GRAMMYs

Durand Bernarr

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Durand Bernarr Unleashes "Melody" For Press Play At Home

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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

 

 

GRAMMYs

Will Jay

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Rising Pop Artist Will Jay Wonders What Could Have Been On "By Now" For Press Play

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The Los Angeles native singer/songwriter reflects on a decade of pursuing his dreams in his moving original song
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Apr 9, 2020 - 10:00 am

Will Jay might be the first to tell you that he still hasn't written anything you know... at least not yet. But this rising talent has been on the rise long enough to know the value of hard work toward your dreams. In latest episode of Press Play, Jay unleashes his candid and personal original song, "By Now," showing all of his music industry battle scars as well as his deep well of talent. 

Will Jay Performs "By Now" For Press Play

Released as a single in 2019, "By Now," which was produced by Jeoff Harris and co-written by Jay with Sam Creighton and Emily Kocontes, is a two-and-a-half minute life story, a moving tale of a young man chasing his dreams and losing himself in the process. 

The timeline in the song goes back as early as age 5. when Jay started performing. He started writing his own songs at age 11 and was signed to a record deal at just 14 years old, when he dropped out of high school to pursue music when is band were signed to a deal. It's all there in the lyrics of "By Now," which are factual about his life and the decade he's spent pursuing a career in music. 

Jay names The Beatles, Elton John, Jon Bellion, Max Martin and Labrinth as his musical influences, and credits Lady Gaga for inspiring him to be fearless and keep going toward his dreams. 

His latest single, the equally as literal and direct "I Don't Want To Die," has been creating even more buzz for the still-young whimsical pop tunesmith. At this rate, it's only a matter of time before the world know his name...

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VINCINT Sings "Please Don't Fall In Love" For Press Play Pride Month Special Edition

 

GRAMMYs

Nile Rodgers

Photo: Jill Furmanovsky

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WATCH: Nile Rodgers & CHIC Record "Hey Jude" At Abbey Road For New Alzheimer's Benefit Project 'Music Moments'

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The Alzheimer's Association new multi-genre collection features 10 songs from 10 artists, including Sting, Joan Jett, Lee Ann Womack, Jason Isbell and more...
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Mar 13, 2020 - 1:00 am

Today marks the release of Music Moments, an exciting and powerful new project featuring new recordings, unreleased tracks and exlusive interviews benefitting the Alzheimer's Association. To celebrate it's release, GRAMMY.com has your exclusive premiere of a special video featuring Nile Rodgers & CHIC recording "Hey Jude" at Abbey Road Studios. Take a look:

In the clip from Music Moments, Rodgers reveals why he chose the classic Beatles song to record for the project and recounts his very personal connection to Alzheimer's, as so many people in his family members, including his own mother and aunt, have suffered from the disease. 

"I chose 'Hey Jude' as my song becuase I would sing it to my Aunt because she had Alzheimer's," Rodgers says in the behind-the-scenes clip. "Every time we went to visit her, we'd sing 'Hey Jude' and she would sing every lyric with us."

The project highlights how music marks the most important moments like these and raises awareness for Alzheimer’s by driving the publlc conversation about the disease.

Produced by the Alzheimer’s Association and GRAMMY-winning music supervisor Randall Poster Music Moments also features Sting, Anthony Hamilton, Jason Isbell, Joan Jett, Lee Ann Womack, Brett Eldredge, Sharon Van Etten and The Head and the Heart, all honoring the personal, emotional connection between music and life’s most important moments that we would never want to lose to Alzheimer’s and all other dementia.

Each of the 10 artists involved recorded a new track with great personal significance. For instance, Sting, a 17-time GRAMMY Award winner, performs Otis Redding's “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay.” According to a statement, Sting expains, "the song perfectly captures a pivotal moment during his adolescence when he realized that, much like the ships coming and going from the river nearby, he would have to leave his hometown in order to chase his dreams of becoming a musician."

The collection was created to champion the fight for a world without Alzheimer’s disease. It is available in two parts, both a compilation album and a behind-the-scenes video series, full of powerful performances and heartfelt storytelling.

“The Alzheimer’s Association knows that we all have experiences with music that are significant and meaningful,” said Michael Carson, chief marketing officer, Alzheimer’s Association. “The Music Moments album, and the stories behind the songs, set the stage for sharing experiences and fueling important conversations. Ultimately, these conversations are critical to reducing stigma about Alzheimer’s and all other dementia. We are relentless in our pursuit to increase awareness and advance the cause.”

Fans are encouraged to join the conversation about Alzheimer's by sharing their own music moments on social media as part of the project using #MyMusicMoment. Music Moments is now available on all major streaming platforms, and you can find more information about the project and the cause on the organation's website.

Grammys Newsletter

Bob Dylan Announces 2020 U.S. Tour Dates

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston

Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

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Flashback To Whitney Houston's 1985 Hit "Saving All My Love For You" | For The Record

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Celebrate 35 years since the initial release of Houston's first of a record-setting seven straight No. 1 singles
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Aug 6, 2020 - 10:09 am

Whitney Houston introduced herself to the world in 1985, and after the second single from her debut self-titled ablum droped on Aug. 13 of that year, pop music would never be the same. 

Houston's "Saving All My Love..." | For The Record

Now, 35 years, six GRAMMY wins and 25 GRAMMY nominations later, we celebrate the breakout hit by the late legendary vocal powerhouse in this edition of GRAMMY.com's For The Record series. 

"Saving All My Love For You" Was written by Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin and was originally recorded by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. for their 1978 album Marilyn & Billy. 

Houston's version lifted it all the way to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first of seven record-setting consecutive No. 1 singles. The song also earned the young singer her first GRAMMY Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female for 1985. But the praise didn't stop there. Her performance of the song at the 28th GRAMMYs won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. 

Tragically, Houston died in 2012 the night before the 54th GRAMMY Awards, where Jennifer Hudson paid tribute to her life and legacy as the music world mourned the loss of one of it's brightest talents. 

Grammys Newsletter

Read More: Remembering Whitney Houston's GRAMMY History

Margo Price (L) speaks at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles in 2016

Margo Price (L) speaks at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles in 2016

Photo: Rebecca Sapp/WireImage for The Recording Academy

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GRAMMY Museum August 2020 Content Lineup: Margo Price, Pete Yorn, Bright Eyes, Ava Max, Kiana Ledé & Much More

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The upcoming month's programming also includes intimate sit-down interviews with Toots and the Maytals, Burt Bacharach & Daniel Tashian, The Airborne Toxic Event, Ashley McBryde and many others
John Ochoa
GRAMMY Museum
Jul 31, 2020 - 4:03 pm

The GRAMMY Museum has announced the next round of new and never-before-released digital content to be shared every week throughout August 2020. As the physical location in Los Angeles remains closed until further notice in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the GRAMMY Museum will continue its digital initiatives, including the newly announced Spotlight Saturdays series.

Highlights for next month's programming include new, intimate sit-down interviews with artists and musicians recorded via Zoom, as part of the Museum's Public Programs digital series, with breakout country star Margo Price, alternative legend Pete Yorn, pop sensation Ava Max, indie icons Bright Eyes, reggae legends Toots And The Maytals and several others. 

Launching this weekend (Aug. 1) at their Digital Museum, the GRAMMY Museum's new Spotlight Saturdays series will feature intimate sit-down interviews and performances via digital conferencing with up-and-coming artists. The series kicks off with an exciting class of emerging acts including platinum-selling R&B artist Kiana Ledé, New Zealand pop star BENEE, rising L.A. rapper Duckwrth and others. 

On August 7, the GRAMMY Museum will also release a new digital exhibit, "Rhymes & Reasons: The Music Of John Denver," with several photo slideshows.

In addition to the new content released during August, GRAMMY In The Schools Mini-Lessons will be posted on Thursdays. 

Since the GRAMMY Museum opened 12 years ago, it has offered more than 900 Public Programs. The Museum continues to release digital educational content and lesson plans as part of the GRAMMY In The Schools Knowledge Bank, continuing its mission of paying tribute to our musical heritage and bringing our community together through music.

Check out the GRAMMY Museum's full digital programming schedule for August 2020 below:

DIGITAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS

8/3 – Ruth B.
8/5 – Burt Bacharach & Daniel Tashian 
8/5 – The Immediate Family
8/10 – Pete Yorn
8/10 – Ava Max
8/12 – Margo Price
8/17 – Chuck Prophet
8/17 – Bright Eyes
8/19 – The Mavericks
8/24 – The Secret Sisters
8/24 – Toots & The Maytals
8/26 – The Airborne Toxic Event
8/31 – NEEDTOBREATHE
8/31 – Ashley McBryde

SPOTLIGHT SATURDAYS SERIES

8/1 — Kiana Ledé 
8/8 — BENEE
8/15 — Conan Gray
8/22 — Duckwrth
8/29 — Jeremy Zucker

DIGITAL EXHIBIT

8/7 – Rhymes & Reasons: The Music of John Denver

For more information about the GRAMMY Museum, how to become a member and to access its catalog of digital content, visit their Digital Museum. 

Little Big Town, Ledisi & More Partner With GRAMMY Museum & Michelle Obama's Reach Higher To Mentor College Students