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GRAMMYs

Harry Wayne Casey

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Harry Wayne Casey: The Boogie Man Returns

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GRAMMY winner plots new course for KC And The Sunshine Band and reflects on the inspiration for the collective's distinctive sound
J. Poet
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

When "Get Down Tonight" came blasting out of car radios and home stereos in 1975, there was nothing else like it on the air. The cascade of glittering keyboards and guitars sparkled like the noontime sun on a tropical ocean. Then the thumping drums, booming bass and delirious hand clapping came in to lift you out of your seat. It wasn't funk, disco or R&B, but it had elements of all three, played with an irresistible sense of Caribbean swing.

"Get Down Tonight" was the song that turned Harry Wayne Casey and his KC And The Sunshine Band into superstars. The song was featured on their sophomore album, KC And The Sunshine Band, a blockbuster that also included the infectious "Boogie Shoes" and the GRAMMY-nominated hit "That's The Way (I Like It)."

Remarkably, KC And The Sunshine Band became the first act to have four No. 1 pop singles in a 12-month period since the Beatles in 1964. But the group toured infrequently because principal songwriters Casey and Richard Finch were constantly in the studio producing other artists, including Betty Wright, with whom they co-wrote "Where Is The Love," which won a GRAMMY for Best Rhythm & Blues Song in 1975. KC And The Sunshine Band also took home GRAMMYs for Album Of The Year in 1978 for their work on the soundtrack for Saturday Night Fever.

Casey dropped out of the music industry in the mid-'80s, but KC And The Sunshine Band's hits seemingly never went out of style. Their songs have been featured in more than 75 films and countless TV shows and commercials. And Casey is now back in action, performing regularly with a revamped KC And The Sunshine Band and preparing a double album celebrating the band's 40th anniversary, tentatively due this spring. 

This is the first music you've put out in a while, isn't it?
I've released older stuff that I had in the can now and then, but this is the first new stuff I've worked on in years. I started the first tracks in December 2011 [and] I have about 39 songs done: 19 classic tunes from the '60s and 20 or so new songs. I'm still editing and mixing, but I'm aiming for 34 songs. I've been collaborating with Bimbo Jones [Britney Spears, Lady Gaga] from London and merging electronics with my original sound. They sent me tracks and I wrote melodies and lyrics for them, and then brought in my band to add more production. I've also done some things completely with the band. It's been a fun project.

Do you have any titles you can share?
I still don't know what the final set list is going to be, but it will be the usual blend of R&B, pop, dance, and jazz — a bit of everything. I've always liked a variety of music, so it'll all be in the mix.

When you cut "Get Down Tonight," the disco revolution was just starting. Did you have any idea KC And The Sunshine Band would explode?
I always felt in my heart and soul that the songs were hits, so it was more exciting than surprising. A lot of the dance music back then was dark. I wanted to bring some light and energy and a positive message to the music. We wanted to make records you could put on at a party to get people moving. Everything we made hit the top 5 on the stations that played them. We had hits in Europe and England before "Get Down."

Your beat wasn't funk, pop or disco, but it had an uplifting swing to it.
My inspiration was the Caribbean music called Junkanoo. We called the band the Sunshine Junkanoo Band at first. Junkanoo [is] from the Bahamas and uses a lot of steel drums, horns, whistles, and cowbells. It's an intensely percussion-infused sound and it takes over your body when you're around it. The idea was to use Caribbean sounds and add a pop beat to it.

Despite the monster hits, you didn't tour much in the '70s.
We were primarily a studio band. The four of us [bassist Richard Finch, guitarist Jerome Smith and drummer Robert Johnson] didn't tour because I didn't like to and we had other obligations. I was producing albums for George McCrae, writing for other artists and making the Sunshine Band records. We had a lot on our plate. Using overdubbing, we got a huge sound from just four people. I'd do two or three keyboard tracks and we'd bring in a bunch of singers and the sessions did get pretty big. At that time, we were limited to eight or 12 tracks, so we had to do a lot of dumping. We did go out and support the records a bit, but it was limited.

Any thoughts on your GRAMMY wins?
I produced and wrote Betty Wright's "Where Is The Love." She'd been having hits since she was 13 years old and was the bread and butter of our label, TK, before the Sunshine Band. We got [10] nominations over the years and won three times. We all got Album Of The Year GRAMMYs [as artists and producers] for Saturday Night Fever, which was a huge album. I think everybody who worked on that album got a GRAMMY.

Why did you drop out of music in the '80s? What brought you back?
It wasn't fun anymore. I got tired of the rat race and the pressure of being told what to do and not to do and I kinda lost my mind. I had money from the songs, so I did OK, but I was also on drugs. I was doing "The Arsenio Hall Show" from time to time, and he said his dream was to reunite the Sunshine Band. So we did that for him. It was fun and got me back into it. I came out of my stupor, went to rehab and I've been clean and sober ever since.

There was an infamous "Behind The Music" episode about KC And The Sunshine Band that aired on VH1. Did that help your comeback?
It didn't hurt. They also did a live 45-minute concert series on us and dance music is huge again, although it never really went away. They just rename it, but the clubs and parties are getting bigger and bigger all the time. We're back on the road, mostly on the weekends, so I can have a life, and we're having a great time.

(J. Poet lives in San Francisco and writes about Native, folk, country, Americana, and world music for many national and international publications and websites.)

GRAMMYs

Madonna

Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

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GRAMMY Insider: Madonna, Paul McCartney, Metallica, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake

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All the GRAMMY winners news, including the nominees for the Songwriters Hall of Fame class of 2014
Crystal Larsen
GRAMMYs
Dec 2, 2014 - 4:06 pm

(The GRAMMY Insider keeps you up to date about news on your favorite GRAMMY winners, including information about new album releases, tour updates, notable media appearances, interviews, and more.)

Awards
The nominees for the Songwriters Hall of Fame class of 2014 include GRAMMY winners Harry Wayne Casey, Luigi Creatore and Hugo Peretti, Vince Gill, Mark James, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, John Mellencamp, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), and Sade, among others. Inductees will be honored at an awards gala on June 12, 2014, in New York. … Nominations for the 2013 American Music Awards were announced with Macklemore & Ryan Lewis leading with six nominations, followed by Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake with five each. The awards will air live from Los Angeles on Nov. 24.

Records
In more Taylor Swift news, the 23-year-old songstress will be honored as the Nashville Songwriters Association International's Songwriter/Artist of the Year for a record sixth time, surpassing previous records held by five-time winners Vince Gill and Alan Jackson. Swift, who remains the youngest artist to receive the award, will showcase her six trophies at the Taylor Swift Education Center, set to open Oct. 12 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn.

Charts
Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience, 2 Of 2, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 350,000 copies sold, marking Timberlake's second No. 1 album of the year following The 20/20 Experience, which was released in March and earned the largest sales week of the year with 968,000 units sold. … Kanye West's "Gone" peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week after the song, from his 2005 GRAMMY-winning album Late Registration, appeared in the viral YouTube video of 25-year-old Marina Shifrin announcing her job resignation.  

New Music
TLC unveiled their first new song in 10 years, "Meant To Be," which was written by GRAMMY winner Ne-Yo, among others. The track will appear on their forthcoming greatest hits compilation album 20, due Oct. 15. … Eminem released the video for "Survival," the second single from his forthcoming new album The Marshall Mathers LP 2, due Nov. 5. The video, which also appears in the trailer for the "Call Of Duty: Ghosts" video game, features the rapper performing in a gloomy warehouse while clips of the video game flash in the background. … In a recent interview with The Oakland Press, Metallica frontman James Hetfield revealed the band will begin work on their next studio album in early 2014. "Hopefully it happens soon. I'm itchin'," said Hetfield. "We have tons of material to sift through. … I know we only need a few songs, but there's 800 riffs we're going through. It's kind of insane."

#theysaidit
The next time you start posing for your "Sunday selfie," think of Paul McCartney. In a recent interview on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," the former Beatle said, "Most people don't actually know that I invented the selfie," referring to a black-and-white solo shot of himself. When presented with a photo in which he's spontaneously posed in the background of an image of John Lennon, McCartney said, "That's actually me inventing the photobomb."

John Legend

John Legend

 

Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS via Getty Images

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Inaugural BMC Event Announced For GRAMMY Week 2021 recording-academy-black-music-collective-grammy-week-2021-john-legend-her

The Recording Academy Announces Inaugural Black Music Collective Event During GRAMMY Week 2021: John Legend, H.E.R., Quincy Jones, Janelle Monáe, Issa Rae And More Confirmed

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The historic Black Music Collective event will feature an array of esteemed Black music creators and professionals known for amplifying Black voices in music and beyond, including PJ Morton, Jeff Harleston, Debra Lee and more
Recording Academy
Feb 24, 2021 - 6:30 am

The Black Music Collective (BMC), a newly launched initiative by the Recording Academy, has announced its inaugural GRAMMY Week event in celebration of Black creators' and professionals' countless contributions to the music industry. Taking place Wednesday, March 10, starting at 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST and hosted live on GRAMMY.com, the virtual event is open to the public; no RSVP or registration is needed.

The historic event, presented by Mastercard and hosted by the BMC Executive Sponsor Jeriel Johnson, will feature an array of esteemed Black music creators and professionals known for amplifying Black voices in music and beyond.

The BMC event will feature unforgettable performances by some of today's biggest stars, including GRAMMY Award-winning artists Yolanda Adams, H.E.R., PJ Morton, and first-time GRAMMY-nominated rapper and producer duo Freddie Gibbs & Alchemist. 

In addition to performances, the event will feature intimate reflections and mogul moments from industry leaders, including Executive Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for North America for Universal Music Group Jeff Harleston; songwriting maverick Jimmy Jam; legendary record producer Quincy Jones; former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BET Networks and businesswoman Debra Lee; Chair and Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason jr.; and BMC Chair and Atlantic Records Executive Riggs Morales. 

Lastly, powerful fireside chats with cultural icons regarding the Black experience in the wake of social justice will be led by Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer of the Recording Academy Valeisha Butterfield Jones; Los Angeles Chapter Governor and recording artist John Legend; renowned activist Tamika D. Mallory; singer-songwriter Janelle Monáe; and actor, writer and producer Issa Rae.

The topics to be discussed during the programming include the Impact of Black Music, The Culture Shifting Power of Black Music, Impact of Black Women in Music, and the Power, Purpose, and Progress of the State of Black Music.

"As the first of its kind, we created this event with every intention to amplify Black voices and each of our experiences within the industry," Harvey Mason jr. said . "The BMC will continue to foster a space for members and industry professionals to educate and elevate Black creators during GRAMMY Week and beyond."

"We are thrilled to announce this virtual program as the BMC continues to celebrate Black music and those who share our mission to foster and accelerate Black representation, equity and inclusion throughout the music industry," Morales said. "The Black Music Collective will continue to tailor events for Black creators to feel uplifted and supported and we are excited for this GRAMMY Week kickoff."

Stay up to date on the BMC's progress here.

The Recording Academy Announces "Women In The Mix" Virtual Celebration: Cyndi Lauper, Ingrid Andress, MC Lyte, Sheila E., Tina Tchen And More Confirmed

Press Play At Home: Why Don’t We

Why Don’t We

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Press Play At Home: Why Don’t We Performs A Haunting, Stripped-Back Rendition Of "Fallin' (Adrenaline)"

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Accompanied by acoustic guitar, the five-piece L.A. boy band digs into the essence of their self-constructed banger from 'The Good Times And The Bad Ones'
Morgan Enos
GRAMMYs
Feb 23, 2021 - 8:29 am

Why Don’t We have been on the upswing since their 2016 formation—and now, they’re displaying their skill as self-interpreters. On the latest episode of Press Play At Home, heir hit 2020 single "Fallin' (Adrenaline)," from their new album, 'The Good Times And The Bad Ones,' gets an emotionally probing makeover with acoustic backing.

Press Play At Home: Why Don’t We

"Fallin' (Adrenaline)" is Why Don’t We’s first release since their sold-out, back-to-back North American and global headline tours. Check out the intimate new version above.

Press Play At Home: Omar Apollo Lays Down Emotional Version Of "Useless"

GRAMMYs

Rupert Neve

Photo: Gary Miller/WireImage.com

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Remembering Rupert Neve, A Pioneer Who Set The Standard In Audio

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Across an eight-decade career, the brilliant and inquisitive Neve spearheaded several legendary companies and designed cutting-edge equipment, receiving a Lifetime Achievement Technical GRAMMY Award in the process
Morgan Enos
Recording Academy
Feb 19, 2021 - 1:02 pm

As a child in the 1930s, Rupert Neve loved building and repairing radios. What he could never have imagined was that he'd continue on until he was 94—nor that his contributions would be felt into 2030 and beyond.

If Neve's sole contribution to the music industry was inventing the Neve 8028 console, on which luminaries from Fleetwood Mac to Nirvana to The Who recorded classic albums, his place in the pantheon would be assured. But across an eight-decade career, Neve did much more than that.

The audio wizard spearheaded mixing consoles' move from vacuum tubes to transistors, which facilitated the capacious sound of The Beatles' Abbey Road and numerous other classics. And across the decades, he participated in a litany of audio electronics projects and mentored younger engineers.

Sadly, Neve passed away on February 12 in Wimberley, Texas, due to non-COVID pneumonia and heart failure. He was 94.

"It's all about his transformers," singer/songwriter Billy Crockett told The New York Times in response to the news. "They provide something intangible that makes the mix fit together. So when people get poetic about analog, it's how the sound comes through the transformers."

Neve was born in Newton Abbot, England, in 1926, and grew up in Argentina. As a teenager, he volunteered to serve in World War II, working on the communications side for the British military.

His early career trajectory took him from Refiffusion and Ferguson Radio to his first business, CQ Audio. In 1961, he and his wife, Evelyn, founded Neve Electronics. Three years later, he designed his first transistor-based equalizer, then built his first transistor-based mixing console for Philips Records. In 1975, the couple sold the Neve Companies. A decade later, they established Focusrite Ltd. under the name ARN Consultants, who worked on a variety of cutting-edge projects.

In 1997, Neve's accomplishments were recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Technical GRAMMY Award. In 2005, he established Rubert Neve Designs. And in 2019, he returned to the high-fidelity audio market with Fidelice. Neve is survived by his wife, five children, nine grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Rupert Neve Is Still Making (Sound) Waves

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.