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Harry Connick Jr. and friends in Jackson Square, New Orleans

Harry Connick Jr. and friends in NOLA

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United We Sing: Celebs Honor Essential Workers united-we-sing-cyndi-lauper-jamie-foxx-more-help-harry-connick-jr-bring-smiles

United We Sing: Cyndi Lauper, Jamie Foxx & More Help Harry Connick Jr. Bring Smiles To Essential Workers

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Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey, Herbie Hancock, Andra Day, Cyndi Lauper, Little Big Town, Dave Matthews, Tim McGraw, John Fogerty and others also brought gratitude from New York to New Orleans
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jun 21, 2020 - 7:02 pm

On Sunday, June 21, CBS aired the two-hour "United We Sing: A GRAMMY Salute To The Unsung Heroes" special featuring host Harry Connick Jr., who, along with his filmmaker daughter, Georgia Connick, journeyed via RV from New York to New Orleans to personally thank the essential workers risking their lives to keep us all safe and healthy during the COVID-19 crisis.

The inspiring road trip, which was shot several weeks ago and with a limited crew and social distancing precautions, saw the Connicks visiting truck drivers, teachers, grocery store workers, hospital cleaning staff, firefighters, a trash route worker and other unsung heroes of the coronavirus pandemic.

At each stop, a very special guest, via Zoom, helped Harry offer messages of gratitude to the local heroes, while Georgia filmed the moving interactions. These included Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey and Queen Latifah, along with GRAMMY winners Irma Thomas, Jamie Foxx, Herbie Hancock, Andra Day, Cyndi Lauper, Little Big Town, Dave Matthews, Tim McGraw, John Fogerty and others.

Watch Tim McGraw Perform "Something Like That"

The first stop was to visit Harry's sister Suzanna Jamison, a military doctor currently stationed at Queens Hospital Center in Queens, N.Y. "It's really hard for all the people involved," she said. It was also, understandably so, hard for the siblings to not be able to hug each other. He later visited their father in New Orleans, where they grew up, for another heartwarming family visit.

After narrowly escaping N.Y.C. while driving their massive RV through the narrow streets of Chinatown, Harry navigated them to Chattanooga, Tenn. to thank an adorable trucker couple. McGraw, the first celeb guest of the jaunt, said hi via Zoom. The country icon shared that his dad was a trucker, and he got his country music education at a young age, riding alongside his father with the tape deck going. He then sang an acoustic rendition of his 1999 song "Something Like That" (watch the performance above).

The next stop was to visit teachers at Irvington High School in Newark, N.J. One of the young teachers, Aaysha Notice, shared her passion for showing up for her students, even when they're apart, with innovative ideas like a car parade to celebrate the kids' test scores, driving outside their houses, shouting praises from a safe distance. Their special caller was Queen Latifah—she attended Irvington at the same time her mom taught there. Notice and the other teachers where thrilled to hear support from Latifah, who reminded them: "You are the superstars!"

Explore: 'Black Gold' At 50: How Nina Simone Refracted The Black Experience Through Reinterpreted Songs

The show was interspersed with a stellar selection of musical guests and virtual collabs, the second of which was Trombone Shorty and Little Big Town, with the New Orleans jazz artist playing from his hometown and the country act singing in from Florida and Nashville. They performed a rousing cover of Hank Williams' "Jambalaya (On The Bayou)."

Irma Thomas

Irma Thomas sings in front of the Mississippi River

Other performances included Thomas singing her GRAMMY-winning 1962 classic "It's Raining" in front of a grey-skied Mississippi river, with Lauper supporting virtually from Los Angeles and Foxx singing a moving rendition of Bill Withers' "Grandma's Hands," dedicated to his beloved grandmother and Withers. Foxx helped thank the cleaning staff at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Ala.

Hancock and Day, who is playing Billie Holiday in an upcoming biopic, performed Holiday's "God Bless The Child," along with an upright bassist and drummer, each playing from their respective set-ups. Later, Jon Batiste and the Gospel Soul Children served up a beautiful performance of "Amazing Grace."

Fogerty and his family, calling in from Los Angeles, performed an electric rendition of his "Proud Mary," with help from Rockin' Dopsie Jr. playing the zydeco in front of the river that inspired the Creedance Clearwater Revival hit. Also while in NOLA, Connick joined an amazing, socially distanced second line, featuring the Bourbon Street Brass Band, the Lady Buckjumpers and the Wild Magnolias, who delivered a brass rendition of "America The Beautiful."

Read: Marching Six Feet Apart: How High School Marching Bands Are Coping With The Pandemic

One of the most moving musical moments came from the tribute to the late jazz pianist Ellis Marsalis, who died from COVID-19. Three of his sons honored the NOLA legend with the hymn "How Great Thou Art," along with Connick singing on a piano. They performed outside of the city's Ellis Marsalis Center For Music, built after hurricane Katrina to serves as a music education and enrichment space for kids, a recording studio, performance hall and more. One of the eldest sons, Branford Marsalis, returned to the show later to perform Dave Matthews Band's "Mercy" with Dave himself.

R.I.P.: Pianist And New Orleans Jazz Staple Ellis Marsalis Dies At 85

While visiting New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell at City Hall, Lou Hill of the Recording Academy stopped by to share the Academy would be joining Connick in making donations to the Marsalis Center and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, another important local music org highlighted during the special. During the show, viewers where encouraged to learn more and donate what they could to the non-profits, as well as MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund and two food-focused charities, No Kid Hungry and the Conscious Alliance, a coalition of artists dedicated keeping their communities fed.

Read: My Mind: The 'Panther' Theme Song Turns 25

Other stops and celebrity Zoom cameos included a visit to Oprah's Boys and Girls Club in Kosciusko, Miss., where the employees are feeding kids who would otherwise not eat with school out, with around 2000 meals a day! Winfrey called in to thank them personally; she helped open in that Boys and Girls Club in her hometown back in 2006. At a Kroger's grocery store in Knoxville, Tenn., Connick called on Renée Zellweger to praise two lovely employees there. Sandra Bullock zoomed with transit supervisor Joy Palmer, who recently lost her husband to COVID-19.

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A gospel choir sings with Connick in Jefferson Square, New Orleans

Brad Pitt made two cameos, first offering playful jokes and heartfelt thanks to the lovely Darnell, the supervisor of trash pickup route, and later to help Connick close the show. The final number saw Connick singing "Stars Still Shine" on a piano in NOLA's Jackson Square, with the support of a gospel choir and orchestra. The new song, dedicated to all their new friends on the front lines, and the many more they didn't have time to meet, is available to download now with all proceeds going to the Marsalis Center.

"Nothing Like This Has Ever Happened": How Orchestra Musicians Are Faring In The Pandemic

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Harry Connick, Jr. (R) and Georgia Connick (L) filming "UNITED WE SING" on location for CBS

Harry Connick, Jr. (R) and Georgia Connick (L) filming "UNITED WE SING" on location for CBS

Courtesy Photo: CBS

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"United We Sing" Special To Air June 21 On CBS united-we-sing-grammy-salute-unsung-heroes-special-air-june-21-cbs-hosted-harry

"United We Sing: A GRAMMY Salute To The Unsung Heroes" Special To Air June 21 On CBS: Hosted By Harry Connick, Jr. And Featuring Dave Matthews, Tim McGraw, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Queen Latifah And More

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The two-hour star-studded event celebrating the essential workers across America will benefit MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund as well as No Kid Hungry and the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans
MusiCares
May 28, 2020 - 6:30 am

Next month, the Recording Academy and CBS are celebrating the essential workers across America with the "United We Sing: A GRAMMY Salute To The Unsung Heroes" special, a brand-new two-hour event hosted by GRAMMY- and Emmy Award-winning singer and actor Harry Connick, Jr. Airing Sunday, June 21, from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, the star-studded show features Harry Connick, Jr. and his filmmaker daughter, Georgia Connick, as they take a road trip across the nation in an RV to thank and celebrate essential workers who risk their own lives on a daily basis to keep the country safe. 

Connick highlights the contributions of these everyday heroes with the help of his celebrity friends, including Sandra Bullock, Drew Brees, Queen Latifah, Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey and Renée Zellweger, who will deliver surprise messages to America's unsung heroes. The special will also feature performances by GRAMMY winners Harry Connick, Jr., John Fogerty, Jamie Foxx, Herbie Hancock, Cyndi Lauper, Little Big Town, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Dave Matthews, Tim McGraw and Irma Thomas as well as GRAMMY nominees Jon Batiste, Andra Day, Rockin Dopsie and Trombone Shorty.

https://twitter.com/CBS/status/1266000647419121664

.@HarryConnickJR hosts UNITED WE SING: A GRAMMY® SALUTE TO THE UNSUNG HEROES with performances & appearances by @Oprah @iamjamiefoxx @TheTimMcGraw @JonBatiste @IAMQUEENLATIFAH #BradPitt #SandraBullock & more Sunday, 6/21 at 8pm/7c on CBS & @CBSAllAccess: https://t.co/uuTKmoxlcq pic.twitter.com/mbprif3et4

— CBS (@CBS) May 28, 2020

The Connicks' journey begins at their home in Connecticut, and after stopping in various cities along the way, they reach their final destination of New Orleans, La. At each stop, the father-daughter duo listens to the stories of essential workers in healthcare, food preparation, sanitation, law enforcement, trucking and more to honor their dedication and public service during this unique moment in history.

The show culminates in Connick's hometown of New Orleans, with moving musical performances by Connick, Trombone Shorty and Irma Thomas at iconic locations throughout the city.

The special will invite donors to contribute to charities that support underserved children, such as No Kid Hungry and the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans, as well as to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, a charitable organization of the Recording Academy.

"United We Sing: A GRAMMY Salute To The Unsung Heroes" was filmed with a minimal crew practicing social distancing and with extensive safety precautions in place. 

Harry Connick, Jr.'s career has exemplified excellence across multiple platforms in the entertainment world. He has received GRAMMY and Emmy Awards, as well as Tony nominations for his live and recorded musical performances, his achievements in film and television and his appearances on Broadway as both an actor and a composer. Over the past three decades, Connick has established himself as a musician, singer and composer, a legendary live performer and a best-selling artist with millions of recordings sold around the world. The foundation of Connick's art is the music of his native New Orleans, where he began performing as a pianist and vocalist at the age of 5. Connick has appeared in 19 feature films with actors such as Sandra Bullock, Hilary Swank, Renée Zellweger, Sigourney Weaver and Morgan Freeman. On television, he appeared on "Will & Grace," "South Pacific" and "American Idol." In 2016, he launched "Harry," a national daytime television show, which earned 11 Daytime Emmy nominations, including nominations for best host, and a Critics' Choice nomination for Best Talk Show. On Broadway, Connick received Tony nominations as both a lead actor in "The Pajama Game" and as a composer/lyricist for "Thou Shalt Not." In December 2019, he performed on Broadway in a show he wrote and directed, "Harry Connick, Jr.- A Celebration of Cole Porter."

From Foo Fighters To H.E.R., Chris Martin To Mavis Staples, Here's Who Rocked The GRAMMY Prince Tribute

Rio Cinema in London

Rio Cinema in London

Photo: Barry Lewis/InPictures/Getty Images

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UK Commits £1.57B Relief Package For The Arts uk-government-pledges-arts-relief-package-biggest-ever-one-investment-uk-culture

UK Government Pledges Arts Relief Package: "Biggest Ever One-Off Investment In UK Culture"

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Cultural institutions, including music venues, will be sharing funds from the "£1.15 billion support pot for cultural organizations in England," as the announcement states. £880 million of that money will be offered as grants and the rest as loans
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jul 7, 2020 - 1:17 pm

On July 5, the British government announced a £1.57 billion ($1.96 billion USD) coronavirus relief package for the gravely affected arts and culture sector of the country, including music venues, theaters, museums, galleries, independent cinemas, cultural institutions and freelance workers in the arts. No information on how to apply for funds—which will be distributed as loans and grants—has been given yet.

The news comes days after a coalition of over 1,500 British musicians, including Dua Lipa, the Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran and Rita Ora, urged the government to assist the £4.5 billion ($5.6 billion) live music sector with the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign.

Read: Congress Works To Improve COVID-19 Relief For Creators

"Our world-renowned galleries, museums, heritage sites, music venues and independent cinemas are not only critical to keeping our economy thriving, employing more than 700,000 people, they're the lifeblood of British culture," wrote Rishi Sunak, U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the announcement. "That's why we're giving them the vital cash they need to safeguard their survival, helping to protect jobs and ensuring that they can."

"I understand the grave challenges the arts face and we must protect and preserve all we can for future generations. Today we are announcing a huge support package of immediate funding to tackle the funding crisis they face. I said we would not let the arts down, and this massive investment shows our level of commitment," U.K. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden added.

The immediacy of the "immediate funding" is unclear, as applications and guidelines are not yet available. As Billboard reports, "Exactly how much funding will benefit the music sector, and what the process will be for allocating the funds, has not yet been fully fleshed out."

"We don't know the breakdown of how much will go to live music venues versus other sectors as applications are not open yet," the spokesperson says. "They will be soon."

Explore: Resources for Music Creators & Professionals Affected By COVID-19: Asia, Europe & The U.K.

All applicable cultural institutions, including music venues, will be sharing funds from the "£1.15 billion support pot for cultural organizations in England," as the announcement states. £880 million of that money will be offered as grants, while the remaining £270 million will be repayable loans. An additional £188 million will be allocated to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The government will determine who the grants are allocated to in partnership with "expert independent figures from the sector including the Arts Council England and other specialist bodies such as Historic England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute. [Additionally,] repayable finance will be issued on generous terms tailored for cultural institutions to ensure they are affordable."

Read: #TheShowMustBePaused Creators Brianna Agyemang & Jamila Thomas Talk Vision, Next Steps

As Billboard highlights, "The funding will also target employment, including freelancers in the music industry. More than 350,000 people in the recreation and leisure sector have been furloughed since the pandemic began. (The U.K. live music sector supports 210,000 jobs)."

"Eligibility for grants and loans must be as broad as possible to ensure maximum take up from across the industry from those in desperate need of help," Tom Kiehl, acting CEO at U.K. Music, told the outlet.

More Support: The Best Apps & Tools For Recording And Monetizing Music In The COVID-19 Era

For more information on COVID-19 relief for those in the music industry, please visit MusiCares useful resource page. You can also find more info on applying for a one-time grant from the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund, or donating to the Fund, if you are able.

From Aretha Franklin To Public Enemy, Here's How Artists Have Amplified Social Justice Movements Through Music

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Photo credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images

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2021 GRAMMYs Nominations To Be Announced Nov. 24 harvey-mason-jr-announce-2021-grammys-nominations-special-guests-nov-24

Harvey Mason Jr. To Announce 2021 GRAMMYs Nominations With Special Guests On Nov. 24

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The 63rd GRAMMY Award nominees in all 84 categories will be revealed during a star-studded livestream at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET
GRAMMYs
Oct 21, 2020 - 10:16 am

The wait is—almost over! On Nov. 24, we will finally know who the 63rd GRAMMY Award nominees are. The big announcement will happen during an hour-long livestream beginning at approximately 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET.

Chair and Interim Recording Academy President/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. will be joined by past GRAMMY winners, nominees and hopefuls from remote locations across the country as he reveals the nominees for all 84 categories. The virtual party will stream live on GRAMMY.com. Immediately following, all nominees for the 84 categories will be released via press release, on GRAMMY.com and the Recording Academy's social media platforms.

Related: Looking Ahead To The 2021 GRAMMY Awards

The 63rd GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast on CBS, Sun., Jan. 31 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT.

Follow the Recording Academy / GRAMMYs on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and use #GRAMMYs to join the conversation as it begins to unfold on Nov. 24.

Participating Talent For 2021 GRAMMY Nominations Announced: Dua Lipa, Sharon Osbourne, Imogen Heap And More

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Sister Rosetta Tharpe in 1967

Sister Rosetta Tharpe in 1967

Photo: David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images

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Here's Who Rocked GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends chicago-sister-rosetta-tharpe-heres-who-was-honored-2020-grammy-salute-music-legends

From Chicago To Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Here's Who Was Honored At The 2020 GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends

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The Recording Academy's 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients—Chicago, Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Iggy Pop, John Prine, Public Enemy and Sister Rosetta Tharpe—all received honors during the celebratory, music-filled special
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Oct 16, 2020 - 7:46 pm

Tonight, Oct. 16, the Recording Academy celebrated the lifelong contributions of an incredibly talented, prolific group of artists and music professionals during Great Performances: GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends. Those celebrated included musical icons and 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees Chicago, Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Iggy Pop, John Prine, Public Enemy and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. But that's not all!

Longtime GRAMMY Awards show producer Ken Ehrlich, GRAMMY-winning film composer Philip Glass and music executive Frank Walker also received warm honors as the 2020 Trustees Award winners. Studio speaker pioneer George Augspurger was recognized with the Technical GRAMMY Award and middle school band teacher Mickey Smith Jr. won this year's Music Educator Award.

The special, hosted by the golden-voiced Jimmy Jam, also featured appearances from Brandi Carlile, Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom, Jr., Chris Isaak, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Cyndi Lauper, Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey, Sam & Dave's Sam Moore, Yola and Laurie Anderson, who each brought the honorees' music to life with moving tribute performances. 

The stellar performances and speeches were filmed safely from multiple locations, marking the first time the GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends has not been filmed in front of a live audience. In spite of the limitations, the unforgettable music and legacies of every honoree filled the program with plenty of shimmer, excitement and emotion. As Jam said during his opening segment, "Music is a source of solace and strength." Read on for a recap of the evening:

Roberta Flack Wins Record Of The Year In 1974

Roberta Flack

First up to perform was Nigerian-British GRAMMY, Tony and Emmy winning actor/singer Erivo, paying musical tribute to four-time GRAMMY-winning soul icon Flack. Erivo delivered a stunning, heartwrenching serenade of 1973 GRAMMYs Record Of The Year, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." The tender love song was featured in Clint Eastwood's 1971 movie, Play Misty For Me, and gave the singer a wider fanbase.

"Roberta once said, 'See every opportunity as golden and keep your eyes on the prize, yours, not anybody else's,'" Erivo said before introducing her duet partner for the next song, fellow actor/singer and Flack fan, Odom, Jr. (of Hamilton fame).

The pair then sang another of Flack's GRAMMY-winning classics, "Where Is The Love," from the 1972 duet album with Donny Hathaway. Erivo and Odom, Jr. offered soul and chemistry—socially distanced, of course—from the famous Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. in Hollywood, Calif.

"Music is everything to me," Flack said during her acceptance speech. "Thank you for letting me into your hearts, and allowing my music it be a part of you. Together we have shared life's triumphs, sorrows, joys and dreams. All of it matters, each story in each heart. Challenge yourself to never give up."

Watch: Earth, Wind & Fire To Honor Prince With Their Version Of "Adore" For "Let's Go Crazy" Tribute

Chicago

Powerhouse singer Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire—who took home their own Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2016—delivered the third epic cover of the evening: a soulful, romantic rendition of Chicago's GRAMMY-winning "If You Leave Me Now," complete with his iconic falsetto.

He was introduced by Chicago-born actor Joe Montanya, who also presented the award to the band's surviving members.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Born in Arkansas in 1915 into a family of gospel singers, cotton pickers and evangelists, Tharpe was the Godmother of Rock and Roll. Like so many pioneering Black women pushed to the margins of history, her impact on rock and gospel far exceeded the recognition she received during her lifetime. In recent years, Tharpe has finally started to earn more credit for her role in shaping a global sound—she directly influenced Elvis Presley and other revered male rock figures.

GRAMMY-nominated British soul/country singer/songwriter Yola delivered a rousing vocal performance of "Up Above My Head, I Hear Music In The Air" at the legendary Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. This was followed by amazing footage of Tharpe performing "Didn't It Rain" at a Manchester train station in 1964. From a church in Ireland, Rihannon Giddens presented her award to Tharpe's granddaughter Angela McCollum.

Iggy Pop

Before Detroit producer/bass player Don Was presented Michigan-born punk-rock icon Pop with his Lifetime Achievement Award, he interviewed punk/metal artist Henry Rollins about the influence the "Lust For Life" singer had on him.

"You simply couldn't take your eyes off him," Rollins noted, sharing his love for Pop's wild stage presence. The influential, ever-evolving singer accepted his award with gratitude for his fans, closing with a "punk on."

Watch Isaac Hayes Win At The 14th GRAMMY Awards

Read: Channel Tres Talks Honoring Isaac Hayes On EP 'Black Moses,' Healing With Music & Being A "Ghetto Savior"

Isaac Hayes

Next up for performances was 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award winner Moore, of soul duo Sam & Dave, who paid tribute to his friend and collaborator Hayes. The legendary "Black Moses" singer/songwriter/producer first began making his musical mark at Memphis' Stax Records in the '60s, where he wrote and produced a number of hits, including "Hold On I'm Coming," "Soul Man" and other memorable, successful records for Sam & Dave.

His deep musicality, legendary baritone vocals and soulful delivery made Hayes a successful solo artist as well. And with his GRAMMY- and Oscar-winning soundtrack/score for Shaft, he became the first Black person to win an Oscar in a non-acting role.

Moore sang a lively, joyful melody of Hayes-penned hits, filled with 100 percent soul: "I Thank You," "You Don't Know," "Soul Man," "You Got Me Hummin'" and "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby."

While introducing Moore, the evening's Emmy-winning music director Greg Phillinganes stated, "Isaac once said, 'There's many hurdles, so I just keep moving, just constantly redefining myself. That's how you stay in the race.' And he proved that quote well with his amazingly long career."

Hayes' award was accepted by his son Isaac Hayes III, who spoke to the connection between artist rights and racial equality, as well as the vital importance of voting.

Philip Glass

Baltimore-born Glass, one of the two 2020 Trustees Award recipients, has been composing and performing beloved operas, film scores, concert pieces and theater works for decades. Ever the expansive composer, he's also collaborated with major singer/songwriters like David Bowie and Paul Simon.

The next musical offering was delivered by Glass' longtime friend Anderson, an avant-garde artist, who played "Gee Whiz." They co-wrote the calming, experimental song together for a show at La MaMa theater in N.Y.C., in honor of Ellen Stewart, who founded the space in 1961. She accepted the award on her friend's behalf.

Frank Walker

The second Trustees Award recipient was Walker, a pioneering A&R executive at Colombia Records, born in rural New York in 1889. During his illustrious career, he discovered country stars Hank Williams, Bessie Smith and Blind Willie Johnson. He also temporarily left retirement to help launch MGM Records and sign Williams.

To celebrate Walker's contributions the music industry, crooner Isaak delivered a rendition of Williams' melancholic breakup anthem "Your Cheatin' Heart," from at RCA Studio A in Nashville with help from some talented friends.

For The Record: Public Enemy's "Fight The Power"

Explore: From Aretha Franklin To Public Enemy, Here's How Artists Have Amplified Social Justice Movements Through Music

Public Enemy

In 1990, the epic protest anthem "Fight The Power" earned Public Enemy their first GRAMMY nomination, plus five more to date, as they continue to release hard-hitting, socially conscious music to this day. During their tribute, viewers saw the track's Spike Lee-directed music video (the Oscar winner famously requested the song for his classic 1989 film, Do The Right Thing).

The group's award was presented to them by fellow New York rap hero LL Cool J. "The record shows that Public Enemy have fought the power like no other group in history. On stage and off, Public Enemy were an undeniable and fearless force," he said.

During the acceptance speeches, we heard from all four original members Flava Flav, Chuck D, Professor Griff and Terminator X, the latter of whom spoke through the beats with a mini DJ set.

Mickey Smith Jr.

The 2020 Music Educator Award recipient was Smith, a teacher and bandleader at Maplewood Middle School in Sulphur, La., where he's taught for the last 15 years. He delivered a deeply moving, motivational speech, closing with, "To everyone that's watching, you have a sound. Let us be the sound to change the world."

George Augsburger

The 2020 Technical GRAMMY Award went to Augspurger, a longtime acoustician and pioneer in studio and speaker design. After 70 years in the industry, he's still designing custom monitors and studios and teaches a class in loudspeaker design at the University of Southern California. Jam presented the award to Augsburger.

Ken Ehrlich

Ehrlich, a.k.a. the creator of the GRAMMY Moment, produced his first GRAMMYs in 1980. There, the debut GRAMMY Moment happened between Barbra Striesand and Neil Diamond, who sang "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." He's also worked on the Emmys, GRAMMY Tribute specials and other award-winning variety and award shows.

To pay honor to the man behind so much GRAMMY magic, Lauper sang an acoustic version of "Time After Time," noting that it was his favorite song of hers. 

EGOT John Legend exuberantly presented the award to Erlich, explaining how his invitation to perform "All Of Me" on the GRAMMY stage in 2014 helped make the song a hit, his only No. 1 on the Hot 100. Erlich accepted his award with a big smile.

John Prine

Beloved Illinois-born singer/songwriter Prine was set to perform during the show before we sadly lost the folk/Americana hero to COVID-19 in April. 

To honor him, Nashville power couple Isbell and Shires sang Prine's 1980 song "Storm Windows." Their love for Prine is very personal—Isbell grew up loving his music from a young age and Shires toured with him.

Carlile, meanwhile, performed "I Remember Everything," the beautiful last song he wrote. Before singing, she told a cute story about the first time they performed together and how comforting and kind he was: "He was right, you can always trust John Prine. He also told us the truth with his whole life, and he tells us the truth even today."

Carlile presented Prine's award, which was accepted by his wife, Fiona Prine, who wore an "I am a voter" T-shirt, and sat with their three sons. The family offered appreciation for the award.

Check your local PBS listings to catch the show during an upcoming rerun. PBS members can watch it online and via the PBS Video app for the next four weeks.

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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.