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Recording Academy Remembers The Music People We've Lost | GRAMMY In Memoriam

Brittany Howard performs at the 2021 GRAMMYs

Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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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

GRAMMYs/Mar 15, 2021 - 05:29 am

(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 

 

2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List

GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016
Kendrick Lamar

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

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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.

GRAMMYs/Oct 13, 2023 - 06:01 pm

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. 

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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
“A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop” airs Sunday, Dec. 10, at 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network and streams live and on demand on Paramount+

Image courtesy of the Recording Academy

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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+.

GRAMMYs/Oct 13, 2023 - 01:59 pm

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

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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.

Purchase tickets here.

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.

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25 Semifinalists Announced For The 2024 Music Educator Award
Music Educator Award

Photo Courtesy of the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum

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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.

GRAMMYs/Oct 11, 2023 - 01:59 pm

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.

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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.

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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.

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Remembering Clarence Avant: The Black Godfather, Renowned Entertainment Mentor & Recording Academy Honoree
Clarence Avant accepts the Industry Icons Award onstage during the Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Clarence Avant at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 9, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California

Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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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.

GRAMMYs/Aug 15, 2023 - 12:56 am

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.

Photo of (L-R) Jay-Z, Clarence Avant and Sean Combs attend 2020 Roc Nation THE BRUNCH on January 25, 2020, in Los Angeles, California

(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."

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