Photo: Dave Hogan / Getty Images Archive
Tina Turner on stage at Wembley 1990.
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In Memoriam (2023): The Recording Academy Remembers The Music People We Lost
Take a moment to salute the members of the music community we lost in 2022-2024.
GRAMMYs/Feb 9, 2024 - 09:02 pm
Below is a tribute to the luminaries and esteemed professionals from the music community we lost between Dec. 5, 2022, through Jan. 26, 2024.
During the 2024 GRAMMYs broadcast, the Recording Academy's In Memoriam segment featured performances by several masterful musicians. Annie Lennox was joined by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman to honor Sinéad O’Connor. Stevie Wonder took the stage to pay homage to the legendary Tony Bennett, Jon Batiste honored the "Godfather of Black Music" Clarence Avant and Fantasia Barrino paid tribute to the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Tina Turner. The performances were set against a video homage of several of the distinguished figures on this list. Every individual who passed away before the publication date has also been respectfully commemorated in the official 2024 GRAMMYs program book.
The Recording Academy offers its profound respect and appreciation for the unique gifts and enduring contributions these individuals have bestowed upon our culture and collective spirit.
Abe Stoklasa
Adam Johnstone
Aérea Negrot
Akbar Golpayegani
Alan Arkin
Alan Niederland
Alan Rankine
Alan Warner
Alan Moore Stowell
Alba 'Albita' Eagan
Algy Ward
Alice Parker
Allen Becker
Alton Wade Kelley
Amos Ettinger
Amp Fiddler
Amparo Rubín
Ana Clara Benevides Machado
Andrew Penhallow
Andrew Speight
Andy Rourke
Angela Zilia
Angelo Bruschini
Anita Kerr
Anne Hart
Annie Nightingale
Anthony Topham
Anthony John Heyes
Anup Ghoshal
Arie Levanon
Arif Cooper
Arthur Ward Eller
Audie Blaylock
August 08
Axali Doëseb
B. Sasikumar
Barbara Bryne
Barrett Strong
Baxter Black
Beeyar Prasad
Ben Lipitz
Benito Castro
Benjamin Zephaniah
Berit Lindholm
Bernie Marsden
Betta St. John
Betty Price
Beytocan
Bhavani Shankar
Bhavatharini Raja
Big Pokey
Big Scarr
John Nelson "Big John" Trimble Jr.
William "Bill" Castle
Bill Humble
Bill Lee
Bill Mayne
Bill Saluga
Bill Zehme
Bill Hayes
Billy Smith
Billy White Jr.
Billy "The Kid" Emerson
Bilqees Khanum
Bishop Carlton Pearson
Blair Tindall
Blas Durán
Blayne Tucker
Bob Burwell
Bob Feldman
Bob Jones
Bob Mummert
Bob Nalbandian
Bob Rice
Bob Siggins
Bob "Norton" Thompson
Bobbi Staff
Bobby Caldwell
Bobby Casey
Bobby Eli
Bobby Schiffman
Bonny Beverley
Brad Houser
Brad Thomson
Bram Inscore
Brandon Marcel Williams
Brett Radin
Brian McBride
Brian "Brizz" Gillis
Bridgette Wimberly
Broderick Smith
Bruce Guthro
Brucene Harrison
Bruno Ducol
Buddy McNeill
Burt Bacharach
C-Knight
C.J. Harris
Calton Coffie
Calton Coffie
Calvin Newton
Canelita Medina
Canisso Canisso
Care Failure
Carl Pagter
Carl Tovey
Carla Bley
Carlee Ann Vaughn
Carlin Glynn
Carline Smith Wilhite
Carlos Fonseca
Carlos Lyra
Carmen Jara
Carmen Xtravaganza
Carole Cook
Catherine Christer Hennix
Cayle Sain
Cecilia Pantoja Levi
Chabelita Fuentes
Chad Allan
Chaim Topol
Charline Whillhite
Charles Gayle
Charlie Dominici
Charlie Gracie
Charlie Monk
Charlie Robison
Chas Newby
Chick Rains
Chico Novarro
Choi Sung-Bong
Chris Ford
Chris Ledesma
Chris Lee
Chris Peluso
Christy Dignam
Chuck Flood
Chuck Jackson
Chuck Morris
Charley Morris
Clarence Avant
Clarence Barlow
Claude Kahn
Clay Hart
Cliff Fish
Clifton Oliver
Clint Yeager
Cobi Narita
Coco Lee
Colette Maze
Colin Burgess
Conny Van Dyke
Costa Titch
Craig Burbidge
Craig Hayes
Curtis Fowlkes
Cynthia Haring
Dan Lardner
Daniel Bourgue
Daniel Jones
Daniel Lee Stephen Jones
Danny Kaleikini
Danny Schur
Danny Milhon
Dave Cohen
Dave Dickerson
Dave Roe
Dave Freeman
David Drozen
David LaFlamme
David McCallum
David Soul
David Lumsdaine
David Beckwith
David Jude Jolicoeur
Dedi Graucher
Del Palmer
Denis Badault
Denyse Plummer
Dev Kohli
Dick Biondi
Dickie Harrell
Dima Nova
Dino Danelli
DJ Casper
DJ Deeon
DJ Dino Calvao
Djalma Corrêa
Don Graham
Don Kissil
Don Mulkey
Don Williams
Donnie McKethan
Dorian Kweller
Dr Latozi Madosini Mpahleni
Duane Tabinski
Dusty Street
Dwight Twilley
Ed Stone
Ed "Beanpole" Efaw
Edino Krieger
Edward Sexton
Edward Walters
Edward "Kidd" Jordan
Elayne Jones
Eliud Treviño
Ellen Fitzhugh
Elliot Goldman
Eloise Wyatt Russo
Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou
Enrique "Zurdo" Roizner
Eric Boehlert
Eric Shoutin' Sheridan
Eric Moyo
Eric Alan Livingston
Essra Mohawk
Fallece Marilú
Faye Fantarrow
Fito Olivares
Florence Malgoire
Fran La Maina
Francesa Cappucci
Francis Monkman
François Glorieux
Frank Harlow
Frank Kozik
Frank Solivan Sr.
Frank Woodard
Frank Ford
Frank Farian
Freddie Ross Hancock
Fuzzy Haskins
Gabriele Schnaut
Gangsta Boo
Garry Mapanzure
Garry Lee Rentfro
Gary Hobish
Gary Rossington
Gary Smith
Gary Wright
Gary Young
Gennady Gladkov
George Logan
George Maharis
George Moffett
George Newall
George Portz
George Tickner
George Yanok
Georgia Holt
Gérard Drouot
Germano Mathias
Glen "Spot" Lockett
Gloria Belle
Gloria Coates
Goa Gil
Gordy Harmon
Gordy Nichol
Grace Bumbry
Grady Hockett
Graeme Malcolm
Graham Clark
Grand Daddy I.U.
Gregory Brian Wright
Hans Poulsen
Harley Worthington
Harold Childs
Harold Killian
Harold Black
Harry Sheppard
Haydn Gwynne
Heather Dunbar
Heike Matthiesen
Heklina Heklina
Helen Thorington
Henri Duaman
Henry Grossman
Herb Deutsch
Hiroshi "Heath" Morie
Hoppy Hopkins
Horacio Malvicino
Howie Kane
Huey "Piano" Smith
Ian Bairnson
Ian Emes
Ian Tyson
Iasos
Ilanga
Inga Swenson
Ingrid Haebler
Ira Selsky
Irish Grinstead
Irma Capece Minutolo
Irv Lichtman
Isaac "Redd" Holt
Ismaïlia Touré
Ivan "Mamão" Conti
Ivan M. Tribe
J.J. Barnes
Jack Lee
Jack Pruett Jr.
Jack Sonni
Jacqueline Dark
Jaquelyne Ledent-Vilain
Jah Shaka
Jaimie Branch
Jake Marlowe
James Bowman
James Casey
James Harvey IV
James Jorden
James Lewis
James Kottak
James C. "Jimmy" LaRocca
Jamie Reid
Jamie Tiller
Jan Woods
Jane Birkin
Jannis Noya Makrigiannis
Jasmin Stavros
Javier Álvarez Fuentes
Jay Goldberg
Jay Weston
Jay Clayton
Jeff Cook
Jeff Davis
Jeff Heiman
Jeffrey Foskett
Jeremiah Green
Jerry Bradley
Jerry Dodgion
Jerry Fretwell
Jerry Kearns
Jerry Samuels
Jerry Springer
Jerry Whitehurst
Jerry Paul Arnold
Jesus Garber
Jet Black
Jim Boyer
Jim Parker
Jim Sharpley
Jim Vienneau
Jim Ladd
Jim Rae
Jo Mersa Marley
Joanna Merlin
Joaquin Romaguera
Joaquin "Jocko" Fajardo
Joe Fagin
Joe McGuire
Joey Bogan
John Albert
John Beckingham
John Cirillo
John Deyle
John Giblin
John Gosling
John Kezdy
John Lomax IV
John Marshall
John Miller
John Morris
John Regan
John Waddington
John Cutler
John Alexander
John Andrew Tartaglia
John Watson Algee
Johnny Allon
Johnny Fean
Johnny Ruffo
Jon Fausty
Jon Kennedy
Jordan Blake
José Evangelista
Joseph Koo
Joshua Culbreath
Joshua Madsen
Joss Ackland
Jovit Baldivino
Joy McKean
Joyce Bryant
Judy Massey
Julián Figueroa
Julian Sebothane Bahula
Justin Bartlett
Justin Fontaine
K. Neville Garrick
K.J. Joy
Kaija Saariaho
Karaikudi Mani
Karl Berger
Karl Tremblay
Karl F. Dieterichs
Katherine Anderson Schaffner
Kathy Chow
Keiko Okuya Jones
Keith Gattis
Keith Reid
Keith Holzman
Kelly Joe Phelps
Ken Brigham
Ken Fish
Ken Roberts
Ken Calvert
Kendall A. Minter
Kenneth Anger
Kenneth Force
Kenneth Montgomery
Kent Stax
Kevin Fleming
Kevin Lemons
Kevin "Geordie" Walker
Kihnu Virve
Kim Simmonds
Kirk Arrington
Kirstie Alley
Klee Benally
Kwame Brathwaite
Kyle Jacobs
Ladislav Jásek
Lance Reddick
Larry Chance
Larry Morris
Lasse Wellander
Laura Lynch
Lawrence "Larry" Cohn
Lázaro Valdés
Lee Berk
Lee Purkis
Lee Rauch
Leela Omchery
Lefty SM
Leiji Matsumoto
Len Chandler
Lena McLin
Lenka Hlávková
Leo D. Sullivan
Leonard Abrams
Leonard Zinn
Leroy "Black Stalin" Calliste
Les Brown Jr.
Leslie Jordan
Lewis Largent
Lewis Spartlan
Lewis Pragasam
Lily Afshar
Linda de Suza
Linda Lewis
Lisa Roy
Lisa Marie Presley
Lisandro Meza
Lisl Steiner
Liz Thiels
Lizeta Nikolaou
Lois Curtis Shepherd
Lola Mitchell "Gangta Boo"
Lola Dee
Lord Creator
Lou Deprijck
Loyal Jones
Luis Vasquez
Luke Bell
Lyn McLain
M Daud Kilau
Malini Rajurkar
Mam' Sylvia Mdunyelwa
Manana Doijashvili
Mandla 'Mampintsha' Maphumulo
Manny Martinez
Manuel Göttsching
Manuel Castillo Girón
Marc Roy
Marcel Amont
Marcel Zanini
Marek Kopelent
Margaret Josephine Nisbett
Margie Hunt
Margie Sullivan
María Jímenez
Mariana Sîrbu
Marianne Mantell
Marilyn Johnston Blankenship
Mark Adams
Mark Howard
Mark James
Mark Kuykendall
Mark Russell
Mark Sheehan
Mark Stewart
Mark Thomas
Mark Nelson
Marsha Gray Basore
Martha Owen
Martin Duffy
Martin Petzold
Martin Stevens
Mary Weiss
Mary G. Dawson
Mary Jane Thomas
Mary Turner Pattiz
Mason Ruble
Massimo Savić
Matt Alese
Matt Stewart
Maurice Bourgue
Maurice Hines
Max Morath
Mbuya Stella Chiweshe
MC Fats
Megan Terry
Melanie Safka
Melvin "Magoo" Barcliff
Merv Shiner
Michael Blackwood
Michael Keith
Michael Kupper
Michael Leon
Michael McGrath
Michael Parkinson
Michael Snow
Michael John McGann
Mick Slattery
Mikael Maglieri
Mike Reeves
Mike Brown
Mike Taylor
Mike J Rojas
Miki Liukkonen
Mildred Miller
Milo Hrnić
Minneapolis Backyard Punk Show Shooting
Misha K. Hunke
Mo Foster
Mohbad
MoneySign Suede
Monte Cazazza
Moonbin
Myles Goodwyn
Najah Salam
Nancy Van de Vate
Nashawn (Lotto) Breedlove
Neal Langford
Neela Rampogal
Neil Kulkarni
Neville Garrick
Nicholas Lloyd Webber
Niel Immelman
Nihal Nelson
Niko Everette
Nina Matviienko
Nobuyuki Idei
Nora Forster
Norby Walters
Norm Pattiz
Notis Mavroudis
O.S. Thyagarajan
Oladips
Olga Chorens
Ordy Garrison
Orlando Marin
Óscar Agudelo
Otis Barthoulameu
Otis Redding III
Özkan Ugur
Pacho El Antifeka
Pamela Blair
Pamela Chopra
Pansequito
Pat Bunch
Patricia Burda Janečková
Patrick Emery
Paul Cattermole
Paul Desenne
Paul Justman
Paul Prestopino
Paul Woseen
Paxton Whitehead
Pedro Lavirgen
Pedro Messone
Pedro Henrique
Pedro Suárez-Vértiz
Pepe Domingo Castaño
Petch Osathanugrah
Pete Brown
Pete Garner
Peter Austin
Peter Brötzmann
Peter Kowalsky
Peter Luboff
Peter McCann
Peter Solley
Peter Schickele
Phil Quartararo
Phill Niblock
Pilarín Bueno
Pluto Shervington
Polito Vega
Prabha Atre
Pt Vijay Kichlu
Qamar Gula
R.C. Harris
Ralph Gordon
Ramani Ammal
Ramla Beegum
Ramsey Lewis Jr.
Randy Bailey
Randy Meisner
Rashid Khan
Ray Cordeiro
Ray Hildebrand
Ray Pillow
Ray Shulman
Ray Sparks
Raymond Froggatt
Raymond Lumpkin
Red Paden
Rena Koumioti
Renée Geyer
Ricardo Iorio
Ricardo Drue
Richard Davis
Richard Landis
Richard Law
Richard Ross
Richard Gaddes
Rick Froberg
Rick Newman
Rickie May
Rita Hollingsworth
R.L. Boyce
Rob Laakso
Robbie Bachman
Robert Becerra
Robert Black
Robert Haimer
Robert Hicks
Robert Michaels
Robert H. Precht
Robert W. Smith
Robin Tamang
Rock Brynner
Rodney Hall
Rodriguez
Roger Sprung
Roger Whittaker
Rohana Jalil
Rolf Harris
Ron Cornett
Ron Hamilton
Ron Spears
Ron S. Peno
Ronnie Turner
Roseline Damian
Roxie Cawood Gibson
Roy Rifkind
Roy Taylor
Royal Blakeman
Royston Ellis
Russell Batiste Jr.
Russell Sherman
Ryan Siew
Sajid Khan
Sakevi Yokoyama
Sal Piro
Sam Cutler
Sanath Nandasiri
Sandra Butler Truesdale
Sandra Trehub
Sara Tavares
Sarah Schlesinger
Sarah Rice
Scott Johnson
Scott Schinder
Séamus Begley
Sean Martin
Sebastian Marino
Seóirse Bodley
Shahidul Haque Khan
Shane Yellowbird
Shaul Greenglick
Shaun Roberts
Sheila Smith
Sheldon Reynolds
Shoji Tabuchi
Silent Servant
Silvio Berlusconi
Sir David Lumsden
Sixto Diaz Rodriguez
Slim Andrews
Smokey Greene
Soňa Červená
Spot
Stainslaw Radwan
Stan Hitchcock
Stella Stevens
Stephen "tWitch" Boss
Stephen Allen Davis
Steve Harwell
Steve Riley
Steve Skold
Steve Travis
Steve Nelson
Stevie B-Zet
Stuart Margolin
Sudakshina Sarma
Sueli Costa
Sulochana Chavan
Suna Kan
Surinder Shinda
Suzanne Somers
Suzy Frank
Swarup Nayak
Sweet Charles Sherrell
Tamara Milashkina
Tapas Das
Teddy White
Teresa Taylor
Teri Bristol
Terri Nolan
Terry Hall
Terry Thacker
Terry Baucom
Teté Caturla
Thanga Darlong
Theo de Barros
Theresa Reneé Watson
Thom Bell
Thomas H. Lee
Thomasina Winslow
Thotakura Somaraju
Tim Bachman
Tim Stacy
Tim Rogers
Tim Norell
Tina Turner
TJ De Blois
Tohru Okada
Tom Langdon
Tom Leadon
Tom Verlaine
Tom Whitlock
Tom Wilkerson
Tom Mazzetta
Tony Coe
Tony McPhee
Tony Oxley
Tony Clarkin
Torben Ulrich
Toru Mitsui
Toto Cutugno
Treat Williams
Treva Chrisco
Trish Williams Warren
Troy Brammer
Tshala Muana
Vakhtang Kikabidze
Valentin Gheorghiu
Van Conner
Varnell Harris Johnson
Victor Pikayzen
Victor Rasgado
Vilayil Faseela
Vince Hill
Violeta Hemsy de Gainza
Virginia Zeani
Vivian Trimble
Vivian Williams
Vivienne Westwood
Walt Wilson
Walter Aipolani
Walter Arlen
Walter Charles
Walter Cole Darcelle XV
Walter Ulloa
Walter "Wolfman" Washington
Wayne Swinny
Wee Willie Harris
William "DJ Casper" Perry Jr.
Willie Ruff
Willis Spears
Yaacov Bergman
Yehonatan Geffen
Yitzhak Klepter
Yogesh Vaidya
Yotam Haim
Young Capone
Yukihiro Takahashi
Yuzo Toyama
Yvonne Přenosilová
Zahara
Zdenek Macal
Zita Carno
Tina Turner at the 1985 GRAMMYs.
Photo: CBS via Getty Images
video
GRAMMY Rewind: Watch Tina Turner Win Her First Solo GRAMMY In 1985 For "What's Love Got To Do With It?"
Relive the moment Tina Turner won a golden gramophone for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female — an opportunity she had been waiting for "for such a long time."
GRAMMYs/Mar 15, 2024 - 05:04 pm
During her remarkable 83 years of life, the late Tina Turner received eight GRAMMY awards, a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award, and three introductions into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame.
In this episode of GRAMMY Rewind, we travel to 1985, when Turner won a golden gramophone for one of her many iconic hits, "What's Love Got to Do with It?," in the Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, category.
"I've been waiting for this opportunity for such a long time," she said in her acceptance speech. "I have to thank many people. And all of you that I don't get to thank, you must know that it's in my mind."
Among those "many people," Turner praised Graham Lyle and Terry Britten, who wrote the track; John Carter, her A&R "who played a wonderful part" in relaunching her career with Capitol Records in the '80s; and Roger Davies, her manager, "a great man who has done a great job with her career."
Later that night, "What's Love Got To Do With It?" helped Turner win Record Of The Year; she also took home Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female, for "Better Be Good to Me." Though the 1985 ceremony marked Turner's first solo awards, she first won a GRAMMY in 1972 alongside her ex-husband, Ike Turner, for their recording of "Proud Mary."
Press play on the video above to watch Tina Turner's full acceptance speech for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female, and remember to check back to GRAMMY.com for more new episodes of GRAMMY Rewind.
Photo: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
(L-R) Billy Joel, Freddy Wexler
interview
Freddy Wexler On Helping Billy Joel "Turn The Lights Back On" — At The 2024 GRAMMYs And Beyond
"Part of what was so beautiful for me to see on GRAMMY night was the respect and adoration that people of all ages and from all genres have for Billy Joel," Wexler says of Joel's 2024 GRAMMYs performance of their co-written "Turn The Lights Back On."
GRAMMYs/Feb 26, 2024 - 09:11 pm
They say to not meet your heroes. But when Freddy Wexler — a lifelong Billy Joel fan — did just that, it was as if Joel walked straight out of his record collection.
"I think the truth is none of it is that surprising," the 37-year-old songwriter and producer tells GRAMMY.com. "That's the best part. From his music, I would've thought this is a humble, brilliant everyman who probably walks around with a very grounded perspective, and that's exactly who he is."
That groundedness made possible "Turn the Lights Back On" — the hit comeback single they co-wrote, and Wexler co-produced; Joel performed a resplendent version at the 2024 GRAMMYs with Laufey. Joel hadn't released a pop album since 1993's River of Dreams; for him to return to the throne would take an awfully demonstrative song, true to his life.
"I think it's a very raw, honest, real perspective that is true to Billy," Wexler explains. "I think it's the first time we've heard him acknowledge mistakes and regret in quite this way."
Specifically, Joel's return highlights his regret over spending three decades mostly on the bench, largely absent from the pop scene. As Joel wonders aloud in the stirring, arpeggiated chorus, "Is there still time for forgiveness?"
"Forgiveness" is a curious word. Why would the five-time GRAMMY winner and 23-time nominee possibly need to seek forgiveness? Regardless — as the song goes — he's "tryin' to find the magic/ That we lost somehow." The song's message — an attempt to recapture a lost essence — transcends Joel's personal headspace, connecting with a universal longing and nostalgia.
Read on for an interview with Wexler about the impact of "Turn the Lights Back On," why he thinks Joel took such an extended sabbatical, the prospect of more new music, and much more.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
**You did a great interview with Rolling Stone ahead of the 2024 GRAMMYs. Now, we're on the other side of it; you got to see how it went down on the telecast, and resonated with the audience and world. What was that like?**
It's why I make music — to hopefully make people feel something. This song has really resonated in such a big way. More than looking at its commercial success on the charts or on radio, which has been awesome to see, the comments on Instagram and YouTube have been the most rewarding part of it.
Why do you think it resonated? Beyond the king picking up his crown again?
I don't think the song is trying to be anything it's not. I think it's a very raw, honest, real perspective that is true to Billy. I think it's the first time we've heard him acknowledge mistakes and regret in quite this way. And to hear him do it in a hopeful way where he's asking, "Is it too late for forgiveness?" is just very moving, I think.
Forgiveness? That's interesting. What would any of us need to forgive him?
He has said in other interviews, "Sometimes people say they have no regrets at the end of their life." And he said, "I don't think that's possible. If you've lived a full life, of course you have regrets." He has said that he has many things he wishes he would've done differently. This is an opportunity to express that.
I think what's interesting about the song is it has found meaning in various ways with various people and listeners. Some people imagine Billy is singing to former lovers or friends. Other people imagine Billy is singing to his fans asking, "Did I wait too long to record again?" Other people wonder if Billy is singing to the songwriting Gods and muses. Did I wait too long to write again?
In Israel, where the song was number one — or is number one, I haven't checked today — I think the song's taken on the meaning of just wanting things to be normal, wanting hostages to come home and turn the lights back on. So, you never know where a song is going to resonate, but I think that Billy just found his own meaning with it.
You know the discography front to back. What lines can you draw from "Turn the Lights Back On" to past works?
I think it draws on various pieces of his catalog, right? "She's Always a Woman" has a sort of piano arpeggio in the chorus. To me, it feels like a natural progression. It feels like, on the one hand, it's a new song. On the other, it could have come out right after River of Dreams. To me, it just kind of feels natural.
**Back when you spoke with Rolling Stone, you said you couldn't wait to hear "Turn the Lights Back On" at Madison Square Garden. How'd it sound?**
Amazing. Billy is a consummate live performer. I think he's one of the few artists where everything is better live, and everything is always a little bit different each time it's played live.
It's been really cool to watch Billy and the band continue to change and improve the song and the song's dynamics for the show. He told me tonight that tomorrow night in Tampa, I think they're going to try to play with the key of the song, potentially — try it a half a step higher.
Those are the sort of things I think great artists do, right? It's different from being on a certain type of tour where every single song is the same, the set list is the same, the key is the same, the arrangements are the same.
With Billy, there's a lot of feeling and, "Hey, why don't we try it this way? Let's play it a little faster. Let's play it a little slower. Let's try it in a different key." I just think that's super cool. You have to be a really good musician to just do that on the fly.
What have you learned from him that applies to your music making, writ large?
I've learned so much from him. As Olivia Rodrigo said to us at GRAMMY rehearsals, "He's the blueprint when it comes to songwriting."
He has helped raise the bar for me when it comes to melodies and lyrics, but the thing I keep coming back to is he's reminded me that even the greatest artists and songwriters ever sometimes forget how great they are. I think we need to be careful not to give that inner voice and inner critic too much power.
Can you talk about how the music video came to be?
Well, I had a dream that Billy was singing the opening two lines of the song, but it was a 25-year-old version of Billy. It was arresting.
When I woke up, I sort of had the vision for the video, which was one set, an empty venue of some kind, and four Billy Joels. The Billy Joel that really exists today, but then three Billys from three iconic eras where each Billy would seamlessly pick up the song where the other left off.
The idea behind that was to sort of accentuate the question of the song — did I wait too long to turn the lights back on?
And so, to kind of take us through time and through all these years, I teamed up with an amazing co-director, Warren Fu, who's done everything from Dua Lipa to Daft Punk, and an artificial intelligence company called Deep Voodoo to make that vision possible.
What I'm driven by is the opportunity to create conversations, cultural moments, things that make people feel something. What was cool here is as scary as AI is — and I think it is scary in many ways — we were able to give an example of how you can use it in a positive way to execute a creative artistic vision that previously would've been impossible to execute.
Yeah, so I'm pleased with it and I'm thankful that Billy did a video. He didn't have to do one, but he liked the idea of it. He felt it was different, and I think he was moved by it as well.
What do you think is the next step here?
It's been a really rewarding process. And Billy is open-minded, which is really cool for an artist of that level, who's not a new artist by any stretch. To actually be described as being in a place in his life where he's open-minded, means anything is possible. I could tell you that I would love there to be more music.
I'd love to get your honest appraisal. And I know you're not him. But his last pop album was released 31 years ago. In that long interim, what do you think was going on with him, creatively?
Look, I'm not Billy Joel, but I think there were a number of factors going on with him. Somewhere along the way, I think he stopped having fun with music, which is the reason he got into it, or which is a big part of the reason he got into it. When it stopped being fun, I don't think he really wanted to do it anymore.
Another piece to it is that Billy is a perfectionist, and that perfectionism is evident in the caliber of his songwriting. Having always written 100 percent of his songs, Billy at some point probably found that process to be painstaking, to try to hit that bar where he's probably wondering in his head, What would Beethoven think of this? What would Leonard Bernstein think of this?
I think part of what was different here was that, perhaps, there was something liberating about "Turn the Lights Back On" being a seed that was brought to Billy. In this way, he could be a little disconnected from it, where maybe he didn't have to have the self-imposed pressure that he would if it was an idea that he'd been trying to finish for a while.
Ironically, he still made it. Well, there's no "ironically," but I think that's it. There's something to that.
Billy Joel's Biggest Songs: 15 Tracks That Best Showcase The Piano Man's Storytelling And Pop Hooks
GRAMMY U Reps and staff walk the red carpet at the 2024 GRAMMYs
Photo: Andrew Sankovich
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GRAMMY U Reps Experience GRAMMY Week Like Never Before Thanks To The Recording Academy & United Airlines
United Airlines flew the GRAMMY U Representatives out to L.A. for an unforgettable 2024 GRAMMY Week. The trip provided significant professional development in music, and the Reps savored every moment. Take a look at the GRAMMY U Reps’ inspirational week.
GRAMMYs/Feb 22, 2024 - 10:38 pm
Thanks to United Airlines' partnership with the Recording Academy, the students traveled from all over the country to Los Angeles and met in person for the first time. In past years, GRAMMY U Reps have only been able to attend a few select events in addition to the GRAMMY Awards on Sunday. But because of United Airlines, these National and Chapter Reps were able to experience the music industry’s most exhilarating week.
Come with the GRAMMY U Reps as they experience Music’s Biggest Night, behind-the-scenes tours, and events highlighting various initiatives within the music industry during GRAMMY Week 2024. Learn how to apply to GRAMMY U here.
Tuesday: Travel Day
The GRAMMY U group chat was exploding with excited messages as we arrived at the airport early Tuesday morning. Each Rep was about to meet their co-workers — many of whom had only connected virtually — and gain the experience of a lifetime.
United flew all 14 Reps to Los Angeles with exceptional timing, service, and care — even though we were traveling to work at GRAMMY Week, it felt like we were getting celebrity treatment. Once we touched down in L.A., we ran to the United baggage claim to hug our friends and capture the experience to share with fellow GRAMMY U members.
Philly Rep Tamara Tondreau and Nashville Rep Della Anderson┃GRAMMY U
After grabbing lunch near our hotel in downtown L.A., we made it to the Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter Office in Santa Monica for our first in-person team meeting. Sporting new custom GRAMMY U jackets, T-shirts, and hats, we prepared for our signature GRAMMY Week event, a Masterclass with actress/GRAMMY-nominated R&B artist Halle Bailey.
Reps were briefed on plans for the week, then took an office tour where we spotted multiple golden gramophones. Since we work remotely year-round, this was our first time getting to see where all the magic happens.
Wednesday: Behind-The-Scenes & Behind The Music
On Wednesday, we were up bright and early to explore the Crypto.com Arena and learn about the behind-the-scenes preparation it takes to host the GRAMMY Awards each year.
Jody Kolozsvari, Associate Producer of the GRAMMYs and a GRAMMY U alum, guided us around the arena. He also introduced us to the incredible audio, mixing, communications, and production teams as well as Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.
"Walking intoCrypto.com Arena and seeing the GRAMMY stage being built was a very surreal moment," said Sara Hudson, GRAMMY U's New York Chapter Rep. "Meeting so many of the people behind the show and witnessing the hard work that is put into producing the GRAMMY Awards made my passion for working in live music grow even more."
Later that night, Philadelphia Chapter Rep Tamara Tondreau and Los Angeles Chapter Rep Jade Bacon worked as GRAMMY U press at the A Celebration of Craft event, a collaboration between the Recording Academy Producers and Engineers Wing and Songwriters and Composers Wing. This was the very first time GRAMMY U Reps were invited to this exclusive event; Tamara, a songwriter herself, called this event "unforgettable."
"Since songwriting sparked my interest in the music industry, it was inspiring to be in the room with so many talented creatives," Tamara says. "Networking with professionals who hold multiple roles in the industry encouraged me and reaffirmed my goal of maintaining both business and creative aspects in my career."
Thursday: Fostering Community & Culture
Hosted at GRAMMY House, Thursday morning started with a beautiful luncheon at the inaugural A Celebration of Women in the Mix. This event made space for women in the music industry to gather and support one another, recognizing all of the strides made in a male-dominated field.
Twelve of the 14 Reps identify as women, and this was a special moment to meet some of the industry leaders that we look up to as role models. Networking with female artists, managers, and producers who are laying the groundwork for our generation was a powerful moment we will never forget.
After delivering the keynote speech, Ty Stiklorius, the founder of management company Friends at Work, spoke with some of the GRAMMY U Reps.
"Having a conversation with such an established female in the music industry was incredibly inspiring," says Memphis Rep. Shannon Conte. "After this moment of mentorship and encouragement, I left the event feeling much more confident in my ability to one day succeed in becoming an artist manager."
Dressing up in our finest suits and gowns, we hit the town to attend the exclusive Black Music Collective’s 2024 Recording Academy Honors event, where legends Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz accepted Global Impact Awards. Sitting in the same room as these superstars was awe-inspiring, and it was an honor to see how the Black community was celebrated during GRAMMY Week.
GRAMMY U Reps Shaneel Young, Jade Bacon, and Chloe Sarmiento hosted interviews for our social media, highlighting the fashion of dozens of high-profile attendees including Adam Blackstone, Jordin Sparks, Flavor Flav, and Erica Campbell as they walked the signature black carpet. The excitement of the press line on the black carpet provided Reps with first-hand experience of what a career in press and publicity could look like.
GRAMMY U DC Rep Shaneel Young aspires to work in music marketing. "Interviewing some of the most influential people in the industry about my passions: music, fashion, and culture, will be a moment I remember for the rest of my career," she reflects.
Reps at Black Music Collective’s Recording Academy Honors┃GRAMMY U
These two spectacular events immersed us in the initiatives the Recording Academy has implemented to celebrate diversity and representation in music, and we are so honored to be a part of the company’s continued mission.
Friday: Work Hard, Play Hard
After months spent planning our signature GRAMMY Week event, the GRAMMY U Masterclass with Halle Bailey, presented by Mastercard, we finally saw the fruits of our labor come to life. This year, we welcomed over 500 attendees in person, with members from every Chapter flying in to experience the event together at GRAMMY House.
GRAMMY U PNW Rep Chloe Sarmiento worked as talent lead and interacted directly with Halle Bailey and her team. "It was incredibly fulfilling to see the event come together on-site in Los Angeles after weeks of working on it from home," Chloe says. "Halle and her team were so great to work with, and I couldn’t have asked for a better speaker for the Masterclass!"
Working with experienced Recording Academy staff onsite further enlightened us about all things event production. From talent handling and partnerships to working radios and managing the stage, we were excited to execute a large-scale event with all of the Reps at GRAMMY House.
After a successful Masterclass, the Reps split up for the evening to conquer even more GRAMMY Week events. Half the group went to the #GRAMMYsNextGen party to spread the word about membership, host a photobooth, and interact with influencers and emerging performers. We met hip-hop duo Flyana Boss, and some of our other celebrity sightings included Laura Marano and Milo Manheim. It was inspiring to see other young professionals who have established themselves in the entertainment industry so early in their careers.
Mastercard surprised us with an entire seated table at the exclusive MusiCares Person Of The Year Gala honoring Jon Bon Jovi. It was an outstanding evening honoring the rock icon and the many ways he has given back to the music community. Following a live auction, Brandy Clark, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Shania Twain, and others performed some of Bon Jovi’s biggest hits — Bon Jovi even graced the stage with Bruce Springsteen for a special rendition of "Who Says You Can’t Go Home."
The Reps were incredibly grateful to United and Mastercard for granting us the opportunity to witness these exclusive live performances. To see the music community come together to honor a legend while giving back and furthering the mission of MusiCares is a heartwarming aspect of the music industry we don’t get to witness every day.
Reps with Sabrina Carpenter at the Person of the Year Gala┃GRAMMY U
GRAMMY U Chicago Rep Rachel Owen was one of the lucky attendees able to watch the thrilling performances while mingling in the crowd with other musicians like Sabrina Carpenter and David Archuleta.
"To even be in the same room as Shania Twain is an honor, she’s timeless and more exquisite than I could've even imagined," Owen says. "To see her perform live to Jon Bon Jovi is the type of moment you just never take for granted."
Saturday: Divide & Conquer
Saturday was jam-packed with events. Back again at GRAMMY House, a group of Reps attended the Best New Artist Spotlight, where nominees discussed their breakthrough years and what it means to be considered a "new artist." From upstarts Ice Spice and Gracie Abrams to the long musical journey of Victoria Monét, The War and Treaty, and Jelly Roll, these diverse perspectives all stressed that each person has a unique career timeline and reminded us as students to practice perseverance and patience as we navigate this industry.
Various Reps continued at GRAMMY House, some working as press at the #GRAMMYsNextGen Ambassador Power Brunch and the first-ever Academy Proud event, celebrating LGBTQIA+ voices.
A handful of us worked as GRAMMY U press at the Special Merit Awards ceremony and subsequent celebration. Being a part of these exclusive events and witnessing historic moments like the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards was truly impactful. We interviewed nominees at the celebration, including boygenius engineer Owen Lantz (the supergroup would win their first three GRAMMYs the very next day.)
Hundreds of nominees attended the Special Merit Awards and Celebration, proudly displaying their blue medallions and glowing as they took their official GRAMMY nominee photos; the hopeful and energetic spirit of the event fueled our drive to succeed in this industry even more.
Sunday: And The GRAMMY Goes To…
Sunday morning was the day everyone had all been waiting for: the 66th GRAMMY Awards! After getting our glam on, the GRAMMY U Reps got to walk the red carpet for the first time ever. We took tons of photos and videos to commemorate this special moment and share our experience with friends and family.
While most of the Reps were posing on the carpet, Pierson, Jasmine, Rachel, and Chloe had the honor of being trophy presenters during the GRAMMY Premiere Ceremony. This was the first time GRAMMY U Reps from across the country were given the honor of being up close and personal during artists' career-defining moments.
Reps on the GRAMMYs Red Carpet┃Andrew Sankovich
Moving into Crypto.com Arena to be seated for the telecast portion of the evening, the GRAMMY U Reps were ecstatic to watch the ceremony in person. As legends like Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, Tracy Chapman, and Stevie Wonder blazed on stage, all the Reps were singing and dancing along, thrilled to be a part of Music’s Biggest Night. Phenomenal performances from nominees SZA, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, and Luke Combs were equally captivating.
Witnessing the live telecast after experiencing so much behind-the-scenes production exemplified how rewarding the music industry can be, and how prestigious winning a GRAMMY truly is. The quiet suspense before a winner was announced and the roars that followed created a rollercoaster of emotions that took our breath away.
Immediately afterward, we were off to enjoy the official GRAMMYs After-Party — and not even the constant showers could not rain on our parade. The Reps hit the dancefloor as soon as NE-YO took the stage, and hearing "Time of Our Lives" felt especially relatable.
As we headed back home on our United flights, we reflected on an exhilarating GRAMMY Week. Not only were we able to be part of exclusive events, but we also interacted with artists, learned from experts, and grew exponentially. Experiencing these moments with the other Reps brought our team closer, while meeting members and peers showed the expansive community GRAMMY U is cultivating.
Because of United, we witnessed all the Recording Academy does for the music industry. After GRAMMY Week, we feel more inspired and empowered than ever to lead the next generation of the music industry.
With additional reporting from Pierson Livingston.
Tyla with her golden gramophone
Photo: Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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South African Singer Tyla Won The Inaugural Best African Music Performance Category At The 2024 GRAMMYs. What Does It Mean For African Music On The Global Stage?
While Afrobeats and amapiano are certainly crossing over in America, Tyla’s win reflects how Western influence is often necessary for African music to transcend the continent. Is "Water" what African music needs to blossom?
GRAMMYs/Feb 12, 2024 - 10:43 pm
As the first recipient of the inaugural Best African Music Performance GRAMMY Award, South African songstress Tyla has officially etched her name into history. At the 2024 GRAMMYs, the 22-year-old's amapiano-infused Afro pop hit "Water" beat out several long-established names in African music.
While Tyla's success on Music's Biggest Night stresses the Recording Academy's continued efforts to showcase diverse African music, her victory is more of a one-armed hug rather than a full, legs-off-the-ground embrace of African music.
This is chiefly because "Water" was successful and marketable for its use of Western pop influences. While Afrobeats and amapiano are certainly crossing over in America, bestowing a golden gramophone upon an artist whose work reflects familiar sounds is a curious step forward for African music. Still, Tyla's win may foster a greater embrace of the African sound, and the virality and pervasiveness of "Water" propelled the Johannesburg-born singer/songwriter to unheard of heights.
"Water" hit No. 1 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs and Hip-Hop/R&B charts, and became the first African song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 since 1968. The track peaked at No. 7, making Tyla the highest-charting African female solo musician in Billboard history. The "Water" dance challenge on TikTok further pushed the track into the global sphere, and the song has been featured in over 1.5 million videos.
The widespread appeal of "Water" is a culmination of elements, notably a fusion of Western pop with subtler amapiano influences. The song melds sleek American R&B and pop compositions with the log drums and piano trails synonymous with the South African amapiano genre.
Read more: 10 African GRAMMY Winners Through The Years: From Miriam Makeba To Angélique Kidjo & Burna Boy
Indeed, most musical genres (regardless of continent of origin) draw inspiration from and contribute back to each other. The resulting music transcends regional boundaries and appeals globally — and Tyla's "Water" is proof of this resonance. Yet it also reflects how a major Western influence is often necessary for African music to transcend the continent.
The Recording Academy's new Category was designed to highlight "strong elements of African cultural significance," said Shawn Thwaites, Recording Academy Awards Project Manager and author of the Category. In describing eligibility for the Best African Music Performance Category, Thwaites noted that songs must feature "a stylistic intention, song structure, lyrical content and/or musical representation found in Africa and the African diaspora."
Still, when it comes to recognizing lesser known genres — from South Africa's gqom to Tanzania’s singeli and Ghana’s asakaa — the global audience still has a long way to go.
"We need to go deeper and in more detail within different genres of music. We know there are multiple different types of music — hundreds of genres, in fact — coming from Africa and from all 54 countries on the continent," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told GRAMMY.com after his three trips to the vibrant continent. "I'd love to see us be able to honor even more music from Africa and other areas of the world."
Thwaites hopes that celebrating the diversity of African music will also lead to greater cultural exchange. Eventually, this could lead to "more collaborations between artists of different genres and more artist relations between labels and executives in America," he said.
But for this progression to happen correctly, there has to be a cultural education about the music within the continent and it's something Ghazi Shami, CEO/Founder of Empire Records, Distribution and Publishing — who consulted with the Recording Academy on the new Category — is looking forward to watching develop.
"I think we'll see expanded categories in African music in the years to come, but this is a great start toward recognizing the merits and impact of African music," he told GRAMMY.com prior to the ceremony.
Tyla's GRAMMY win is an exceptional achievement — particularly so for a young African woman. Popular African music has often been skewed towards male artists. At the 2023 GRAMMYs, Tems became the only female solo artist currently living in Nigeria to win a GRAMMY. (Sade, who was born in Nigeria, has won four GRAMMYs but lives in the U.K.)
A similar trend is observed in South Africa, where Miriam Makeba was both Africa's first GRAMMY winner and the country's solo female vocalist to win prior to Tyla.
Tyla's win is a beacon to other young female performers in Africa — including fellow Category nominee Ayra Starr and singer/songwriter and producer Bloody Civilian — proving that female artists can and will be recognized, regardless of their country of origin. It also demonstrates how the distance between African artists and international prestige has been shortened, thus furthering the likelihood of artistic innovation.
Her win is also notable in a Category stacked with Nigerian artists. Of the five nominated works, "Water" is the only one not created by an artist of Nigerian descent or currently living in Nigeria. (Though South African producer Musa Keys is featured on Davido's nominated "UNAVAILABLE.") Although South Africa has a lengthy history at the GRAMMY Awards, Tyla is proof the world is listening to what her country has to offer.
While her fellow nominees — Starr, Burna Boy, Davido, ASAKE & Olamide — and artists such as Wizkid have also shouldered the responsibility for the globalization of popular African music, there is still a long road ahead.
Tyla’s win holds significant promise for African music as pop music. While "Water" certainly has noticeable South African elements, its Western appeal may partially lay in its use of familiar sounds. For Africa to truly win, the world has to embrace African music for what it is, and not for what it's trying to be.
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