Album cover for the 1976 'A Star Is Born' soundtrack
News

'A Star Is Born': Do You Know These GRAMMY Facts?

Facebook Twitter Email
With a 2018 remake in the works starring Lady Gaga, take a look back at the 1976 film's hit soundtrack that earned multiple GRAMMY honors
GRAMMYs
May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am
GRAMMY.com

A classic film is set to be reborn, yet again.

Following her first headlining performance at Coachella, reports have swirled about Lady Gaga beginning to film scenes with co-star Bradley Cooper in Southern California for an impending 2018 remake of A Star Is Born. The film will not only mark Gaga's first leading role on the silver screen but the fourth overall film adaptation of the romantic drama.

The original debuted in 1937 and was followed by a 1954 remake starring GRAMMY winner Judy Garland. The 1976 version of A Star Is Born rebooted the story around the love affair of characters John Norman Howard (Kris Kristofferson), a gruff rock star past his expiration date, and Esther Hoffman (Barbra Streisand), an up-and-coming female songwriter. The film was a blockbuster, earning $80 million at the U.S. box office, as was the soundtrack, which held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 for six weeks.

With Lady Gaga set to prove the film can be "ageless and evergreen" for a new generation, here is a trio of GRAMMY facts about the 1976 film's soundtrack:

The all-star A Star Is Born soundtrack features more than 10 GRAMMY winners

In addition to Streisand and Kristofferson, the A Star Is Born soundtrack is crawling with contributions from GRAMMY-winning talent, including songwriters Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Kenny Loggins, Leon Russell, Donna Weiss, and Paul Williams; arrangers Ian Freebairn-Smith and Pat Williams; engineer Tommy Vicari; trombonist James Pankow; and producer/engineer Phil Ramone.

The soundtrack netted 3 GRAMMY wins and 5 nominations

At the 20th GRAMMY Awards, the song "Love Theme From A Star Is Born (Evergreen)" earned four nominations and ultimately won three. It tied with "You Light Up My Life" for Song Of The Year honors, which went to writers Streisand and Paul Williams. Streisand won outright for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female and Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) went to Freebairn-Smith. The soundtrack was also up for Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special, which was awarded to the soundtrack for Star Wars.

 

Streisand's two wins marked her first GRAMMYs in 12 years

Streisand began her music career with a bang, earning consecutive GRAMMYs for 1963, 1964 and 1965. Though she received multiple nominations in the years between, she would not win her next GRAMMY until her two wins for 1977 for "Love Theme From A Star Is Born (Evergreen)."

Bonus fact: Streisand performed "Love Theme …" for a president

The legendary singer performed a medley of hits, including the effervescent love theme from A Star Is Born, at the 1993 inauguration gala for President Bill Clinton. Babs dedicated the song to the Clintons, which she described as the president's "favorite" Barbra Streisand song.

More GRAMMY facts: Beauty And The Beast soundtrack

Beyoncé, Barbara Stresand, and Jamie Foxx
News

Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand, Jamie Foxx Set For Houston Relief Telethon

Facebook Twitter Email
GRAMMY winners, TV networks and Hollywood stars have joined together for a special one-hour telethon to support relief and rebuilding efforts in Houston
Brian Haack
GRAMMYs
Sep 5, 2017 - 1:02 pm

Five major television networks and some of today's biggest stars have banded together to broadcast a one-hour musical special and telethon as relief and rebuilding efforts begin to take place in earnest in Houston, Texas, in the wake of the disastrous storms and flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.

"Hand In Hand: A Benefit For Hurricane Harvey Relief" will air on Sept. 12 and include performances broadcast from several stages around the country, namely in Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville. Already signed-on to appear on the program are Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, and Resse Witherspoon, as well as GRAMMY winners Beyoncé, Barbra Streisand and Jamie Foxx, with an additional taped performance by George Strait being presented from his Houston benefit concert in San Antonio.

The event was organized by Recording Academy Texas Chapter Board member and GRAMMY-nominated Houston-based rapper Bun B as well as GRAMMY nominee Scott "Scooter" Braun. ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and CMT will collaborate to simulcast the event across the five broadcast networks live on the East Coast, with a taped broadcast showing a few hours later on the West Coast. The telethon will also be livestreamed to Twitter and Facebook during the East Coast presentation.

Other artists and television personalities expected to appear on the broadcast include Karlie Kloss, Matt Lauer, Rob Lowe, Matthew McConaughey, Norah O'Donnell, Dennis Quaid, Julia Roberts, Kelly Rowland, Adam Sandler, Ryan Seacrest, Michael Strahan and Blake Shelton, with more names still to be announced.

The live telethon program will broadcast at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 12.

MusiCares Announces Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

Elvis Presley photographed circa 1955
News

Remembering Elvis Presley: 5 GRAMMY Facts

Facebook Twitter Email
From his wins and nominations to his GRAMMY Hall Of Fame recordings, learn about the King's GRAMMY history
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Aug 15, 2017 - 4:07 pm
GRAMMY.com

Forty years ago, the world lost a true music icon. But for many music fans — as well as those who are employed as Elvis impersonators — Elvis Presley will always be alive.

Indeed, the King of Rock and Roll left an indelible footprint on popular culture. He recorded an astounding 104 Top 40 hits and 27 Top 10 albums, and he became one of the first music stars to crossover big on the silver screen.

His songs have been covered by everyone from the Dead Kennedys to Twenty One Pilots and he's been sampled by the likes of Cypress Hill and the Black Keys. GRAMMY winner Bruno Mars even got his career start as a young Elvis impersonator in Hawaii.

At the Recording Academy, we're down with Elvis too. In celebration of the King, here are five GRAMMY facts you should know.

First Nominations
In total, Elvis collected 14 GRAMMY nominations over his career. He received his first three at the 2nd GRAMMY Awards in 1960: "A Big Hunk O' Love" nabbed Best Rhythm & Blues Performance and Best Performance By A "Top 40" Artist nominations while "A Fool Such As I" scored a nod for Record Of The Year. He would earn another Record Of The Year nomination the following year for "Are You Lonesome Tonight?"

His First Win
The King landed his first-ever GRAMMY win for Best Sacred Performance for 1967 for "How Great Thou Art." The title track was one of 13 gospel-infused tunes featured on his triple-platinum album of the same name. Little-known fact: Elvis won all three of his GRAMMY Awards in gospel categories. He took home the Best Inspirational Performance category for 1972 for "He Touched Me"; two years later he won that category again for a live version of "How Great Thou Art."

Classics In The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame
From "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" to "That's All Right," seven classic Elvis singles have been inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame. Among rock artists, only the Beatles (15) and Bob Dylan (nine) equal or surpass his total. "Hound Dog" was Elvis' first recording inducted into the Hall in 1988. His most recent? "Jailhouse Rock" was inducted in 2017.

Lifetime Achievement Award
In 1971 Elvis became just the sixth artist to receive the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award — then referred to as the Bing Crosby Award. This special award is designed to recognize performers who have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording.

GRAMMY Museum Exhibit
Elvis was the subject of the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. Live's 2010 exhibit: Elvis At 21. The popular installation featured 56 exclusive photos by Alfred Wertheimer that chronicled a 21-year-old artist who was on the precipice of taking the world by storm. Two years later, the Museum hosted Elvis Month, with a calendar of themed events and activities paying tribute to the King.

More GRAMMY Facts: A Star Is Born

Poll

Taylor Swift to Adele: Favorite Album Of The Year winner by a woman?

Facebook Twitter Email
From Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand to Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, Adele and Taylor Swift, vote for your favorite Album Of The Year winner made by a woman
GRAMMYs
Jul 25, 2017 - 5:17 pm
GRAMMY.com

NPR has issued a riveting list of the 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women, which features a variety of GRAMMY winners from Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin and Miranda Lambert to Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks and Beyoncé. An impressive group of women has won the GRAMMY for Album Of The Year for their own recordings — vote for your favorite below.

Polls

What is your favorite Album Of The Year GRAMMY-winning recording made by a woman?

Judy Garland, 'Judy At Carnegie Hall'
1%
Barbra Streisand, 'The Barbra Streisand Album'
1%
Bonnie Raitt, 'Nick Of Time'
3%
Carole King, 'Tapestry'
4%
Natalie Cole, 'Unforgettable With Love'
0%
Whitney Houston, 'The Bodyguard' soundtrack
5%
Alanis Morissette, 'Jagged Little Pill'
5%
Celine Dion, 'Falling Into You'
2%
Lauryn Hill, 'The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill'
3%
Norah Jones, 'Come Away With Me'
3%
Dixie Chicks, 'Taking The Long Way'
1%
Taylor Swift, 'Fearless'
10%
Adele, '21'
18%
Taylor Swift, '1989'
21%
Adele, '25'
24%

More GRAMMY history: See a full list of Album Of The Year winners

 

The cover for The Graduate soundtrack
News

'Mrs. Robinson,' 'The Graduate' Soundtrack: 3 GRAMMY facts

Facebook Twitter Email
With 'The Graduate' set to return to theaters this spring, take a quick class about the soundtrack and classic song that earned Simon & Garfunkel multiple GRAMMY honors
GRAMMYs
May 15, 2017 - 2:36 am

It's never too late to go back to school.

In conjunction with its 50th anniversary, The Graduate heads back to movie theaters beginning April 8 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. Released in 1967, the classic comedic drama, which starred Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft, is one of the highest grossing films of all time, according to Box Office Mojo. The chart-topping soundtrack written by Simon & Garfunkel and Dave Grusin is equally iconic, earning multiple awards for its slate of classics such as "Mrs. Robinson," "April Come She Will" and "The Sounds Of Silence."

With The Graduate set to hit more than 700 theaters nationwide on April 23, study up on these GRAMMY facts about the film's soundtrack:

In earning a GRAMMY for the soundtrack, Paul Simon joined film music royalty

The soundtrack for The Graduate earned the folk-rock singer/songwriter — working alongside jazz pianist Grusin — a GRAMMY for Best Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special. It marked Simon's first award outside of Simon & Garfunkel, and with that win he joined the company of film music luminaries such as Duke Ellington, Henry Mancini, Lalo Schifrin, and Julie Andrews, who each won the category previously.

"Mrs. Robinson" notched a historic Record Of The Year win

The smash song netted Simon & Garfunkel their first two career GRAMMYs for 1968 for Record Of The Year and Best Contemporary Pop Performance — Duo Or Group. It is also considered the first rock song to win Record Of The Year. Previous category winners included Bobby Darin, Tony Bennett, Mancini, and 5th Dimension. While "Mrs. Robinson" was first featured in The Graduate, it was later re-recorded for Simon & Garfunkel's 1968 album, Bookends.

 

Two of the soundtrack's songs are in the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame

"Mrs. Robinson" — which has been covered by a host of GRAMMY winners, from Frank Sinatra to Eric Johnson — was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 1999. In 2004 "The Sounds Of Silence" was also inducted. The song originally made the cut for The Graduate soundtrack despite topping the Billboard Hot 100 two years prior to the film's release.

More GRAMMY facts: Beauty And The Beast soundtrack