Charlie Wilson and Valerie Simpson

Charlie Wilson and Valerie Simpson

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Charlie Wilson, Valerie Simpson Salute Sly Stone's Timeless Songs

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Ahead of "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends," Wilson and Simpson describe what makes honoree Sly Stone so special
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Oct 12, 2017 - 5:07 pm

"Let's face it, those are some of the greatest songs," Valerie Simpson says of the work of Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Sly Stone.  "Those songs have legs. They have lasted for forever.."

Charlie Wilson, Valerie Simpson Honor Sly Stone

Simpson joined fellow GRAMMY nominee Charlie Wilson on stage during "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" to celebrate Stone's music with a rousing medley of some of his classics, including "I Want To Take You Higher" and "Everyone Is A Star." Their performance is part of the second annual television special, which is set to air Oct. 13 at 9 p.m. on PBS.

"I watched his performance when I was a teenager, and I liked what I saw," Wilson says of the influence Sly & The Family Stone had on him as a young man discovering the power of individuality and gravitas of music.

"The ability to tap the mood of a time and then have that time last for 50 years is pretty amazing, and that's what he was able to do," Simpson says. "Those songs sound like he wrote them this morning, and I think they'll sound like that in 20 years."

"GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends": Performers And Full Set List

Andra Day Salute To Music Legends

Andra Day

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2017 "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends": Who Performed?

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From Andra Day and Sly Stone to Charley Pride and Shirley Caesar, here's your exclusive viewer's guide to the televised Recording Academy presentation on Friday, Oct. 13 on PBS
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Oct 13, 2017 - 11:00 pm

The second annual "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" aired Friday, Oct. 13 on PBS. 

Kirk Franklin Praises Shirley Caesar

The exciting two-hour program centered around the presentation of this year's Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Awards to honorees Shirley Caesar, Ahmad Jamal, Charley Pride, Jimmie Rodgers, Nina Simone, Sly Stone, and the Velvet Underground, as well as the presentation of the Technical GRAMMY Award to audio inventor Alan Dower Blumlein, and Recording Academy Trustee Awards to producer/arranger/songwriter Thom Bell; record executive Mo Ostin; and recording executive, A&R man and music publisher Ralph S. Peer.

Along with never-before-seen video packages celebrating each of the honorees' contributions to the music industry and its cultural heritage, the star-studded event featured performances by GRAMMY winners Kirk Franklin, Randy Newman, Le'Andria Johnson, Dionne Warwick, Dwight Yoakam, and Living Colour founder/guitarist Vernon Reid; GRAMMY nominees Andra Day, Neal McCoy, Charlie Wilson, Valerie Simpson, Russell Thompkins Jr. of the Stylistics, and Catherine Russell.

Here's a recap of the full lineup of performances:
(Note: performers are listed in parentheses)

Thom Bell
•    "You Make Me Feel Brand New" (Russell Thompkins Jr.)
•    "Then Came You" (Dionne Warwick)

Ahmad Jamal
•    "But Not For Me"/"Ahmad's Blues"/"Poinciana" (Stanley Cowell)
    
 Nina Simone
•    "Mississippi Goddam" (Andra Day)

Jimmie Rodgers
•    "Hobo Bill's Last Ride"/"Mule Skinner Blues"/"T For Texas" (Dwight Yoakam)

Dwight Yoakam Salute To Music Legends

Ralph S. Peer
•    "Crazy Blues" (Catherine Russell)
•    "The Great Pretender" (Russell Thompkins Jr.)
•    "Georgia On My Mind" (Andra Day)

The Velvet Underground
•    "I'm Waiting For The Man"/"Sunday Morning" (John Cale Band with Maureen "Moe" Tucker)

Shirley Caesar
•    Medley: "You Name It"/ "It’s Alright, It's OK"/"You’re Next In Line For A Miracle"/ "Satan, We're Going To Tear Your Kingdom Down" (Kirk Franklin with Le'Andria Johnson)
•    "Caught Up"/"Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name" (Shirley Caesar)

Mo Ostin
•    "A Few Words In Defense Of Our Country"/"I Think It's Going To Rain Today" (Randy Newman)

Charley Pride
•    "Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone" (Neal McCoy)
•    "Kiss An Angel Good Morning" (Charley Pride)

Charley Pride Salute To Music Legends

 

Charlie Wilson, Valerie Simpson Honor Sly Stone

Sly Stone
•    "I Want To Take You Higher"/"Everybody Is A Star"/"Sex Machine"/ "Dance To The Music" (Charlie Wilson, Valerie Simpson, Vernon Reid)

Also honored at the event was Keith Hancock, this year's recipient of the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum's Music Educator Award.
 

Kirk Franklin

Kirk Franklin

Photo: Getty Images

Photo Gallery

Kirk Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Andra Day: "Salute To Music Legends" (Photo Gallery)

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Relive all the performances from the Recording Academy's PBS special honoring the 2017 class of Special Merit Awards honorees
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Oct 13, 2017 - 11:00 pm

On Oct. 13 the Recording Academy celebrated its 2017 class of Special Merit Awards recipients with the PBS TV special "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends."

Andra Day Praises "Incredible" Nina Simone Anthem

The honorees were Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Shirley Caesar, Ahmad Jamal, Charley Pride, Jimmie Rodgers, Nina Simone, Sly Stone, and the Velvet Underground; Trustee Awards went to producer/arranger/songwriter Thom Bell; record executive Mo Ostin; and recording executive, A&R man and music publisher Ralph S. Peer. Also honored were Technical GRAMMY Award recipient Alan Dower Blumlein the 2017 Music Educator Award recipient Keith Hancock. 

To honor each recipient, world-class artists were invited to pay tribute, with musicians such as Andra Day saluting Simone, Dionne Warwick honoring Bell and Kirk Franklin feting Caesar, among others.

Catch up on some of the amazing performances from the PBS broadcast through our exclusive photo gallery.

Russel Thompkins Jr. performs at "Salute To Music Legends"
Kirk Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Andra Day: "Salute To Music Legends"

 

2017 "Salute To Music Legends" performers
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Charley Pride, Shirley Caesar to perform on GRAMMY PBS special

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"GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" taping will also feature the Velvet Underground's John Cale, jazz pianist Stanley Cowell and R&B singer/songwriter Valerie Simpson
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jul 7, 2017 - 10:00 am

Looking For Info About 2018's Special Merit Awards? Check out our coverage.

Recording Academy 2017 Special Merit Awards recipients Shirley Caesar, Charley Pride and the Velvet Underground's John Cale have been added to the lineup for the "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" taping on July 11 at The Beacon Theatre in New York.

Jazz pianist Stanley Cowell and GRAMMY nominee Valerie Simpson have also been added to the performance lineup.

Previously announced performers include GRAMMY winners Dionne Warwick, Dwight Yoakam, Randy Newman, and Kirk Franklin, and GRAMMY nominees Charlie Wilson, Catherine Russell, and Andra Day. GRAMMY winner Paul Shaffer will serve as musical director.

Kirk Franklin to pay tribute to Shirley Caesar: What songs will he pick?

The tribute concert will honor 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees Caesar, Ahmad Jamal, Pride, Jimmie Rodgers, Nina Simone, Sly Stone, and the Velvet Underground, as well as Trustees Award recipients Thom Bell, Mo Ostin, and Ralph Peer. Also being recognized are Technical GRAMMY Award recipient Alan Dower Blumlein and Music Educator Award honoree Keith Hancock.

In addition to the tribute concert, celebrity guests will present recipients with their award statues and guests will enjoy never-before-seen video packages celebrating each of the honorees' contributions to our cultural heritage.

Now in its second year, "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" will be produced in partnership with PBS' "Great Performances" series, and will air on the network later this year.

Last chance: Get your tickets for "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends"

Performers for the 2017 GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends concert
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Dionne Warwick joins GRAMMY PBS concert. Who else is playing?

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Find out who's been added to the excellent lineup of GRAMMY winners and past nominees who will be honor this year's 2017 Special Merit Awards recipients
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Jun 27, 2017 - 5:52 pm

Tickets are now on sale for the second annual "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" concert on Tuesday, July 11 at the historic Beacon Theatre in New York City.

Five-time GRAMMY winner Dionne Warwick and GRAMMY nominees Charlie Wilson and Catherine Russell have been added to an all-star lineup of performers that includes GRAMMY nominee Andra Day, two-time GRAMMY winner Dwight Yoakam, six-time GRAMMY winner Randy Newman, and 12-time GRAMMY winner Kirk Franklin.

The live concert, which will honor The Recording Academy's 2017 Special Merit Awards recipients, will feature a series of live tribute performances by GRAMMY-winning and -nominated artists celebrating the songs that made the recipients famous.

Who are the 2017 Special Merit Awards honorees?

Russell will perform in honor of trailblazing music publisher Ralph S. Peer; Warwick will pay tribute to Philadelphia sound architect Thom Bell, and Wilson will salute funk/soul pioneer Sly Stone.

Day will pay homage to the High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone; Franklin will salute the First Lady of Gospel, Shirley Caesar; Newman will honor venerable Warner Bros. executive Mo Ostin; and Yoakam will tip his cap to the Father of Country Music, Jimmie Rodgers.

"GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" will air on PBS as part of the network's "Great Performances" series on later this year.​

Be a part of music history: Get your tickets to the "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends" now!