WINNER: Losing My Religion — Kirk Franklin
Listen
—Tim Bowman Jr.
Fill This House — Shirley Caesar
A Worshipper’s Heart [Live] —Todd Dulaney
Demonstrate [Live] —William Murphy

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album:

WINNER: Love Remains — Hillary Scott & The Scott Family
Poets & Saints
— All Sons & Daughters
American Prodigal — Crowder
Be One — Natalie Grant
Youth Revival [Live] — Hillsong Young & Free

Best Roots Gospel Album:

WINNER: Hymns — Joey+Rory
Better Together —
Gaither Vocal Band
Nature’s Symphony In 432 — The Isaacs
Hymns And Songs Of Inspiration — Gordon Mote
God Don’t Ever Change: The Songs Of Blind Willie Johnson — (Various Artists)


LATIN FIELD

Best Latin Pop Album:

WINNER: Un Besito Mas — Jesse & Joy
Ilusión — Gaby Moreno
Similares — Laura Pausini
Seguir Latiendo — Sanalejo
Buena Vida — Diego Torres

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album:

WINNER: iLevitable — ile
L.H.O.N. (La Humanidad O Nosotros) — Illya Kuryaki & The Valderamas
Buenaventura — La Santa Cecilia
Los Rakas — Los Rakas
Amor Supremo — Carla Morrison

Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano):

WINNER: Un Azteca En El Azteca, Vol. 1 (En Vivo) — Vicente Fernández
Raíces
— Banda El Recodo De Cruz Lizárraga
Hecho A Mano — Joss Favela
Generación Maquinaria Est. 2006 — La Maquinaria Norteña
Tributo A Joan Sebastian Y Rigoberto Alfaro — Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea

Best Tropical Latin Album:

WINNER: Donde Están? Jose Lugo & Guasábara Combo
Conexión
— Fonseca
La Fantasia Homenaje A Juan Formell — Formell Y Los Van Van
35 Aniversario — Grupo Niche
La Sonora Santanera En Su 60 Aniversario — La Sonora Santanera


AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC FIELD

Best American Roots Performance:

WINNER: “House of Mercy” — Sarah Jarosz
“Ain’t No Man” — The Avett Brothers
“Mother’s Children Have A Hard Time” — Blind Boys Of Alabama
“Factory Girl” — Rhiannon Giddens
“Wreck You” — Lori McKenna

Best American Roots Song:

WINNER: “Kid Sister” — Vince Gill, songwriter (The Time Jumpers)
“Alabama at Night” — Robbie Fulks, songwriter (Robbie Fulks)
“City Lights” — Jack White, songwriter (Jack White)
“Gulfstream” — Eric Adcock & Roddie Romero, songwriters (Roddie Romero and The Hub City All-Stars)
“Wreck You” — Lori McKenna & Felix McTeigue, songwriters (Lori McKenna)

Best Americana Album:

WINNER: This Is Where I Live — William Bell
True Sadness
— The Avett Brothers
The Cedar Creek Sessions — Kris Kristofferson
The Bird & The Rifle — Lori McKenna
Kid Sister — The Time Jumpers

Best Bluegrass Album:

WINNER: Coming Home — O’Connor Band With Mark O’Connor
Original Traditional
— Blue Highway
Burden Bearer — Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
The Hazel Sessions — Laurie Lewis & The Right Hands
North And South — Claire Lynch

Best Traditional Blues Album:

WINNER: Porcupine Meat — Bobby Rush
Can’t Shake The Feeling — Lurrie Bell
Live At The Greek Theatre — Joe Bonamassa
Blues & Ballads (A Folksinger’s Songbook: Volumes I & II) — Luther Dickinson
The Soul of Jimmie Rodgers — Vasti Jackson

Best Contemporary Blues Album:

WINNER: The Last Days of Oakland — Fantastic Negrito
Love Wins Again — Janiva Magness
Bloodline — Kenny Neal
Give It Back To You — The Record Company
Everybody Wants A Piece — Joe Louis Walker

Best Folk Album:

WINNER: Undercurrent — Sarah Jaroszh
Silver Skies Blue
— Judy Collins & Ari Hest
Upland Stories — Robbie Fulks
Factory Girl — Rhiannon Giddens
Weighted Mind — Sierra Hull

Best Regional Roots Music Album:

WINNER: E Walea — Kalani Pe’a
Broken Promised Land
— Barry Jean Ancelet & Sam Broussard
It’s A Cree Thing — Northern Cree
Gulfstream — Roddie Romero And The Hub City All-Stars
I Wanna Sing Right: Rediscovering Lomax In The Evangeline Country — (Various Artists)


REGGAE FIELD

Best Reggae Album:

Ziggy Marley — Ziggy Marley
Sly & Robbie Presents… Reggae For Her
– Devin Di Dakta & J.L
Rose Petals — J Boog
Everlasting — Raging Fyah
Falling Into Place — Rebelution
Soja: Live In Virginia — Soja


WORLD MUSIC FIELD

Best World Music Album:

WINNER: Sing Me Home — Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble
Destiny
— Celtic Woman
Walking In The Footsteps Of Our Fathers — Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Land Of Gold — Anoushka Shankar
Dois Amigos, Um Século De Música: Multishow Live — Caetano Veloso & Gilberto Gil


CHILDREN’S FIELD

Best Children’s Album:

WINNER: Infinity Plus One — Secret Agent 23 Skidoo
Explorer Of The World
— Frances England
Novelties — Recess Monkey
Press Play — Brady Rymer And The Little Band That Could
Saddle Up — The Okee Dokee Brothers


SPOKEN WORD FIELD

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling):

WINNER: In Such Good Company: Eleven Years Of Laughter, Mayhem, And Fun In The Sandbox — Carol Burnett
The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo
— Amy Schumer
M Train — Patti Smith
Under The Big Black Sun: A Personal History Of L.A.Punk (John Doe With Tom DeSavia) — (Various Artists)
Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink — Elvis Costello


COMEDY FIELD

Best Comedy Album:

WINNER: Talking For Clapping — Patton Oswalt
…America…Great… —
David Cross
American Myth — Margaret Cho
Boysih Girl Interrupted — Tig Notaro
Live At The Apollo — Amy Schumer


MUSICAL THEATER

Best Musical Theater Album:

WINNER: The Color Purple — Cynthia Erivo & Jennifer Hudson, principal soloists; Stephen Bray, Van Dean, Frank Filipetti, Roy Furman, Scott Sanders & Jhett Tolentino, producers (Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell & Allee Willis, composers/lyricists) (New Broadway Cast)
Bright Star
— Carmen Cusack, principal soloist; Jay Alix, Peter Asher & Una Jackman, producers; Steve Martin, composer; Edie Brickell, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)
Fiddler On The Roof — Danny Burstein, principal soloist; Louise Gund, David Lai & Ted Sperling, producers (Jerry Bock, composer; Sheldon Harnick, lyricist) (2016 Broadway Cast)
Kinky Boots — Killian Donnelly & Matt Henry, principal soloists; Sammy James, Jr., Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Oremus & William Wittman, producers (Cyndi Lauper, composer & lyricist) (Original West End Cast)
Waitress — Jessie Mueller, principal soloist; Neal Avron, Sara Bareilles & Nadia DiGiallonardo, producers; Sara Bareilles, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)


MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA FIELD

Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media:

WINNER: Miles Ahead (Miles Davis & Various Artists)
Amy
— (Various Artists)
Straight Outta Compton — (Various Artists)
Suicide Squad (Collector’s Edition) — (Various Artists)
Vinyl: The Essentials Season 1 — (Various Artists)

Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media:

WINNER: Star Wars: The Force Awakens — John Williams, composer
Bridge of Spies
— Thomas Newman, composer
Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight — Ennio Morricone, composer
The Revenant — Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto, composers
Stranger Things Volume 1 — Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers
Stranger Things Volume 2 — Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers

Best Song Written For Visual Media:

WINNER: “Can’t Stop The Feeling!” — Max Martin, Shellback & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Gwen Stefani, James Corden, Zooey Deschanel, Walt Dohrn, Ron Funches, Caroline Hjelt, Aino Jawo, Christopher Mintz-Plasse & Kunal Nayyar), Track from: Trolls
“Heathens” — Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots), Track from: Suicide Squad
“Just Like Fire” — Oscar Holter, Max Martin, P!nk & Shellback, songwriters (P!nk), Track from: Alice Through The Looking Glass
“Purple Lamborghini” — Shamann Cooke, Sonny Moore & William Roberts, songwriters (Skrillex & Rick Ross), Track from: Suicide Squad
“Try Everything” — Mikkel S. Eriksen, Sia Furler & Tor Erik Hermansen, songwriters (Shakira), Track from: Zootopia
“The Veil” — Peter Gabriel, songwriter (Peter Gabriel), Track from: Snowden


COMPOSING/ARRANGING FIELD

Best Instrumental Composition:

WINNER: “Spoken At Midnight” — Ted Nash, composer (Ted Nash Big Band)
“Bridge of Spies (End Title)” — Thomas Newman, composer (Thomas Newman)
“The Expensive Train Set (An Epic Sarahnade For Big Band)” — Tim Davies, composer (Tim Davies Big Band)
“Flow” — Alan Ferber, composer (Alan Ferber Nonet)
“L’Ultima Diligenza Di Red Rock – Verisione Integrale” — Ennio Morricone, composer (Ennio Morricone)

Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella:

WINNER: “You and I” — Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)
“Ask Me Now” — John Beasley, arranger (John Beasley)
“Good ‘Swing’ Wenceslas” — Sammy Nestico, arranger (The Count Basie Orchestra)
“Linus & Lucy” — Christian Jacob, arranger (The Phil Norman Tentet)
“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” — John Daversa, arranger (John Daversa)
“We Three Kings” — Ted Nash, arranger (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis)

Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals:

WINNER: “Flintstones” — Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” — Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band Featuring Take 6)
“Do You Want To Know A Secret” — John Daversa, arranger (John Daversa Featuring Renee Olstead)
“I’m A Fool To Want You” — Alan Broadbent, arranger (Kristin Chenoweth)
“Somewhere (Dirty Blvd) (Extended Version)” — Billy Childs & Larry Klein, arrangers (Lang Lang Featuring Lisa Fischer & Jeffrey Wright)


PACKAGE FIELD

Best Recording Package:

WINNER: Blackstar — Jonathan Barnbrook, art director (David Bowie)
Anti (Deluxe Edition)
— Ciarra Pardo & Robyn Fenty, art directors (Rihanna)
Human Performance — Andrew Savage, art director (Parquet Courts)
Sunset Motel — Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Reckless Kelly)
22, A Million — Eric Timothy Carlson, art director (Bon Iver)

Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package:

WINNER: Edith Piaf 1915-2015 — Gérard Lo Monaco, art director (Edith Piaf)
401 Days — Jonathan Dagan & Mathias Høst Normark, art directors (J.Views)
I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It — Samuel Burgess-Johnson & Matthew Healy, art directors (The 1975)
Paper Wheels (Deluxe Limited Edition) — Matt Taylor, art director (Trey Anastasio)
Tug of War (Deluxe Edition) — Simon Earith & James Musgrave, art directors (Paul McCartney)


NOTES FIELD

Best Album Notes:

WINNER: Sissle And Blake Sing Shuffle Along — Ken Bloom & Richard Carlin, album notes writers (Eubie Blake & Noble Sissle)
The Complete Monument & Columbia Albums Collectio
n — Mikal Gilmore, album notes writer (Kris Kristofferson)
The Knoxville Sessions, 1929-1930: Knox County Stomp — Ted Olson & Tony Russell, album notes writers (Various Artists)
Ork Records: New York, New York — Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, album notes writers (Various Artists)
Waxing The Gospel: Mass Evangelism & The Phonograph, 1890-1990 — Richard Martin, album notes writer (Various Artists)


HISTORICAL FIELD

Best Historical Album:

WINNER: The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 12 (Collector’s Edition) — Steve Berkowitz & Jeff Rosen, compilation producers; Mark Wilder, mastering engineer (Bob Dylan)
Music Of Morocco From The Library Of Congress: Recorded By Paul Bowles, 1959 — April G. Ledbetter, Steven Lance Ledbetter, Bill Nowlin & Philip D. Schuyler, compilation producers; Rick Fisher & Michael Graves, mastering engineers (Various Artists)
Ork Records: New York, New York — Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton & Maria Rice, mastering engineers (Various Artists)
Vladimir Horowitz: The Unreleased Live Recordings 1966-1983 — Bernard Horowitz, Andreas K. Meyer & Robert Russ, compilation producers; Andreas K. Meyer & Jeanne Montalvo, mastering engineers (Vladimir Horowitz)
Waxing The Gospel: Mass Evangelism & The Phonograph, 1890 – 1900Michael Devecka, Meagan Hennessey & Richard Martin, compilation producers; Michael Devecka, David Giovannoni, Michael Khanchalian & Richard Martin, mastering engineers (Various Artists)


PRODUCTION, NON-CLASSICAL FIELD

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical:

WINNER: Blackstar — David Bowie, Tom Elmhirst, Kevin Killen, Tony Visconti & Joe LaPorta (David Bowie)
Are You Serious — Tchad Blake & David Boucher, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Andrew Bird)
Dig In Deep — Ryan Freeland, engineer; Kim Rosen, mastering engineer (Bonnie Raitt)
Hit N Run Phase Two — Booker T., Dylan Dresdow, Chris James, Prince & Justin Stanley, engineers; Dylan Dresdow, mastering engineer (Prince)
Undercurrent — Shani Gandhi & Gary Paczosa, engineers; Paul Blakemore, mastering engineer (Sarah Jarosz)

Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:

WINNER: Greg Kurstin
Benny Blanco
Max Martin
Nineteen85
Ricky Reed

Best Remixed Recording:

WINNER: “Tearing Me Up (RAC Remix)” — André Allen Anjos, remixer (Bob Moses)
“Cali Coast (Psionics Remix)” — Josh Williams, remixer (Soul Pacific)
“Heavy Star Movin’ (staRo Remix)” — staRo, remixer (The Silver Lake Chorus)
“Nineteen Hundred Eighty-Five (Timo Maas & James Teej Remix)” — Timo Maas & James Teej, remixers (Paul McCartney & Wings)
“Only” (Kaskade X Lipless Remix)— Ryan Raddon, remixer (Ry X)
“Wide Open (Joe Goddard Remix)” — Joe Goddard, remixer (The Chemical Brothers)


SURROUND SOUND FIELD

Best Surround Sound Album:

WINNER: Dutilleux: Sur La Mêe Accord; Les Citations; Mystère De L’Instant & Timbres, Espace, Mouvement — Alexander Lipay & Dmitriy Lipay, surround mix engineers; Dmitriy Lipay, surround mastering engineer; Dmitriy Lipay, surround producer (Ludovic Morlot & Seattle Symphony)
Johnson: Considering Matthew Shephard — Brad Michel, surround mix engineer; Brad Michel, surround mastering engineer; Robina G. Young, surround producer (Craig Hella Johnson & Conspirare)
Maja S.K. Ratkje: And Sing … — Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Maja S.K. Ratkje, Cikada & Oslo Sinfonietta)
Primus & The Chocolate Factory — Les Claypool, surround mix engineer; Stephen Marcussen, surround mastering engineer; Les Claypool, surround producer (Primus)
Reflections — Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Øyvind Gimse, Geir Inge Lotsberg & Trondheimsolistene)


PRODUCTION, CLASSICAL FIELD

Best Engineered Album, Classical:

WINNER: Corigliano: The Ghosts Of Versailles — Mark Donahue & Fred Vogler, engineers (James Conlon, Guanqun Yu, Joshua Guerrero, Patricia Racette, Christopher Maltman, Lucy Schaufer, Lucas Meachem, LA Opera Chorus & Orchestra)
Dutilleux: Sur La Mêe Accord; Les Citations; Mystère De L’Instant & Timbres, Espace, Mouvement — Alexander Lipay & Dmitriy Lipay, engineers (Ludovic Morlot & Seattle Symphony)
Reflections — Morten Lindberg, engineer (Øyvind Gimse, Geir Inge Lotsberg & Trondheimsolistene)
Shadow of Sirius — Silas Brown & David Frost, engineers; Silas Brown,
Shostakovich: Under Stalin’s Shadow – Symphonies Nos. 5, 8 & 9 — Shawn Murphy & Nick Squire, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer (Andris Nelsons & Boston Symphony Orchestra)

Producer of the Year, Classical:

WINNER: David Frost
Blanton Alspaugh
Marina A. Ledin, Victor Ledin
Judith Sherman
Robina G. Young


CLASSICAL FIELD

Best Orchestral Performance:

WINNER: Shostakovich: Under Stalin’s Shadow – Symphonies Nos. 5, 8 & 9 — Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)
Bates: Works For Orchestra — Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)
Ibert: Orchestral Works — Neeme Järvi, conductor (Orchestre De La Suisse Romande)
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 In B-Flat Major, Op. 100 — Mariss Jansons, conductor (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)
Rouse: Odna Zhizn; Symphonies 3 & 4; Prospero’s Rooms — Alan Gilbert, conductor (New York Philharmonic)

Best Opera Recording:

WINNER: Corigliano: The Ghosts Of Versailles — James Conlon, conductor; Joshua Guerrero, Christopher Maltman, Lucas Meachem, Patricia Racette, Lucy Schaufer & Guanqun Yu; Blanton Alspaugh, producer (LA Opera Orchestra; LA Opera Chorus)
Handel: Giulio Cesare — Giovanni Antonini, conductor; Cecilia Bartoli, Philippe Jaroussky, Andreas Scholl & Anne-Sofie von Otter; Samuel Theis, producer (Il Giardino Armonico)
Higdon: Cold Mountain — Miguel Harth-Bedoya, conductor; Emily Fons, Nathan Gunn, Isabel Leonard & Jay Hunter Morris; Elizabeth Ostrow, producer (The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra; Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program For Singers) Mozart: Le Nozze De Figaro — Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor; Thomas Hampson, Christiane Karg, Luca Pisaroni & Sonya Yoncheva; Daniel Zalay, producer (Chamber Orchestra Of Europe; Vocalensemble Rastatt)
Szymanowski: Król Roger — Antonio Pappano, conductor; Georgia Jarman, Mariusz Kwiecień & Saimir Pirgu; Jonathan Allen, producer (Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House; Royal Opera Chorus)

Best Choral Performance:

WINNER: Penderecki Conducts Penderecki, Volume 1 — Krzystof Penderecki, conductor; Henryk Wojnarowski, choir director (Nikolay Didenko, Agnieszka Rehlis & Johanna Rusanen; Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra; Warsaw Philharmonic Choir)
Himmerland
— Elisabeth Holte, conductor (Marianne Reidarsdatter Eriksen, Ragnfrid Lie & Matilda Sterby; Inger-Lise Ulsrud; Uranienborg Vokalensemble)
Janáček: Glagolitic Mass — Edward Gardner, conductor; Håkon Matti Skrede, chorus master (Susan Bickley, Gábor Bretz, Sara Jakubiak & Stuart Skelton; Thomas Trotter; Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra; Bergen Cathedral Choir, Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Choir Of Collegium Musicum & Edvard Grieg Kor)
Lloyd: Bonhoeffer — Donald Nally, conductor (Malavika Godbole, John Grecia, Rebecca Harris & Thomas Mesa; The Crossing)
Steinberg: Passion Week — Steven Fox, conductor (The Clarion Choir)

Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance:

WINNER: Steve Reich — Third Coast Percussion
Fitelberg: Chamber Works
— ARC Ensemble
Reflections — Øyvind Gimse, Geir Inge Lotsberg & Trondheimsolistene
Serious Business — Spektral Quartet
Trios From Our Homelands — Lincoln Trio

Best Classical Instrumental Solo:

WINNER: Daugherty: Tales Of Hemingway — Zuill Bailey; Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor (Nashville Symphony)
Adams, J.: Scheherazade.2
— Leila Josefowicz; David Robertson, conductor (Chester Englander; St. Louis Symphony)
Dvorák: Violin Concerto & Romance; Suk: Fantasy —Christian Tetzlaff; John Storgårds, conductor (Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra)
Mozart: Keyboard Music, Vols. 8 & 9 — Kristian Bezuidenhout
1930’s Violin Concertos, Vol. 2 — Gil Shaham; Stéphane Denève, conductor (The Knights & Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra)

Best Classical Solo Vocal Album:

TIE: Shakespeare Songs — Ian Bostridge; Antonio Pappano, accompanist (Michael Collins, Elizabeth Kenny, Lawrence Power & Adam Walker)
TIE: Schumann & Berg — Dorothea Röschmann; Mitsuko Uchida, accompanist
Monteverdi
— Magdalena Kožená; Andrea Marcon, conductor (David Feldman, Michael Feyfar, Jakob Pilgram & Luca Tittoto; La Cetra Barockorchester Basel)
Mozart: The Weber Sisters — Sabine Devieilhe; Raphaël Pichon, conductor (Pygmalion)
Verismo — Anna Netrebko; Antonio Pappano, conductor (Yusif Eyvazov; Coro Dell’Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia; Orchestra Dell’Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia)

Best Classical Compendium

WINNER: Daugherty: Tales Of Hemingway; American Gothic; Once Upon A Castle — Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Tim Handley, producer
Gesualdo — Tõnu Kaljuste, conductor; Manfred Eicher, producer
Vaughan Williams: Discoveries — Martyn Brabbins, conductor; Andrew Walton, producer
Wolfgang: Passing Through — Judith Farmer & Gernot Wolfgang, producers
Zappa: 200 Motels — The Suites — Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Frank Filipetti & Gail Zappa, producers

Best Contemporary Classical Composition:

WINNER: Daugherty: Tales Of Hemingway — Michael Daugherty, composer (Zuill Bailey, Giancarlo Guerrero & Nashville Symphony)
Bates: Anthology Of Fantastic Zoology
— Mason Bates, composer (Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Higdon: Cold Mountain — Jennifer Higdon, composer; Gene Scheer, librettist
Theofanidis: Bassoon Concerto — Christopher Theofanidis, composer (Martin Kuuskmann, Barry Jekowsky & Northwest Sinfonia)
Winger: Conversations With Nijinsky — C. F. Kip Winger, composer (Martin West & San Francisco Ballet Orchestra)


MUSIC VIDEO/FILM FIELD

Best Music Video:

WINNER: “Formation” — Beyoncé
“River” — Leon Bridges
“Up & Up” — Coldplay
“Gosh” — Jamie XX
“Upside Down & Inside Out” — OK Go

Best Music Film:

WINNER: The Beatles: Eight Days A Week The Touring Years — (The Beatles)
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead — Steve Aoki
Lemonade — Beyoncé
The Music Of Strangers — Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble
American Saturday Night: Live From The Grand Ole Opry — (Various Artists)

 

 

“La La Land” Sweeps “British Oscars” BAFTA Awards, Viola Davis Gets Supporting Actress for “Fences”

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In what is likely to be the deal at our Academy Awards, “La La Land” has swept the British BAFTAs.

Damien Chazelle has won Best Director, Emma Stone has Best Actress, and the movie’s music has won as well. “La La Land” is Best Picture as well.

Best Actor went to Casey Affleck, Supporting Actress went to Viola Davis for “Fences,” and in a nice surprise, Dev Patel won Best Supporting Actor for “Lion.”

Kenneth Lonergan won Best Original Screenplay for “Manchester.” “Lion” won Best Adapted Screenplay.  Ava Duvernay’s “13th” won Best Documentary. “I Daniel Blake” was Best British Film.

More from Clive Davis Dinner: Lena Dunham Keeps Losing Weight, Chance the Rapper Idolizes Apple’s Tim Cook

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Clive Davis just cannot help himself.  He outdoes himself every year at his annual powerhouse packed pre-Grammy party last night at the Beverly Hilton.  So revered is esteemed Clive; the attendees and performers pay tribute to him and his love of music with a night that is probably the most coveted ticket of the year.  The first act of the night, Bell Biv DeVoe sang their hit, “Poison,” Minority Leader Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi then introduced Clive who pointed out four celebrities who summed up the evening, “Joni Mitchell, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder and Jane Fonda.”   He added that Ringo Starr, Barry Gibb, John Legend, Berry Gordy, Beck and more where present as well. Clive noted, “we honor the genius of Prince,” followed by Maxwell’s amazing rendition of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”  Chance the Rapper, Best new artist Grammy nominee, had the crowd jumping to his, “Coloring Book.” 

 

But Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of Leonard Cohen’s classic jaw dropping rendition of “”Hallelujah,” made the jaded jaws of the room drop. Dressed in angelic white, she simply had the whole powerhouse packed room speechless. 

 

Mary J. Blige then came on to honor BET’s Debra Lee, who was presented with the Industry Icons award. Mary surprised the crowd by opening up about her current status. “Right now in my life, I need strength like yours, because I may look happy, but I’m going through some horrible stuff right now.  It’s called divorce.”  She then sang her recent single, “Thick of It,” then went into her signature hit, “No More Drama, “ to which she dramatically ended it by falling on the stage.

 

Grammy President Neil Portnow, said, ‘off script,’ “Mary we all love and support you in this room.” He then introduced Debra Lee who noted, “I would be remiss if I didn’t say, yes I’m proud to be the first woman receiving this award, but I won’t be the last.” 

 

Best new artist Maren Morris played her mega hit, “My Church,” followed by DNCE’s “Cake By The Ocean.” Judy Collins, sounding like she did in the 60’s, paid homage to her friend Joni Mitchell with “Both Sides Now.”  “Panic In The Disco,” as well as Mike Posner, who spurred on the crowd more by quipping, “hey I’ve worked hard to get here, make some noise,” then went into his Grammy-nominated song of the year “I Took a Pill in Ibiza.”  Clive introduced the final act of the night, Neil Diamond by saying, “he’s an Artist’s artist, a Songwriter’s songwriter.”  Neil started with “Love on the Rocks, then did a double version of “Sweet Caroline,” with the whole room joining in.  And what a room. 

 

What can you say about an event, that even in the third tier of the Beverly Hilton, the VIPS at those tables were Kathy Griffin seated next to Judy Collins, Cameron Crowe next to Joni Mitchell, (Cameron, a true music fan, was truly flabbergasted to near one of his “all time idols.” Jared Leto with a pull over hat on also claimed his love for Judy. 

 

Kris Jenner stopped by to gush over Judy as well.  Her date, daughter Kourtney was palling around with Britney Spears.   Kris’s ex, Caitlyn Jenner, was next to Jon Voight at another table, kindred spirit Republicans.    Next to them, Apple CEO Tim Cook and his deputy Eddy Cue.  Chance the Rapper, went up to Tim Cook and told him, “Besides Clive, you’re my idol here.”  Gracious Tim returned the compliment. Where else do you see Stevie Wonder, pranking Motown Founder Berry Gordy by coming up behind him, putting his hands on Berry’s bald head and exclaiming loudly, “Hey, you know who this is?’ Prompting Berry to crack up equally as loudly.  Common, Puff Daddy and LL Cool J all huddled together right in front of the stage.  Britney Spears, Michael Keaton, Wiz Khalifa, with the smell of pot around him, holding hands with recently single Amber Rose.  Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh with their sister wives, Barbara and Majorie, were all together.  When Joe and Marjorie were seemingly leaving early, someone said goodbye to them to which Marjorie replied, “you kidding?  We’re only going to the bathroom. We’d never leave this early.” 

A slimmed down Lena Dunham was there with her rock star boyfriend Jack Antonoff.  Lena told us, “I’ve never been on a diet. But I keep losing weight.” She’s shedding “Girls” after six years.

Also spotted: John Legend, Paris Jackson, Taraji P. Henson, Metallica, Rita Ora, Lorde, Paula Abdul, Tori Kelly, Jessie J, Diane Warren, Elle Goulding and so many more. 

 

Lee Daniels came in a bit late, and wrapped his arms around Gordy and stayed with him all night, and both coming to pay homage to legendary producer Richard Perry.  Clive’s longtime pals were there in force.  The always-luminous Barbara Davis, and her equally lovely philanthropist daughter Nancy Davis with her terrific husband, entrepreneur Ken Rickel. Another indefatigable entrepreneur Nikki Haskell, George Schlatter and his wife Jolene, Barbara Streisand’s longtime manager Marty Erlichman, CBS’s Les Moonves and Julie Chen, and more of Clive’s loyal entourage were there enjoying this truly incredible night.

 

Another one for the record books.  Hard for even the Grammys tonight, to top this one.  Rock on Clive!

 

Grammy News Exclusive: CONFIRMED Adele Will Open Show, Also Set to Sing George Michael Tribute

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EXCLUSIVE

keep refreshing…

Confirmed: Word from the Staples Center is that Adele will perform the George Michael tribute tonight, DEFINITELY  singing “Fastlove.” She’s also opening the show. So don’t miss it! This would be in addition to her singing “Hello” or one of her own songs as she heads to possible wins for Best Song, Record, Album and female vocal performance. A Prince tribute will include a reunited The Time, and Bruno Mars.

Both Beyonce and Katy Perry are set to perform as well. This sounds like an incredible Grammy show, not to be missed. James Corden hosts.

Adele’s PR has banned all press from Sony’s after party tonight at the Hotel Bel Air. So if she wins, I’ll just rerun my story from a few years ago when she won her Grammy and wouldn’t let anyone into her private room at Morton’s restaurant. That was pretty funny.

Also in Grammy news, most of Prince’s hits have been added to Spotify and other streaming services today. But it’s Warner Music that’s added them. Eventually Prince’s entire catalog will transfer to Universal Music. But still not there is his 1996 number 1 hit “Most Beautiful Girl in the World.” That and many other Prince recordings post 1995 are lost in legal limbo.

 

Exclusive: Beloved Legend Joni Mitchell Makes Triumphant Return to Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Party

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You knew Clive Davis would pull off a big surprise at this annual pre-Grammy gala. And so: beloved legend Joni Mitchell made a triumphant appearance last night in the Beverly Hilton ballroom two years after a cerebral brain hemorrhage felled her at home. She was wheelchair bound but that was only because of the huge walking distances at the Hilton.

Otherwise, with swept back hair and a beautiful ornamented top and black skirt Joni was absolutely glowing as literally dozens of famous people, rock stars, actors, and so on waited to pay tribute to her at a table she shared with family, friends, and director Cameron Crowe.

But that wasn’t the whole surprise. Knowing she was coming, Clive flew in another legend, Judy Collins, who brought her guitar onto the stage midway through the show and performed Joni’s “Both Sides Now” with her glorious and remarkable voice sweeping over the ballroom. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Especially moved was rock legend Stephen Stills, who wrote the famous song “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” about his then girlfriend back in 1969. And here’s a scoop: Stills and Collins are going out on tour together this summer. The plans are being solidified right now.

Clive gave Joni several shout outs at the beginning of the star filled night that honored BET’s Debra Lee and featured opening remarks from NARAS chief Neil Portnow, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. There were performances from Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Maren Morris, DNCE, Panic at the Disco, Maxwell, Chance the Rapper, Bel Biv Devoe, Mike Posner, and another legend, Neil Diamond, who got the whole room up and singing a jubilant “Sweet Caroline.”

Hudson was absolutely brilliant singing Leonard Cohen‘s “Hallelujah.” Mary J peeled the paint off the ceiling with “No More Drama.” Maxwell gave an emotional tribute to Prince with “Nothing Compares 2 U,” throwing in a mini-nod to Whitney Houston.

And then there was the guest list. This is the only event I can think of where most of the audience has to walk the red carpet. Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Jane Fonda and famed music producer Richard Perry, the BeeGees’ Barry Gibb, Michael Keaton, Jeremy Renner, Herbie Hancock, Anita Baker, Valerie Simpson— let’s just start there. Apple’s Tim Cook and Eddie Cue were incredibly popular. They were delighted to meet Courtney Love, who looked terrific and introduced herself to them.

Around the room, huge bunches of celebrities clogged the walkways– the security people kept asking big stars step to the side, which was sort of hilarious. But there was Ringo Starr, Joe Walsh, and their wives, plus Tamron Hall, Lee Daniels, Jimmy Jam Harris, Lena Dunham and Jack Antonoff, LL Cool J, Brian Grazer, Diane Warren, Max Martin, soul star Anthony Hamilton, Motown founder Berry Gordy. Even Weird Al Yankovic was in the house!

Oscar winner Jared Leto came, wearing a a crazy wool hat and a disguise. Caitlyn Jenner and Jon Voight sat together and talked about their love of Trump. (They didn’t like Nancy Pelosi‘s beautiful speech about the arts, which bonded them.) Catilyn brought her daughter in law, Voight had his god-daughter with him.

We had the very high and the low at the same time– Wiz Kalifa smoked out and smooched with his new squeeze, Amber Rose. Britney Spears came with an Israeli bodyguard who immediately incurred the wrath of party security by insisting on standing behind her at her table to protect her from the other celebrities. Maybe she was afraid of Tony winner Cynthia Erivo or Paul Shaffer, or Peter Asher, or Beverly Johnson, Nikki Haskell, Beck, “Laugh In” creator George Schlatter, Sire Records founder Seymour Stein, legendary songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, or Barbra Streisand’s famed manager Marty Erlichman. You know you can never be too careful!

Amazing night, once again– and more stories coming!

 

photo c2017 Showbiz411

 

Music: LA Reid Welcomes Jennifer Hudson, Puff Daddy, Ryan Seacrest to Swanky Bel Air Brunch

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Friday afternoon was an atypical weather experience in Los Angeles– rain and lots of it. Rain so bad that traffic didn’t move because the drivers here freak out when they see a drop.

Still, up we went on the winding roads of Bel Air, the very exclusive and posh neighborhood where the elite really meet. And high up in the hills we were lucky enough to join Epic Records’ soaring chief L.A. Reid and beautiful wife Erica–recent transplants from New York– as they welcomed a few guests for brunch at their modern art-filled aerie.

Among those guests: the luminous Jennifer Hudson, who has signed with Epic (staying in the Sony-RCA family) and her husband David Otunga. Jennifer has already begun recording her new album, which will take her into a turn looking for real chart success and airplay. She’s already recorded a song called “Remember Me” that has the label very excited.

I also met the ladies from Fifth Harmony, whose music is so upbeat and catchy, as well as their ex member Camilla Cabella, who is striking out on her own with a solo career. They were all very chill, and eager to take pictures with Hudson.

Other guests included Sean Combs, who is recovering from knee replacement surgery. He’s using a cane now and wearing Givenchy sandals. Plus there was Ryan Seacrest, Lisa Rinna, Holly Robinson Peete, and DJ Khaled, as well as some Epic staffers, and Sony Music chiefs Doug Morris and Rob Stringer. I had some smoked salmon and caviar pizza with Sony’s Mel Lewinter and superstar music lawyer Joel Katz.

Epic is moving west and having a Renaissance. You can tell Reid is rocking because now Sony is sending record industry vet Sylvia Rhone out to LA to join him. She’s just bought a house and is getting out her GPS!

Kudos to LA Reid, who conquered Atlanta, then New York, and now takes aim at Hollywood. He’s got Travis Scott, Meghan Trainor, A Tribe Called Quest, Jennifer Lopez and more coming before the end of the year. Not bad!

Remembering Whitney Houston Who Died Exactly Five Years Ago Today

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Five years ago this afternoon, right about now, I got a call from the desk downstairs at the Beverly Hilton. I was getting ready for Clive Davis’s annual pre Grammy show. Ray Davies had just finished rehearsal. Tony Bennett was next.

And the voice said: “Mr. Friedman, Whitney Houston has died one floor above you.”

Within two hours, all the media in the world descended on the hotel. At the same, the Grammy guests were piling into the lobby. It was too late to cancel the show; the guests were already on their way. I have no report from that night because it was published elsewhere and has since been removed. But what I remember mostly was a beautiful speech from Sean Puffy Combs, and Clive showing video of Whitney from past years.

Everything else is a blur. I do remember being back in the lobby when Bobbi Kristina was taken out by paramedics. After being upstairs for too long with her dead mother, the poor girl freaked out. She would never be the same.  And now she’s gone, too.

The spirit of Whitney will be hovering over tonight’s party. Whitney is never far from anyone’s mind because of her long association with Clive Davis. Her band leader, Rickey Minor, is still running the show. (Two years ago Mike Ahearn, who used to run the show, also passed away. A lot of other people have left us, too, like Jackie Collins and Joan Rivers and Dick Clark and Merv Griffin– always regulars at this event.)

Here’s to Whitney. When I first met her she was young and full of mischief. She was a superstar with a powerhouse voice and a fame and that was so huge she could not get control of it. She never did. She hadn’t met Bobby Brown yet, but that accident was around the corner, and the bad elements of that relationship exacerbated all of her fears and doubts. But the real Whitney, with a clear head, was a remarkable artist and a great girl.  She will really be missed tonight.

 

 

Grammy MusiCares Dinner Raises $8.5 Mil as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy Rock Out At Same Table

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Credit Neil Portnow, the record industry’s ambassador of cool. Last night at the annual MusiCares Person of the Year dinner Portnow sat between Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy, respectively Democratic House minority and Republican majority leader while honoree Tom Petty and friends rocked the stage.

McCarthy was gracious as emcee Ed Helms made countless Trump and Bannon jokes, and dozens of black tie dressed guests came over to their table wishing Pelosi well in her battles against the new administration. Portnow, keeping things on an even keel, introduced me to McCarthy and said, “He’s really great. He’s a big supporter of culture and the arts.”

Rounding out the main table: Oscar winner Helen Mirren and her hit director husband Taylor Hackford.

McCarthy nodded, agreeing with that statement. Maybe after experiencing the MusiCares evening, McCarthy will make sure the NEA and other arts funding will remain safe. He and his lovely wife stayed til the very end of the five hour dinner and show, and had a pretty swell time. They saw an eclectic group of performers help raise $8.5 million including everyone from Randy Newman, Norah Jones, and Gary Clarke Jr. to the Foo Fighters, Cage the Elephant, and my new favorite group The Head and the Heart.

Among the surprise guests dotting the audience: Matt Damon and wife Lucia, who were at a random table. Why were they there? “I’m a big Tom Petty fan,” Matt said, “and a friend of ours invited us.” Cool. There were no other celebs around him. Across the massive ballroom in the LA Convention Center I ran into actress Gina Gershon and her sister, Tracy, a popular music exec from Nashville (VP of A&R at Rounder Records).

But the big music guests were the extended Beatles family: Ringo Starr, wife Barbara Bach, her sister Marjorie, and Marjorie’s husband, Joe Walsh, plus Barbara’s daughter talented filmmaker Francesca Gregorini, and famed drummer Jim Keltner. Not only that: Olivia Harrison with jewelry designer pal Loree Rodkin. Olivia was excited because son Dhani played guitar at the end of the night with Petty, Stevie Nicks, Jeff Lynne and the Bangles. Yes, that’s right–and they rocked the stage “Stop Dragging My Heart Around” and “I Won’t Back Down.”

But that was only after Don Henley, Jakob Dylan, Randy Newman, Lucinda Williams, Gary Clarke Jr., Norah Jones, and so on covered every Petty song they knew from “Free Fallin'” to “Learning to Fly.”

Petty, who gave a very moving and funny acceptance speech, told a great story about “Free Fallin.” Turns out his then record company MCA Records turned it down. “They rejected the record,” he said. And that’s how he got to Warner Bros. Records in 1996. Petty, Jeff Lynne and George Harrison–pre Traveling Wilburys– played the song for Warner legends Mo Ostin and Lenny Waronker one night when they were jamming at home. Waronker heard it, and said, “That’s a hit.” Petty recalled, Ostin– who was in the audience last night– replied, “I’ll fuckin’ put it out!”

And that’s how great hits are made.

 

Happy 80th Birthday, Roberta Flack– Still Killing Us Softly With Her Songs!

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Hard to believe, but multiple Grammy winner and famed songstress Roberta Flack turns 80 today. Happy birthday, Roberta!

Roberta has had plenty of solo hits including two all time classics– “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” “Feel Like Making Love” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.”

She made immortal duets with Donny Hathaway on their famous self titled album produced by Arif Mardin including “Where is the Love” and maybe the best version ever of “You’ve Got a Friend.” And don’t forget “The Closer I Get to You.”

A couple of years ago Roberta recorded a whole album of Beatles covers that everyone should own. You can find it on Amazon and iTunes.

A classically trained pianist and a highly gifted vocalist, Roberta should be considered for a Kennedy Center honor. In the meantime happy birthday!