Prince, The Clash and Frankie Valli Honored at Grammys Special Merit Awards
Prince, The Clash, and Frankie Valli were among the esteemed artists who received Lifetime Achievement Awards during the Grammys’ Special Merit Awards ceremony.
This celebration took place on Saturday night, February 1, at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, just one evening before the main Grammy Awards event scheduled for Sunday night.
Hosted by the Recording Academy, the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals and groups that have made substantial contributions to the music industry. This year, the honor also went to funk musician Frankie Beverly, gospel artist Dr. Bobby Jones, progressive blues musician Taj Mahal, and rapper Roxanne Shante.
Additionally, the Trustee Awards were presented to composer Erroll Garner, composer Tania Leon, and producer Glyn Johns. The Technical Grammy Award was given to Dr. Leo Beranek, known as a pioneer in acoustic technology.
At the ceremony, Jimmy Jam, who previously worked with Prince as a member of The Time, spoke favorably about the music icon. He shared, "He had the best work ethic of anybody I ever met." Jam emphasized how Prince inspired him, saying that Prince helped him see his own potential and greatness.
Public Enemy’s Chuck D accepted the award on behalf of The Clash, a legendary punk band. He read a message from the surviving members of the group - Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Topper Headon - who expressed their gratitude and a connection with their fans: "As you heard our voice, we also heard yours."
The 67th Annual Grammy Awards were scheduled to take place on February 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Comedian Trevor Noah was set to host the event for the fifth consecutive year. Beyoncé led the nominations with eleven, making her the most nominated artist in Grammy history.
The awards ceremony was set to be broadcast live on CBS at 8 PM EST in the United States. For those with Paramount+ subscriptions that include Showtime, streaming of the Grammys was available at the same time. Fans in the UK could tune in from 1 AM on Monday, with Paramount+ streaming the event live internationally.
This year’s lineup featured performances by Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter. British artists, including Cynthia Erivo, RAYE, and Chris Martin from Coldplay, were among those taking part.
Moreover, music legend Stevie Wonder was set to lead a tribute to the late Quincy Jones, accompanied by Janelle Monáe. The ceremony also aimed to raise funds for those affected by recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
Prince, Clash, Valli