Jessie Woo

Jessie Woo

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Jessie Woo Brings The Haitian "Vacation" Vibes For Press Play At Home

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For the latest edition of GRAMMY.com's Press Play At Home video series, the Miami-based songstress brings us on a much needed vacation with a rooftop performance of the breezy track
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jul 9, 2020 - 1:02 pm

"I'm up in the club / But I'm looking for something. / I don't know what it is / But I know it's one thing / I can't waste the night away on nothing," Haitian-American singer/host/comedian Jessie Woo sings on "Vacation."

For the latest edition of GRAMMY.com's Press Play At Home video series (watch below!), the Miami-based songstress brings us on a much needed vacation with a rooftop performance of the breezy track.

Jessie Woo Sings "Vacation" | Press Play

"No fake friends, only day one b****es / I've been waiting all day for / One night vacation," she continues in the chorus, invoking a celebratory, fun night out with friends we've certainly all missed over the months of quarantine.

Read: Haiti's Michael Brun Talks Debut LP 'LOKAL,' Friendship With J Balvin & Diplo & His Legacy As Global Artist

"Vacation" is from Woo's 2019 debut EP, Moods Of A Cancer, and is a nod to her Haitian roots, featuring lyrics in Haiti's official language, Kreyòl. The vibrant music video was filmed in Haiti, with scenic aerial views from the Citadelle, a 19th Century fortress.

She first came into the spotlight by organically growing a big social media following, building a supportive community of women, the Seesters, on Instagram, and with hosting spots for BET, Twitter and more. Music is an important part of who she is, as she's been singing and playing drums since a young age and grew up in a musical family.

Watch: Durand Bernarr Unleashes "Melody" For Press Play At Home

Woo sites Whitney Houston, Shania Twain and Celine Dion as her all-time favorite singers, and with confident lyrics, warm vocals and fierce energy, she is already channeling that big diva energy.

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GRAMMYs

Skip Marley

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Skip Marley Asks Us To "Slow Down" For Press Play

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For the latest episode of GRAMMY.com's Press Play series, the "My World" singer delivers a soulful acoustic rendition of "Slow Down"
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 17, 2020 - 11:34 am

24-year-old Jamaican-born reggae artist Skip Marley, grandson of the legendary Bob Marley, grew up in the rich musical environment of his homeland and family, often touring with his uncles Ziggy and Stephen. In 2017, he collaborated with Katy Perry on her hit "Chained To The Rhythm," making him the first in his family to hit the Top 10 on Billboard's Hot 100.

Now, with "Slow Down" featuring R&B songstress H.E.R., the lead single from his August 2020 debut album, Higher Place, Skip has earned more accolades for his family name. He became the first Jamaican-born artist to snag a No. 1 on Billboard's Adult R&B chart and the track was the fastest and biggest streaming song from the Marley clan.

Watch Skip Marley Perform "Slow Down" | Press Play

Watch Another: G Herbo & Chance The Rapper Perform "PTSD" For Press Play

For the latest episode of GRAMMY.com's Press Play series, the "My World" singer delivers a soulful acoustic rendition of "Slow Down."

In Celebration Of Bob Marley: Late Reggae Hero’s 75th Birthday Commemorated With Special Releases & Events

Ambré

Ambré

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Quarantine Diaries: Ambré Is Making Music, Enjoying New Orleans & Playing Video Games With Her Brother

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"You gotta figure out new ways to live life, and it's making me a better person. As messed up as the circumstances are, you can always find the good," Ambré says her video diary
GRAMMYs
Sep 29, 2020 - 12:58 pm

As the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic continues to rock the music industry, GRAMMY.com reached out to a few musicians to see how they were spending their days indoors. Today, New Orleans-born alt R&B singer/songwriter Ambré shares her video Quarantine Diary.

Alt R&B singer/songwriter Ambré met producer Erick Bardales in 2014 and began making music with him when she was just 17. In 2015, she released her first mixtape, Wanderlust, which was produced by Bardales. That same year, the "american beauty" singer gained recognition for her first collab with Kehlani in 2015, a cover of Drake's "Preach."

She's also collabed with the Glitch Mob, TOKiMONSTA, Keys N Krates and Ryan Hemsworth, and co-written music on H.E.R.'s GRAMMY-winning self-titled mixtape. After signing to Roc Nation in 2019, she released her major label debut project, the Pulp EP, in November 2019, followed by Pulp (Director's Cut) this past July 31.

Quarantine Diaries: Ambré

In the latest episode of GRAMMY.com's Quarantine Diaries series (watch above), the "fubu" singer brings us along for a productive day working on music and enjoying good company (her brother and Bardales) and good food while staying in her hometown of New Orleans.

"You gotta figure out new ways to live life, and it's making me a better person. As messed up as the circumstances are, you can always find the good," Ambré says in the video.

Quarantine Diaries: Black Pumas' Eric Burton Is Working On A New Album & Spending Time In The Garden

Solid Gold Dancers

The Solid Gold Dancers in 1982

Photo: Ron Wolfson/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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Explore "Solid Gold," The Epic '80s Hit Music TV Show | History Of

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The third-ever episode of GRAMMY.com's History Of video series tells the story of a glitzy music show that featured the biggest artists of the moment, backed by the fabulous Solid Gold Dancers
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Sep 14, 2020 - 6:12 pm

"Welcome to 'Solid Gold!' Starting right now and for every week to come, we're gonna bring you the biggest hit records in the country, some by the people that made them famous. So get ready for a lot of comedy, some real hot dancing and many surprises," host Dionne Warwick said during its debut episode on Sept. 15, 1980. The GRAMMY-winning singer hosted the entire first season, after which would go on to be hosted by Andy Gibb, comedian Arsenio Hall and others for the remaining seven seasons.

We celebrate the 40th anniversary of the launch of the shimmering '80s music TV show in our third-ever episode of the one-minute History Of video series, which you can watch below.

History Of "Solid Gold"

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During that lively first show, Irene Cara performed (most numbers were lip-synched) her GRAMMY-nominated hit "Fame" and Chuck Berry rocked the crowd with a live rendition of "Johnny B Goode," both backed by the amazing in-house dance squad known as the Solid Gold Dancers. To add excitement to the countdown of the week's top hits, the crew served up energetic choreography for each song.

Other legendary musical guests included GRAMMY winners Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, James Brown, Madonna, the Pointer Sisters and Rod Stewart, as well as Hall & Oates, a-ha and many others.

Gladys Knight & Patti LaBelle's Verzuz Faceoff Was A Moment Of Pure Soul Sisterhood

Stevie Wonder, Lula Mae Hardaway, Chuck Berry, Little Richard at the 1974 GRAMMYs

Stevie Wonder with his mom, Lula Mae Hardaway, and others at the 1974 GRAMMYs

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GRAMMY Rewind: Stevie Wonder Shares His First GRAMMY Win With His Mom

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In the latest episode of GRAMMY Rewind, rock 'n' roll icons Chuck Berry and Little Richard present Wonder—and his beaming mother—with the GRAMMY for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstition"
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jul 10, 2020 - 10:11 am

In the latest episode of GRAMMY Rewind, GRAMMY.com takes a journey back to the 1974 GRAMMY Awards when a then-23-year-old Stevie Wonder took home his first four GRAMMY wins for music for his classic albums Talking Book (1972) and Innervisions (1973).

The soulful musical legend had already earned six GRAMMY nominations during four prior shows, beginning at the 1967 GRAMMYs for his 1965 hit, "Uptight (Everything's Alright)." Just seven years later, he'd take home his first of many golden gramophones.

In March 1974, rock 'n' roll icons Chuck Berry and Little Richard presented Wonder—and his beaming mother—with his first-ever GRAMMY, winning the Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male category for "Superstition," an iconic track from Talking Book.

Watch Stevie Wonder Win Best R&B Vocal Performance

Immediately before Berry and Richard jokingly fought over the microphone to announce the "Higher Ground" singer's name, the two dynamic forces of rock performed a high-powered medley of their music on the GRAMMY stage. Wonder, rocking a perfect afro puff and an embroidered earth-toned shirt-and-pants set, brought up his mother, Lula Mae Hardaway, who looked glamourous in a magenta gown and big feather boa.

"First of all, I'd like for you all, please, not to give this to me, but to my mother," Wonder announced, as Berry handed the golden gramophone to Hardaway. "My mother is going to accept the award for me. I am so very happy; you don't even know how happy I am," he said with a huge smile.

"I would like to thank you all for making this the sunshine of my life tonight," a radiant Hardaway said, nodding to her son's song, "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life," which would also win a GRAMMY that evening.

Read: More Innervisions: Stevie Wonder On Music, Politics & Love

The groovy "Superstition," released in October 1972 on Tamla/Motown as the lead single to Wonder's 15th studio album, Talking Book, won for Best Rhythm & Blues Song that night. "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life," the album's second and only additional single, won for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male. 

Later in the night, Wonder's next album, Innervisions, released in August 1973, less than a year after Talking Book, would win the prestigious Album Of The Year gramophone, rounding out an epic run at the 1974 GRAMMYs.

Stevie Wonder Wins Album Of The Year

His next two (also classic!) albums, Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974) and Songs In The Key Of Life (1976), would also win the Album Of The Year award, at the 17th GRAMMY Awards and 19th GRAMMY Awards, respectively, along with three additional wins each year.

To date, Wonder has earned 25 GRAMMYs, in addition to his six recordings inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame. He received the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996 and was named MusiCares Person Of The Year in 1999, among many other career accolades.

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