GRAMMYs

Durand Bernarr

News

Durand Bernarr Unleashes "Melody" For Press Play At Home

Facebook Twitter Email
The talented singer/songwriter and Erykah Badu protégé invites you into his home for this special performance
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jun 25, 2020 - 11:12 am

Durand Bernarr's Incorporates musical flavors inspirations from everywhere from gospel to music theater, Rick James to Erykah Badu, creating a sound and a style all his own.

Durand Bernarr Performs "Melody" | Press Play

In the latest edition of the Recording Academy's Press Play At Home series, Bernarr delivers a stripped-down performance of "Melody," sizzling with style, swaggar, and soaring vocal riffs that show off his range and charisma as an artist.  

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and based in Los Angeles, Bernarr worked GRAMMY-winning band Earth, Wind & Fire when he was just 16 years old. He counts his performance at Coachella 2011 as a career highlight, and he's performed extensively as a back-up singer for Badu and worked with the likes of The Internet, Anderson .Paak and Teedra Moses. 

Bernarr released his debut EP, Sound Check, in 2016. His forthcoming album DUR& featuring Ari Lennox and Kaytranada is due out summer 2020.

Learn more about what's influenced Bernarr's unique sound and experience his head-spinning vocal range in the video above.

Grammys Newsletter

MAX Asks The Lover's Big Question On "Love Me Less" For Press Play At Home

 

 

Brandy & Monica at 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala

Brandy & Monica at 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala

Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

News

From Brandy Vs. Monica To Timbaland Vs. Swizz Beatz, What's Your Favorite Verzuz Battle Matchup?

Facebook Twitter Email
On Aug. 31, the latest Verzuz battle will pair up the '90s R&B/pop superstars 22 years after their unforgettable GRAMMY-winning "The Boy Is Mine" duet/duel. We want to know which epic pairing is your favorite
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Aug 28, 2020 - 9:10 am

One of the more beautiful and creative things to come out of quarantine has been the Verzuz rap-and-beyond livestream battles, an ongoing, star-studded series hosted by GRAMMY-winning hip-hop icons Timbaland and Swizz Beatz.

The star-studded musical series began with the hosts themselves battling it out during a five-hour Instagram Live back in March, and has since featured such epic pairings as rap kings Rick Ross and 2 Chainz, New York OGs Fabolous and Jadakiss, big dogs DMX and Snoop Dogg, R&B/pop pianists Alicia Keys and John Legend, Jamaican dancehall heavyweights Beenie Man and Bounty Killer and many more.

Learn More: The Verzuz Effect: How Swizz Beatz & Timbaland's Beat Battles Showcase Music's Past, Present And Future

Polls

What's Your Favorite Verzuz Battle Matchup?

The musical faceoffs have also featured OG hit-making R&B producers Teddy Riley and Babyface, rap producer wunderkids Boi-1da and Hit-Boy, neo-soul queens Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, Southern rap champs Nelly and Ludacris, rapper/producer/hype men T-Pain and Lil Jon, as well as gospel legends Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin.

Our Last Poll: From "WAP" To "Big Booty," What's Your Favorite Megan Thee Stallion Feature?

The latest, highly anticipated Verzuz (airing on Aug. 31 on Verzuz's Instagram, Apple Music and Apple TV) will pair up the '90s R&B/pop superstars Brandy and Monica 22 years after their iconic, GRAMMY-winning "The Boy Is Mine" duet/duel.

In honor of all the magic and realness Verzuz has been sharing worldwide this year, we want to know which epic pairing is your favorite in our poll above. Vote now and scroll down to watch some of the past battles.

Read: Afro Nation Co-Founders Smade & Obi Asika Talk Festival Origins, Uniting The African Diaspora & Celebrating Diversity

Can You Fill Me In: 20 Years Of Craig David's 'Born To Do It'

Grammys Newsletter

GRAMMYs

Photo:: Ken Welsh/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

News

Record Store Day 2020 Moved To Three Separate "RSD Drops" This Fall

Facebook Twitter Email
The announcement of August, September and October installments comes after the independent record store celebration's initial move from April to June
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Apr 30, 2020 - 8:59 am

Record Store Day 2020 has moved once again, and will now involve a series of “RSD Drops” occurring on three Saturdays this fall: Aug. 29, Sept. 26 and Oct. 24.

Originally scheduled to take place on Apr. 18, Record Store Day was initially pushed back to June 20 due to the coronavirus crisis. But the new model of the annual celebration of independent record stores is built to fit the uncertainty of the of 2020's musical landscape. 

"2020 is different. So what we're doing this year is going to be different too," RSD posted. "No one knows what kind of party we'll all be in the mood for, or able to hold safely, at any time this year, in any part of the world. So we're focusing this year not on the party aspect of Record Store Day, but on getting the great releases on the RSD 2020 List into your local record store, and then into your collection."

The three RSD Drops will still get exclusive titles into participating indie record stors, and an updated list of RSD releases will be available June 1. 

The aim of Record Store Day continues to be, "Bringing revenue to the stores, as well as to the artists, labels, distribution and every other business behind the scenes making record stores work."

Grammys Newsletter

The Recording Academy Welcomes Valeisha Butterfield Jones As First-Ever Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer

GRAMMYs

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

News

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Tease Morris Day & The Time's Prince Tribute Medley For "Let's Go Crazy"

Facebook Twitter Email
The five-time GRAMMY-winning production duo also reveal one of Prince's favorite songs and how they plan to honor him at the tribute special, airing Apr. 21 on CBS
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Apr 17, 2020 - 1:02 pm

With "Let's Go Crazy: The GRAMMY Salute To Prince" just days away, airing on Apr. 21, we hear from two legends, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.about the special tribute medley they have planned to honor the great Prince. with their legendary funk band, Morris Day and The Time.

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Talk Prince Tribute Medley

"Well for the medley we thought, 'We've gotta give people what they want,'" said Jimmy Jam backstage during the filming, teasing some of the songs they choose, including one of Prince's favorite songs of The Time's from back in the day, "Cool."

As a production duo, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have won five GRAMMY Awards and worked with some of the biggest names in music. But on this special evening, it's all about Prince, and the gravity of the gathering was not lost on the two music legends in their own right. 

"It's totally emotional to be here tonight anyway, not just with our group, but with The Revolution...with Sheila E.," said Lewis. "It's just an awesome feeling to get us all in the buiilding, in same room, on the same stage."  

Catch their special performance, plus many more, as part of "Let's Go Crazy: The GRAMMY Salute To Prince." airing on Tuesday, April 21, the four-year anniversary of Prince's death, from 9–11PM ET/PT on CBS and streaming on CBS All Access.

Miguel Praises Prince, Talks About Performing "I Would Die 4 U" For "Let's Go Crazy: The GRAMMY Salute To Prince"

GRAMMYs

Janet Jackson at Essence Fest in 2010

Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images

News

Essence Festival 2020 In New Orleans Cancelled Due To COVID-19

Facebook Twitter Email
The summer festival that had Janet Jackson, Bruno Mars, Ari Lennox, Janelle Monáe and Patti LaBelle slated as headliners also announced virtual fest as it looks forward to returning in 2021
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Apr 15, 2020 - 5:54 pm

The latest major festival to join a string of cancellations and postponements due to the coronavirus crisis is New Orleans' Essence Festival. Today the festival, which was set to take place over July 4th weekend in New Orleans at the Superdome, announced they'll look ahead to returning in 2021.

This year's lineup was a stellar one, with headliners Janet Jackson, who made her Essence Fest debut in 2010, Bruno Mars, Ari Lennox, Janelle Monáe and Patti LaBelle. The cancellation follows last month's initial postponement until closer to fall and just one day after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell recommended all major events in the city should be cancelled for the rest of 2020.

ESSENCE Fest 2019: Recording Academy On The Road

“New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell bravely recommended yesterday that no large events take place in New Orleans in 2020, and ESSENCE fully supports that decision,” the festival organizers said in a statement.

Essence also announced it will instead host the first-ever Essence Festival of Culture: The Virtual Edition over July 4th weekend. During the multiday experience and benefit celebration, "Women across the globe and their families will engage in interactive, live opportunities to be inspired, empowered, entertained and transformed as they enter a new economic, spiritual and wellness journey ahead."

The virtual event will benefit the city of New Orleans. For more information, and for ticket refund details, visit the festival website.

Grammys Newsletter

Streaming Is Down, Festivals Are Dark: How Music Is Coping With COVID-19