Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Brittany Howard performs at the 2021 GRAMMYs
news
Recording Academy Remembers The Music People We've Lost | GRAMMY In Memoriam
Take a moment to reflect and salute the members of the music community who we lost in 2020-2021
(The following is a list of artists and industry professionals the music community lost in 2020–2021. The 63rd GRAMMY Awards telecast on CBS will feature an In Memoriam segment highlighting some of these individuals via a video tribute, and all of these individuals who died prior to its print date are included in the official 63rd GRAMMY Awards program book. The Recording Academy salutes each individual for their respective talents and contributions to our culture and community.)
Paul Harts aka 18veno | Lou "L.A." Kouvaris |
Marcello Abbado | Ivan Kral |
Alan Abel | Harvey Louis Krantz |
Ray Abshire | Herbert Kretzmer |
Biff Adam | TN Krishnan |
Darrell Andr'e Adams | Bob Kulick |
Fiona Adams | Dave Kusworth |
India Adams | Lindsey Lagestee |
Robert Northern aka Brother Ah | Alexi Laiho |
Luigi Albertelli | David Lander |
Richie Albright | Holly Lane |
Dan Andrei Aldea | Violeta Dávalos Lara |
Dick Alen | Neil Lasher |
Barney Ales | Marc Lawrence |
Randy Alexander | Danny Leake |
Tom Alexander | Bryan Lee |
Alejandro Algara | Edward "Bunny" Lee |
Alauddin Ali | Valentina Legkostupova |
Rance Allen | Sonam Tshering Lepcha |
Tony Allen | Raymond Lévesque |
Wade Allison | Bobby Lewis |
Pelle Alsing | Tony Lewis |
Kenneth Alwyn | Lily Lian |
Frank Amadeo | Carman Domenic Licciardello |
Norm Amadio | Mike Lilly |
Chase "6 Dogs" Amick | Gustava "Tavo" Limongi |
Fabiana Anastácio | Matthew Lin |
Edward Anderson | Buzzy Linhart |
Bob Andy | Margo Lion |
Tom Annastas | Vincent Lionti |
Clay Anthony | Garret "i_o" Falls Lockhart |
Ryan Anthony | Giuseppi Logan |
MK Arjunan | Sonny Lonas |
Darrin Arriens | Mike Longo |
Carol Arthur | Trini Lopez |
Phil Ashley | Gienek Loska |
Mickey Atkins | Martin Lovett |
Hillard "Sweet Pea" Atkinson | Erwanda "Papa T Bob" Lukas |
Luis Eduardo Aute | Rebecca Luker |
Gustavo "Yoshio" Nakatani Avila | Walter Lure |
Malik Abdul Basit aka Malik B | Tamiya "Tami" Lynn |
Gabriel Bacquier | Vera Lynn |
Nusrat Badr | Bill Mack |
Alec Baillie | Bonnie MacLean |
Braxton "Brax" Baker | John Macurdy |
SP Balasubrahmanyam | Sterling Magee |
Dalton Baldwin | Alicia Maguiña |
Bobby Ball | Skip Mahoney |
Frankie Banali | Patricia Majalisa |
Josef Bansuelo | Sean Malone |
Lucien Barbarin | Julian "Junior" Mance |
John Barbe | Lynn Evans Mand |
Chris Barber | Johnny Mandel |
Ornetta Barber | Carl Mann |
Winston "Daddy Boastin'" Errol Barbour | Ray Mantilla |
Robert "Bootsie" Barnes | Armando Manzanero |
Len Barry | Robert Maraj |
Malik "Malik B" Abdul Basit | Benny Mardones |
Waldemar Bastos | Detto Mariano |
Jennifer Bate | Marjan |
"Little" Charlie Baty | Rudolph Johnson aka Lil Marlo |
Bucky Baxter | Jeremy Marre |
Orson Bean | Gerry Marsden |
Harold Beane | Marty Martel |
Ewart "U-Roy" Beckford | Barbara Martin |
LD Beghtol | Craig Martin |
McKenzie Bell | Daniel Lee Martin |
Ronald "Khalis" Bell | Don Martin |
Hamdi Benani | Hélène Martin |
Mac Benford | Kirke Martin |
Dayvon "King Von" Bennett | Moon Martin |
Bettye Berger | Vaughan Mason |
Roger Berlind | Kim Massie |
Warren Berlinger | Ron Mathewson |
Norman Bernal | Paul Matters |
Rod Bernard | Phil May |
Rafael Berrio | Lyle Mays |
Overton Berry | Jota Mayúscula |
Harold Betters | Elliot Mazer |
Frank Bey | Franz Mazura |
Salome Bey | Jim McCown |
Bert Bial | Sid McCray |
Bob Biggs | Lynsey McDonald |
Steve Bing | William E. McEuen |
Howell Binkley | Phyllis McGuire |
Martin Birch | Nikki McKibbin |
Trevor Birdsong | Terrence McNally |
Aldir Blanc | Curtis McPeake |
Else Blangsted | Armelia McQueen |
Richard Blaustein | Gary McSpadden |
Nickalus Thompson aka Nicky Blixky | Edward "Felix" McTeigue |
Winston Errol Barbour aka Daddy Boastin' | José Ángel Medina |
Erwanda Lukas aka Papa T Bob | Trudy Melvin |
Tony de Boer | Aaron Melzer |
Tim Bogert | Tânio Mendonça |
Hamilton Bohannon | Miss Mercy |
Claude Bolling | Alan Merrill |
Donelle Hodges aka Big Booda | Jymie Merritt |
Edward Fletcher aka Duke Bootee | Max Merritt |
Daniel "El Dany" Munoz Borrego | Mady Mesplé |
Ezio Bosso | Ebow Graham aka Metropolis |
Dr. John P Boyd | John Meyer |
Steve Boyer | Kerstin Meyer |
Ryan Brady | Kizito Mihigo |
Jerry Brandt | Oliver Stokes Jr. aka Black N Mild |
Braxton Baker aka Brax | Douglas Miller |
Julian Bream | Virgile Karuranga aka DJ Miller |
Christopher Treadwell aka Bris | Walter C. Miller |
Romualdo Brito | Bob Mitchell |
Big George Brock | Harold Mitchell |
Michael Brooks | Ian Mitchell |
Andrew Brough | Melvin Noble aka Mo3 |
Van Broussard | Cristina Monet-Palaci |
Hux Brown | Tony Cook aka Cookie Monsta |
Marvin Brown | Doreen Montalvo |
Steve Brown | Claudia Montero |
Ed Bruce | Xavier Montes |
Mark Brunner | Charlie Monttana |
Berk Bryant | Margaret "Bonnie Lou" Moore |
Kobe Bryant | Smokin' Joe Moore |
Harold Budd | Moraes Moreira |
Jame Burke | Laurie Morgan |
John Burks | Misty Morgan |
Sam "The Man" Burns | Joseph "Mogo" Morganfield |
Don Burrows | Erick Morillo |
Tre Burwell | Ennio Morricone |
Johnny Bush | Dan Morrison |
Lamonta Butcher | Elijah Moshinsky |
Stan Byrd | Abdel Aziz El Mubarak |
Edd Byrnes | Reed Mullin |
Roy Charles Hammond aka Roy C | Naomi Munakata |
Françoise Cactus | Dave Munden |
Steven Cagan | Marcos Mundstock |
Buddy Cage | Paravai Muniyamma |
Cándido Camero | Chris Murphy |
Ron Campbell | Peg Murray |
Jimmy Capps | Jaime Murrell |
Joaquín Carbonell | Todd Nance |
Carlos do Carmo | Johnny Nash |
Steve Martin Caro | Ronnie Nasralla |
Pearl Carr | Sergiu Natru |
Pete Carr | Meritxell Negre |
Alton "Big Al" Carson | Travis Nelsen |
Rosanna Carteri | Jack Nelson |
Brent Carver | Sammy Nestico |
Nedda Casei | Rupert Neve |
Juliano Cezar | Keith Nichols |
Paul "tonka" Chapman | Lennie Niehaus |
Philippe Chatel | Tammy Nobles |
Oscar Chávez | Mike Noga |
Hamid "Idir" Cheriet | Ian North |
Ken "Mr. Chi Pig" Chinn | Larry Novak |
Adelaide Chiozzo | John Nzenze |
Guy Chookoorian | Jamie O'Hara |
Jon Christensen | Ronan O'Rahilly |
Christophe | Victor Olaiya |
Adrián Cionco | Jamie Oldaker |
Louis Clark | David Olney |
Renée Claude | Keith Olsen |
Jeff Clayton | Jorge Onate |
Lawrence Clayton | Marc Orleans |
Jimmy Cobb | Xavier Ortiz |
Bob Cobert | K.T. Oslin |
Claudio Coccoluto | Jerold Ottley |
Michael Cogswell | Leah Ottman |
Oscar Cohen | Charles "Fuzzy" Owen |
Rick Cohen | Jim Owen |
Stu Cohen | Genesis P-Orridge |
Freddy Cole | Duranice Pace |
Richie Cole | Johnny Pacheco |
Quinn "DJ Spicoli" Coleman | José Padilla |
Anthony "Tony" Colvin-Baraka | Nexhmije Pagarusha |
Bobby Comstock | Kaulana Pakele |
Arthur Conner | Ellis J. Paliet |
Robert Conrad | Lou Pallo |
Tony "Cookie Monsta" Cook | Josh Pappe |
Jason "Rowdy" Cope | Tommie Pardue |
Anton Coppola | Narciso Parigi |
John Corcoran | Dan Parise |
Nick Cordero | Khari Parker |
Chick Corea | Robert Parker |
J.T. Corenflos | Sonny Parsons |
Chamín Correa | Randy Parton |
Chick Correa | Joseph Payne |
David Corrêa | Gary Peacock |
Jerome "5th Ward Weebie" Cosey | Ed Pearl |
Tony Costanza | Ken Pedersen |
Cedrick "Swab" Cotton | Ronnie "Rockwell T. James" Peel |
Eva Coutaz | Krzysztof Penderecki |
Bobbi Cowan | Ray Pennington |
Stanley Cowell | Marcelo Peralta |
Jimmy Cox | Max Perenchio |
Simeon Coxe | Gilberto Perez |
Julia Craik | Charli Persip |
Robert "Red" Cravens | Ciro Pessoa |
Noah Creshevsky | Alan Peters |
Stanley Crouch | Lucky Peterson |
Curtis Denton Jr. aka Young Curt | Ralph Peterson |
Lionel Eguienta aka Lionel D. | Dave Philips |
Charlie Daniels | Knox Phillips |
William "Kiing Shooter" Daniels | Tom Pick |
Daniel Muñoz Borrego aka El Dany | Ken Chinn aka Mr. Chi Pig |
David Darling | Eva Pilarová |
Chris Darrow | Lloyd Pinchback |
Alexander Datsyuk | Bucky Pizzarelli |
Wolfgang Dauner | Christopher Plummer |
Robert Bunyan Davie aka Hutch Davie | Bonnie Pointer |
Eddy Davis | Joe Porcaro |
Mac Davis | Nolan Porter |
Spencer Davis | Ricky Powell |
Prince Markie Dee | Rod Powell |
Liu Dehai | Tom Powell |
Suzy Delair | Margarita Pracatan |
Jim Delehant | Erwin Prasetya |
Gabi Delgado-López | Calder Prescott |
Jerry Demara | Francis "Rocco" Prestia |
Gloria DeNard | Charley Pride |
Sergio Denis | Steve Priest |
Lou Dennis | Alexander Priko |
John E. Denny | John Prine |
Sydney Devine | Willis Prudhomme |
Tommy DeVito | Orlando Puerta |
Frédéric Devreese | Boris Purgalin |
Sunil Dhar | William Pursell |
Mickey Diage | Dale Pyatt |
Sandra Dianne | Ejaz Qaiser |
Manu Dibango | Tommy Quinn |
Joe Diffie | Adolfo "Shabba-Dpp" Quinones |
Bryan Dilworth | Paul Quirk |
Georgia Dobbins | Terry Quirk |
Highland "Dobby" Dobson | Jimmy Rabbitt |
Chase Amick aka 6 Dogs | Mats Rådberg |
Lucy Dolène | Al Raghavan |
Pau Donés | Lou Ragland |
Manuel "Cowboy" Donley | Elias Rahbani |
Daniel Dumile aka MF DOOM | Jason Rainey |
Sergei Dorensky | Maiesha Rashad |
Mirna Doris | Georg Ratzinger |
Martin Douglas | Danny Ray |
Judy Drucker | Glenn Ray |
Ja'Net Dubois | Helen Reddy |
Carlton Weekly FBG Duck | Tony Redz |
Rick Durrett | Alto Reed |
Doriot Anthony Dwyer | Harold Reid |
Judy Dyble | Carl Reiner |
Justin Townes Earle | Sean Reinert |
Russell Easter | Janine Reiss |
Cleveland Eaton | Ray Repp |
Christiane Eda-Pierre | Joel Revzen |
Jay Edwards | Emitt Rhodes |
Maurice Edwards | Clementino Rodrigues aka Riachão |
Kevin Eggers | Tony Rice |
Lionel "D" Eguienta | Little Richard |
Rosalind Elias | Marga Richter |
Patrick Ellis | Bill Rieflin |
Bobby Engel | Diana Rigg |
Roger Englander | Naya Rivera |
Paul English | David Roback |
John Erhardt | Alfred “Uganda” Roberts |
Barbara Ess | Larry Robins |
Carlos "Cano" Estremera | Alonzo Robinson |
Bill Evanov | Jimmie Rodgers |
Bent Fabric | Claudio Roditi |
Len Fagan | Clementino "Riachao" Rodrigues |
Diego Farias | Servando Cano Rodríguez |
Steve Farmer | Xavier Rodriquez |
Majek Fashek | Chynna Rogers |
Anne Feeney | DeWayne Julius Rogers aka D.J. Rogers |
Bobby Few | Joanne Rogers |
Bill Field | Kenny Rogers |
Ian Finkel | Carlos "Cuco" Rojas |
Tom Finn | Tito Rojas |
James Fisher | David Romano |
David Fitzgerald | Wallace Roney |
Leon Fleisher | Dick Rosenzweig |
Rhonda Fleming | Annie Ross |
Edward "Duke Bootee" Fletcher | Elinor Ross |
John "Ecstasy" Fletcher | Alan Rowe |
Merwin Foard | Gene Rumsey |
Tom Foley | Vern Rumsey |
Michael Fonfara | Bill Runkle |
Wayne Fontana | John Russell |
Horacio Fontova | Yalchin Rzazadeh |
Rosita Fornés | Bassam Saba |
Nick Apollo Forte | Rudy Salas |
Aaron "Frosty" Foster | Vexi Salmi |
Bob Fouts | Tito Rojas aka El Gallo Salsero |
Hugh Fraser | Gary Salzman |
Glenn Fredly | Jorge Santana |
Gerald Freedman | Nello Santi |
Barry Freeman | Esteban Santos |
Mirella Freni | Prabhat Sarma |
Maudell Watkins aka FXXXXY | Arlene Saunders |
Andre Gagnon | Gil Saunders |
Grady Gaines | Kentray Young aka Tray Savage |
Ramona Galarza | Adam Schlesinger |
Eddie Gale | Florian Schneider |
Riley Gale | Alan Schulman |
Bryan Wayne Galentine | Gerard Schurmann |
Anthony Galindo | J. Scott |
Benny Garcia | Miles Cooper Seaton |
Bob Garcia | Edward "Tre Da Kid" Montre Seay |
Vladimir "Jamir" Garcia | Joe Segal |
Kevin Garren | Matthew Seligman |
Seymour Gartenberg | Klaus Selmke |
Yogesh Gaur | Peter Serkin |
George Gerdes | Eddie Setser |
Ranjon Ghoshal | Joseph Shabalala |
Bob Gibson | Adolfo Quiñones aka Shabba-Doo |
Henry “Seaman Dan” Gibson | Mohammad Reza Shajarian |
Jon Gibson | Bob Shane |
Patrick Gibson | Pat Shannahan |
Andy Gill | Mike Sharp |
Ivry Gitlis | Billy Joe Shaver |
Bennett Glotzer | Demetrius Chawton Robinson aka DJ Shay |
Fredrick Thomas aka Fred The Godson | Gene Shay |
Ari Gold | Paul Shelden |
Billy Goldenberg | Jack Sherman |
Henry Goldrich | Larry Sherman |
Andy Gonzalez | William Daniels aka Kiing Shooter |
Andy González | Haim Shtrum |
Ebow "Metropolis" Graham | Anna Shuttleworth |
Shirley Grant | Sardool Sikander |
Milford Graves | Flor Silvestre |
Henry Gray | Hal Singer |
Vernard Gray | Susan Skaggs |
Ketchy the Great | Jonty Skrufff |
Juliette Gréco | Jason Slater |
Herman Green | Mitch Slater |
Jim Green | Jerry Slick |
Peter Green | Sergei Slonimsky |
Jeffrey A. Greenberg | Millie Small |
Dave Greenfield | Kathy Smardak |
Martin Griffin | Doug Smiley |
Albert Griffiths | Dmitri Smirnov |
Henry Grimes | Clay Smith |
Jordan Groggs aka Stepa J. Groggs | Laura Smith |
Steve Grossman | Michael P. Smith |
Cady Groves | Tim Smith |
Michael Gudinski | Toni Smith |
Steve Gulley | Voila Smith |
Bob Gullotti | Bashar Jackson aka Pop Smoke |
Onaje Allan Gumbs | Troy Sneed |
Jonas Gwangwa | Eleanor Sokoloff |
Ida Haendel | Maynard Solomon |
Don Hahn | Mike Somerville |
Harry Hains | Dominic Sonic |
Eddie Van Halen | Sophie |
Margareta Hallin | Phil Spector |
Pete Hamill | Alvin Speights |
Roy Hammond | John Spencer |
James Hand | Quinn Coleman aka DJ Spicoli |
Terry Hands | Chris Sullivan aka DJ Spinbad |
Steven "Thee Slayer Hippy" Hanford | Freddy Rodriguez Sr. |
Joseph Hannesschläger | Peter Starkie |
Andre Harrell | Lucille Starr |
Lynn Harrell | Tom Starr |
Matt Harris | Geoff Stephens |
Paul "18veno" Harts | Yvonne Sterling |
Alex Harvey | Hellmut Stern |
Gordon Haskell | Tom Stevens |
Katsuhisa Hattori | Jerry Stiller |
Michael Hawley | Mark Stone |
David Hayman | Pauline Anna Strom |
Roy Head | Chad Stuart |
Claude Heater | Natasha Stuart |
Jimmy Heath | Chris "DJ Spinbad" Sullivan |
Ron "Rontrose" Heathman | Ira Sullivan |
Jimmy Henley | Doug Supernaw |
Warner Henry | Bobby Susser |
Ken Hensley | Robin Sutherland |
Walter Hernandez | Bruce Swedien |
"Toots" Hibbert | Sylvain Sylvain |
Phyllis Unger Hiller | Brian Tankersley |
Donny Hillier | Tony Tanner |
Bones Hillman | Duane Tatro |
Rupert Hine | Eric Taylor |
Shanti Hiranand | Gene Taylor |
Donelle "Big Booda" Hodges | Scott Taylor |
Steve Holland | Richard Teitelbaum |
W.S. "Fluke" Holland | Gregory Theisen |
Chris Hopson | Jacob Thiele |
S. Roger Horchow | Christen Thomas |
Rita Houston | Fredrick "Fred the Godson" Thomas |
Jan Howard | Isaac Thomas |
Sam Howard | Danny Ray Thompson |
Brian Howe | Nikalus "Nick Blixky" Thompson |
Hsiao Feng Hsien | Ron Thompson |
Alien Huang | Steven "Saint Dog" Thronson |
Mike Huckaby | Russ Thyret |
Lawrence Franks Jr. aka Huey | Cheryl Tiano |
Arturo Huizar | Eliot Tiegel |
Josh Humiston | Frederick C. Tillis |
Hachalu Hundessa | Keith Tippett |
Peter H. Hunt | Aaron Tokona |
Ahmed Ismail "Hudeydi" Hussein | Narcisa Toldrà |
Pamela Hutchinson | Bill Torbert |
Garrett Falls Lockhart aka i_o | Christopher "Bris" Treadwell |
Rinat Ibragimov | Colleen Trenwith |
Joey Image | Chris Trousdale |
Rahat Indori | Fou Ts'ong |
Alex Ingram | Jimmy Tucker |
Kenny Ingram | Barry Tuckwell |
Ed Irwin | Ron Tudor |
Teddy Irwin | Michael "Double K" Turner |
César Isella | Ty |
Pedro Iturralde | McCoy Tyner |
Gary Jackson | "Blue" Gene Tyranny |
Flory Jagoda | U-Roy |
Bob James | Tommy Uzzo |
Kent James | Ricky Valance |
Ronnie Peel aka Rockwell T. James | Hilton Valentine |
Pandit Jasraj | Maria José Valério |
Sam Jayne | Danny "Wepa Man" Vargas |
Zizi Jeanmaire | Alexander Vedernikov |
Joseph B. Jefferson | Joan-Pau Verdier |
William E. "Bill" Jefferson | Víctor Víctor |
Kim "Yohan" Jeong-hwan | Dayvon Bennett aka King Von |
Kenny Jeremiah | Dragan Vucic |
Charles Lawton Jiles | Alexander Vustin |
Bruce Johnson | Bunny Wailer |
Denise Johnson | Howard Wales |
Howard Johnson | Gary Walker |
Joe Johnson | Jerry Jeff Walker |
Larry W. Johnson | Erin Wall |
Rudolph "Marlo" Johnson | Tres Warren |
Sir Peter Jonas | Delroy Washington |
Derek Jones | Delores Washington-Green |
Terry Jones | Fanny Waterman |
Troy Jones | Jas Waters |
Bobby Jonz | Pete Way |
Alexander "Lil Yase" Mark Anonyyo Jr. | Andrew Weatherall |
Carl Dobkins jr. | Jim Weatherly |
Curtis "Young Curt" Denton Jr. | James Weaver |
Eddie Lunn jr. | Jimmy Webb |
Ellis Marsalis Jr. | Jerome Cosey aka 5th Ward Webbie |
Jim Brewer Jr. | Steve Weber |
Lawrence "Huey" Franks Jr. | Carlton "FBG Duck" Weekly |
Oliver "DJ Black N Mild" Stokes Jr. | Aaron Wegelin |
Perry Botkin Jr. | Eric Weissberg |
Peter Botkin Jr. | Constance Weldon |
Ralph Peterson Jr. | Edward West |
Robert Ford Jr. | Leslie West |
Sam Clayton Jr. | Paul Whaley |
Michael Turner aka Double K | Charlie Whitaker |
William "Willie K" Awihilima Kahaiali’i | Ian Whitcomb |
Mario Kaminsky | Andrew White |
Kasongo wa Kanema | Chet "JR" White |
Mory Kante | James White |
John Kaparakis | Jay White |
Patti Karr | Dick Whitehouse |
Virgile "DJ Miller" Karuranga | Camilla Wicks |
Al Kasha | Willie Wilkerson |
Alby Kass | Rev. John Wilkins |
Ryo Kawasaki | Brian "Slick Rick" Williams |
Chuck Kaye | Jimmie Williams |
Phil Kaye | Steve "Stezo" Williams |
Ramsey Kearney | Bruce Williamson |
Mark Keds | Jim Williamson |
Lynn Kellogg | Hal Willner |
Dan Kelly | Mary Wilson |
Jonathan Kelly | Wes Wilson |
Paula Kelly | Bill Withers |
Didi Kempot | Baron Wolman |
Kimberly Kennedy | Suthep Wongkamhaeng |
Sean Kennedy | Helen Jones Woods |
Lee Kerslake | Maceo Woods |
Stan Kesler | Betty Wright |
Hal Ketchum | Edna Wright |
Pierre Kezdy | Eugene Wright |
Derek Khan | Rosemarie Wright |
Wajid Khan | Willie Wright |
Sibongile Khumalo | Charles Wuorinen |
Edward Montre Seay aka Tre Da Kid | Kansai Yamamoto |
Frank Kimbrough | Alexander Mark Antonyyo Jr. aka Lil Yase |
Thom King | Kofi "Kofi B" Boakye Yiadom |
Astrid Kirchherr | Kim Jeong-hwan aka Yohan |
Volker David Kirchner | Gustavo Nakatani Ávila aka Yoshio |
Richard "Dickie" Kline | Brent Young |
Naděžda Kniplová | Kenny Young |
Tom Kobayashi | Kentray "Tray Savage" Young |
Ronnie Kole | Marsha Zazula |
Toshinori Kondo | Isidora Žebeljan |
Lee Konitz | Don Zimmermann |
Isaac Thomas Kottukapally | Kent James |
Ben Kouijzer | Ron Thompson |

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
video
GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016
Upon winning the GRAMMY for Best Rap Album for 'To Pimp a Butterfly,' Kendrick Lamar thanked those that helped him get to the stage, and the artists that blazed the trail for him.
Updated Friday Oct. 13, 2023 to include info about Kendrick Lamar's most recent GRAMMY wins, as of the 2023 GRAMMYs.
A GRAMMY veteran these days, Kendrick Lamar has won 17 GRAMMYs and has received 47 GRAMMY nominations overall. A sizable chunk of his trophies came from the 58th annual GRAMMY Awards in 2016, when he walked away with five — including his first-ever win in the Best Rap Album category.
This installment of GRAMMY Rewind turns back the clock to 2016, revisiting Lamar's acceptance speech upon winning Best Rap Album for To Pimp A Butterfly. Though Lamar was alone on stage, he made it clear that he wouldn't be at the top of his game without the help of a broad support system.
"First off, all glory to God, that's for sure," he said, kicking off a speech that went on to thank his parents, who he described as his "those who gave me the responsibility of knowing, of accepting the good with the bad."
Looking for more GRAMMYs news? The 2024 GRAMMY nominations are here!
He also extended his love and gratitude to his fiancée, Whitney Alford, and shouted out his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates. Lamar specifically praised Top Dawg's CEO, Anthony Tiffith, for finding and developing raw talent that might not otherwise get the chance to pursue their musical dreams.
"We'd never forget that: Taking these kids out of the projects, out of Compton, and putting them right here on this stage, to be the best that they can be," Lamar — a Compton native himself — continued, leading into an impassioned conclusion spotlighting some of the cornerstone rap albums that came before To Pimp a Butterfly.
"Hip-hop. Ice Cube. This is for hip-hop," he said. "This is for Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle. This is for Illmatic, this is for Nas. We will live forever. Believe that."
To Pimp a Butterfly singles "Alright" and "These Walls" earned Lamar three more GRAMMYs that night, the former winning Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song and the latter taking Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (the song features Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat). He also won Best Music Video for the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood."
Lamar has since won Best Rap Album two more times, taking home the golden gramophone in 2018 for his blockbuster LP DAMN., and in 2023 for his bold fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.
Watch Lamar's full acceptance speech above, and check back at GRAMMY.com every Friday for more GRAMMY Rewind episodes.
10 Essential Facts To Know About GRAMMY-Winning Rapper J. Cole

Image courtesy of the Recording Academy
news
The Recording Academy And CBS Announce “A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop” Live Concert Special Featuring Performances By Common, LL COOL J, Queen Latifah, Questlove, De La Soul, Remy Ma & More; Airing Dec. 10
The star-studded tribute will take place Wednesday, Nov. 8, at YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. Tickets are on sale now; the live concert special will air on Sunday, Dec. 10, on CBS and Paramount+.
Updated Friday, Oct. 27, and Wednesday, Nov. 8, to include information about newly announced performers.
The Recording Academy, Jesse Collins Entertainment and CBS have announced “A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop,” a once-in-a-lifetime live concert special celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. Airing Sunday, Dec. 10, at 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+, the two-hour tribute special will feature exclusive performances from hip-hop legends and GRAMMY-winning artists including Black Thought, Bun B, Common, De La Soul, Jermaine Dupri, J.J. Fad, Talib Kweli, The Lady Of Rage, LL COOL J, MC Sha-Rock, Monie Love, The Pharcyde, Queen Latifah, Questlove, Rakim, Remy Ma, Uncle Luke, and Yo-Yo. Newly announced performers include rap icons and next-gen hip-hop superstars 2 Chainz, T.I., Gunna, Too $hort, Latto, E-40, Big Daddy Kane, GloRilla, Juvenile, Three 6 Mafia, Cypress Hill, Jeezy, DJ Quik, MC Lyte, Roxanne Shanté, Warren G, YG, Digable Planets, Arrested Development, Spinderella, Black Sheep, and Luniz
The “A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop” live concert will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. The concert will then air on Sunday, Dec. 10, as a live concert TV special celebrating the profound history and monumental cultural impact that hip-hop has made around the world.
The “A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop” live concert is open to the public. Tickets are on sale now.
Full concert details are below:
Concert:
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023 (tonight)
Doors: 6 p.m. PT
Concert: 7 p.m. PT
Venue:
YouTube Theater
1011 Stadium Dr.
Inglewood, CA 90305
Full List Of Confirmed Performers:
2 CHAINZ
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
BIG DADDY KANE
BLAQBONEZ
BLACK SHEEP
BLACK THOUGHT
BOOSIE BADAZZ
BUN B
COMMON
CYPRESS HILL
D-NICE
DE LA SOUL
DIGABLE PLANETS
DJ DIAMOND KUTS
DJ GREG STREET
DJ QUIK
DJ TRAUMA (HOUSE DJ)
DOUG E. FRESH
E-40
GLORILLA
GUNNA
JERMAINE DUPRI
JEEZY
JJ FAD
KOOL DJ RED ALERT
LATTO
LL COOL J
LUNIZ
MC LYTE
MC SHA-ROCK
MONIE LOVE
PUBLIC ENEMY
QUEEN LATIFAH
QUESTLOVE
RAKIM
REMY MA
RICK ROSS
ROXANNE SHANTE
SPINDERELLA
TALIB KWELI
THE LADY OF RAGE
THE PHARCYDE
THREE 6 MAFIA
T.I.
TOO $HORT
TYGA
UNCLE LUKE
WARREN G
WILL SMITH & DJ JAZZY JEFF
YG
YO-YO
^Names in bold indicate newly added artists.
Stay tuned to GRAMMY.com for more news and updates about "A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop."
A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop is produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment. Jesse Collins, Shawn Gee, Dionne Harmon, Claudine Joseph, LL COOL J, Fatima Robinson, Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson for Two One Five Entertainment serve as executive producers and Marcelo Gama as director of the special.
Hip-Hop Just Rang In 50 Years As A Genre. What Will Its Next 50 Years Look Like?

Photo Courtesy of the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum
news
25 Semifinalists Announced For The 2024 Music Educator Award
Twenty-five music teachers, from 25 cities across 17 states, have been announced as semifinalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum. One ultimate recipient will be honored during GRAMMY Week 2024.
Twenty-five music teachers have today been announced as semifinalists for the Music Educator Award, an annual award, presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum, that supports and celebrates music education and music educators across the U.S. The 25 semifinalists, who hail from 25 cities across 17 states, were selected from a pool of more than 2,000 initial nominations from across all 50 U.S. states. Finalists will be announced in December, and the ultimate recipient of the 2024 Music Educator Award will be recognized during GRAMMY Week 2024, days ahead of the 2024 GRAMMYs.
Nominations for the 2025 Music Educator Award are now open.
Presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum, the Music Educator Award recognizes current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the music education field and demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools. The Award is open to current U.S. music teachers. Anyone can nominate a teacher — students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators — while teachers are also able to nominate themselves; nominated teachers are notified and invited to fill out an application.
Each year, the recipient of the Music Educator Award, selected from 10 finalists, receives a $10,000 honorarium and matching grant for their school's music program. The nine additional finalists receive a $1,000 honorarium and matching grants. The remaining 15 semifinalists, among the group announced today, will receive a $500 honorarium with matching school grants.
The Music Educator Award program, including honorariums, is made possible by the generosity and support of the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation. In addition, the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, NAMM Foundation, and National Education Association support this program through outreach to their constituencies.
Read More: 5 Organizations And Scholarships Supporting Music Education
The full list of the 2024 Music Educator Award semifinalists is as follows:
Name | School | City | State |
---|---|---|---|
Dawn Amthor | Wallkill Senior High School | Wallkill | New York |
Jeremy Bartunek | Greenbriar School | Northbrook | Illinois |
William Bennett | Cane Bay High School | Summerville | South Carolina |
Meg Byrne | Pleasant Valley High School | Bettendorf | Iowa |
Ernesta Chicklowski | Roosevelt Elementary | Tampa | Florida |
Michael Coelho | Ipswich Middle and High School | Ipswich | Massachusetts |
Drew Cowell | Belleville East High School | Belleville | Illinois |
Marci DeAmbrose | Lincoln Southwest High School | Lincoln | Nebraska |
Antoine Dolberry | P.S. 103x Hector Fontanez | Bronx | New York |
Jasmine Fripp | KIPP Nashville Collegiate High School | Nashville | Tennessee |
J.D. Frizzell | Briarcrest Christian School | Eads | Tennessee |
Amanda Hanzlik | E.O. Smith High School | Storrs | Connecticut |
Michael Lapomardo | Shrewsbury High School | Shrewsbury | Massachusetts |
Ashleigh McDaniel Spatz | Rising Starr Middle School | Fayetteville | Georgia |
Kevin McDonald | Wellesley High School | Wellesley | Massachusetts |
Coty Raven Morris | Portland State University | Portland | Oregon |
Trevor Nicholas | Senn Arts at Nicholas Senn High School | Chicago | Illinois |
Vicki Nichols | Grandview Elementary | Grandview | Texas |
Annie Ray | Annandale High School | Annandale | Virginia |
Bethany Robinson | Noblesville High School | Noblesville | Indiana |
Danni Schmitt | Roland Park Elementary/Middle School | Baltimore | Maryland |
Kevin Schoenbach | Oswego High School | Oswego | Illinois |
Matthew Shephard | Meridian Early College High School | Sanford | Michigan |
Alice Tsui | New Bridges Elementary | Brooklyn | New York |
Tammy Yi | Chapman University | Orange | California |
Learn more about the Music Educator Award and apply to the 2025 Music Educator Award program now.
5 Music Teachers Share The Transformative Power Of Music Education

Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
news
Remembering Clarence Avant: The Black Godfather, Renowned Entertainment Mentor & Recording Academy Honoree
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, L.A. Reid and Babyface, and Jimmy Iovine counted the entertainment pioneer as an essential piece of their success. The manager, label and broadcast media owner, and mentor died on Aug. 13 at age 92.
Known variously as the Black Godfather, the Godfather of Black Music and the Godfather of Black Entertainment, industry legend Clarence Avant was a pioneer over some seven decades in entertainment. The manager, label and broadcast media owner, and mentor died on Aug. 13 at age 92.
The breadth of Avant’s impact cannot be overstated. For his myriad accomplishments — many of which were historic and groundbreaking — he received the Recording Academy's Trustees Award in 2008. In 2019, Avant received the GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons Award.
"Clarence Avant will forever be remembered as a trailblazer and changemaker whose commitment to music and the community paved the way for opportunity and greater inclusion within our industry," said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. "He fundamentally transformed the musical landscape for the better. The depth of Clarence’s legacy will last for generations."
A lengthy list of luminaries in the worlds of entertainment, music, politics and more paid tribute to Avant on social media.

(L-R) Jay-Z, Clarence Avant and Sean Combs attend 2020 Roc Nation THE BRUNCH on January 25, 2020, in Los Angeles, California | Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation
Bill Clinton tweeted, "It was impossible to spend time with Clarence Avant and not come away feeling more positive and wanting to follow his example."
The Rev. Al Sharpton called Avant "a revolutionary," adding that "When people in the entertainment world were delegated to a near master/slave relationship, he broke through that wall of exploitation and made us respected business people.
"This man was singularly responsible for helping so many Black artists get paid their worth," civil rights attorney Sherrilyn Ifill tweeted.
Magic Johnson tweeted, "He knew how to touch every individual he met and meet them where they were in order to get them where they needed to be."
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation reflected on Avant's legacy:
Born Feb. 25, 1931, in North Carolina, Avant began his career under the tutelage of Louis Armstrong manager Joe Glaser. He would soon branch out on his own to manage artists including Sarah Vaughan, Freddie Hubbard and pioneering Black record producer Tom Wilson. Avant opened a Los Angeles office in 1964.
In 1967, Avant helped negotiate what is said to be the first joint venture between a Black artist and a major label when he mediated a deal for Motown writer-producer William "Mickey" Stevenson with MGM for the soul subsidiary Venture Records.
In 1969, Avant founded his own label, Sussex. The label’s first release was Cold Fact, the unsuccessful debut from the late Sixto Rodriguez, who would years later become the subject of the Oscar-winning doc Searching for Sugar Man. While it took 50 years for Rodriguez to get his due, such was not the case for other Sussex releases such as Dennis Coffey’s smash funky instrumental "Scorpio" and certainly not for Bill Withers, who from 1971 to 1972 had three singles go platinum or gold.
During this time, Avant also bought what became one of the first Black-owned U.S. radio stations, Los Angeles R&B outlet KTYM. Both this venture and Sussex would wind down by 1975, which led to Avant’s founding of Tabu Records.
It was at Tabu that Avant discovered the songwriting and production talents of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who had both been members of the Prince-owned band the Time. Jam and Lewis would create one of the most gravity-defying sounds of the ’80s, and Avant would eventually introduce them to Janet Jackson.
That kind of behind-the-scenes dot-connecting was the norm for Avant. He was considered an important mentor by Jam and Lewis, L.A. Reid and Babyface, industry titans Sylvia Rhone, Jheryl Busby, Jon Platt and Jimmy Iovine, and many others — including football great Jim Brown, whom Avant reportedly convinced to take up acting.
He was a political activist, especially for Black causes, and was an unofficial advisor to Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Barack Obama.
He would also serve as Chairman of Motown Records and would become the first Black person to serve on the international management board for PolyGram. He was the subject of the 2019 documentary The Black Godfather.
In addition to his Recording Academy Trustees Award, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 and is due to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Oct. 7.
There was no blueprint for Avant’s storied career. "I kept hearing about this guy Clarence Avant, but no one seemed to know what his actual official title was," Jim Brown recalled.
"My whole career has been like this," Avant once told Variety. "People ask me, ‘how did you do all this?’ How the f— do I know? I just do things. I just like to take shots."
Mogul Moment: How Quincy Jones Became An Architect Of Black Music