Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Brittany Howard performs at the 2021 GRAMMYs
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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
(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: Jathan Campbell
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How Much Is A GRAMMY Worth? 7 Facts To Know About The GRAMMY Award Trophy
Here are seven facts to know about the actual cost and worth of a GRAMMY trophy, presented once a year by the Recording Academy at the GRAMMY Awards.
Since 1959, the GRAMMY Award has been music’s most coveted honor. Each year at the annual GRAMMY Awards, GRAMMY-winning and -nominated artists are recognized for their musical excellence by their peers. Their lives are forever changed — so are their career trajectories. And when you have questions about the GRAMMYs, we have answers.
Here are seven facts to know about the value of the GRAMMY trophy.
How Much Does A GRAMMY Trophy Cost To Make?
The cost to produce a GRAMMY Award trophy, including labor and materials, is nearly $800. Bob Graves, who cast the original GRAMMY mold inside his garage in 1958, passed on his legacy to John Billings, his neighbor, in 1983. Billings, also known as "The GRAMMY Man," designed the current model in use, which debuted in 1991.
How Long Does It Take To Make A GRAMMY Trophy?
Billings and his crew work on making GRAMMY trophies throughout the year. Each GRAMMY is handmade, and each GRAMMY Award trophy takes 15 hours to produce.
Where Are The GRAMMY Trophies Made?
While Los Angeles is the headquarters of the Recording Academy and the GRAMMYs, and regularly the home of the annual GRAMMY Awards, GRAMMY trophies are produced at Billings Artworks in Ridgway, Colorado, about 800 miles away from L.A.
Is The GRAMMY Award Made Of Real Gold?
GRAMMY Awards are made of a trademarked alloy called "Grammium" — a secret zinc alloy — and are plated with 24-karat gold.
How Many GRAMMY Trophies Are Made Per Year?
Approximately 600-800 GRAMMY Award trophies are produced per year. This includes both GRAMMY Awards and Latin GRAMMY Awards for the two Academies; the number of GRAMMYs manufactured each year always depends on the number of winners and Categories we award across both award shows.
Fun fact: The two GRAMMY trophies have different-colored bases. The GRAMMY Award has a black base, while the Latin GRAMMY Award has a burgundy base.
Photos: Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images; Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
How Much Does A GRAMMY Weigh?
The GRAMMY trophy weighs approximately 5 pounds. The trophy's height is 9-and-a-half inches. The trophy's width is nearly 6 inches by 6 inches.
What Is The True Value Of A GRAMMY?
Winning a GRAMMY, and even just being nominated for a GRAMMY, has an immeasurable positive impact on the nominated and winning artists. It opens up new career avenues, builds global awareness of artists, and ultimately solidifies a creator’s place in history. Since the GRAMMY Award is the only peer-voted award in music, this means artists are recognized, awarded and celebrated by those in their fields and industries, ultimately making the value of a GRAMMY truly priceless and immeasurable.
In an interview featured in the 2024 GRAMMYs program book, two-time GRAMMY winner Lauren Daigle spoke of the value and impact of a GRAMMY Award. "Time has passed since I got my [first] GRAMMYs, but the rooms that I am now able to sit in, with some of the most incredible writers, producers and performers on the planet, is truly the greatest gift of all."
"Once you have that credential, it's a different certification. It definitely holds weight," two-time GRAMMY winner Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter of the Roots added. "It's a huge stamp as far as branding, businesswise, achievement-wise and in every regard. What the GRAMMY means to people, fans and artists is ever-evolving."
As Billboard explains, artists will often see significant boosts in album sales and streaming numbers after winning a GRAMMY or performing on the GRAMMY stage. This is known as the "GRAMMY Effect," an industry phenomenon in which a GRAMMY accolade directly influences the music biz and the wider popular culture.
For new artists in particular, the "GRAMMY Effect" has immensely helped rising creators reach new professional heights. Samara Joy, who won the GRAMMY for Best New Artist at the 2023 GRAMMYs, saw a 989% boost in sales and a 670% increase in on-demand streams for her album Linger Awhile, which won the GRAMMY for Best Jazz Vocal Album that same night. H.E.R., a former Best New Artist nominee, saw a massive 6,771% increase in song sales for her hit “I Can’t Breathe” on the day it won the GRAMMY for Song Of The Year at the 2021 GRAMMYs, compared to the day before, Rolling Stone reports.
Throughout the decades, past Best New Artist winners have continued to dominate the music industry and charts since taking home the GRAMMY gold — and continue to do so to this day. Recently, Best New Artist winners dominated the music industry and charts in 2023: Billie Eilish (2020 winner) sold 2 million equivalent album units, Olivia Rodrigo (2022 winner) sold 2.1 million equivalent album units, and Adele (2009 winner) sold 1.3 million equivalent album units. Elsewhere, past Best New Artist winners have gone on to star in major Hollywood blockbusters (Dua Lipa); headline arena tours and sign major brand deals (Megan Thee Stallion); become LGBTIA+ icons (Sam Smith); and reach multiplatinum status (John Legend).
Most recently, several winners, nominees and performers at the 2024 GRAMMYs saw significant bumps in U.S. streams and sales: Tracy Chapman's classic, GRAMMY-winning single "Fast Car," which she performed alongside Luke Combs, returned to the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time since 1988, when the song was originally released, according to Billboard. Fellow icon Joni Mitchell saw her ‘60s classic “Both Sides, Now,” hit the top 10 on the Digital Song Sales chart, Billboard reports.
In addition to financial gains, artists also experience significant professional wins as a result of their GRAMMY accolades. For instance, after she won the GRAMMY for Best Reggae Album for Rapture at the 2020 GRAMMYs, Koffee signed a U.S. record deal; after his first GRAMMYs in 2014, Kendrick Lamar saw a 349% increase in his Instagram following, Billboard reports.
Visit our interactive GRAMMY Awards Journey page to learn more about the GRAMMY Awards and the voting process behind the annual ceremony.
Graphic & Photos Courtesy of GRAMMY GO
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Recording Academy & Coursera Partner To Launch GRAMMY GO Online Learning Initiative
Class is in session. As part of the Recording Academy's ongoing mission to empower music's next generation, GRAMMY Go offers digital content in specializations geared to help music industry professionals grow at every stage of their career.
The Recording Academy has partnered with leading online learning platform Coursera on GRAMMY GO, a new online initiative to offer classes tailored for music creators and industry professionals.
This partnership empowers the next generation of the music community with practical, up-to-the moment digital content that provides wisdom for both emerging and established members of the industry. Continuing the Academy’s ongoing mission to serve all music people, courses cover a variety of specializations tailored to creative and professional growth.
GRAMMY GO on Coursera includes courses taught by Recording Academy members, featuring GRAMMY winners and nominees and offers real-life lessons learners can put to work right away.
Starting today, enrollment is open for GRAMMY GO’s first Coursera specialization, "Building Your Audience for Music Professionals," taught by Joey Harris, international music/marketing executive and CEO of Joey Harris Inc. The course features Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and five-time GRAMMY winner Jimmy Jam, 10-time GRAMMY nominee Janelle Monáe and three-time GRAMMY winner and the 2024 GRAMMYs Best New Artist Victoria Monét. This foundational specialization will help participants gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to build a strong brand presence and cultivate a devoted audience within the ever-changing music industry.
The partnership’s second course, launching later this summer, aims to strengthen the technological and audio skills of a music producer. "Music Production: Crafting An Award-Worthy Song" will be taught by Carolyn Malachi, Howard University professor and GRAMMY nominee, and will include appearances by GRAMMY winner CIRKUT, three-time GRAMMY winner Hit-Boy, artist and celebrity vocal coach Stevie Mackey, five-time GRAMMY nominee and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., and 15-time GRAMMY winner Judith Sherman. Pre-enrollment for "Music Production: Crafting An Award-Worthy Song" opens today.
"Whether it be through a GRAMMY Museum program, GRAMMY Camp or GRAMMY U, the GRAMMY organization is committed to helping music creators flourish, and the Recording Academy is proud to introduce our newest learning platform, GRAMMY GO, in partnership with Coursera," said Panos A. Panay, President of the Recording Academy. "A creator’s growth path is ongoing and these courses have been crafted to provide learners with the essential tools to grow in their professional and creative journeys."
"We are honored to welcome GRAMMY GO, our first entertainment partner, to the Coursera community," said Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. "With these self-paced online specializations, aspiring music professionals all over the world have an incredible opportunity to learn directly from iconic artists and industry experts. Together with GRAMMY GO, we can empower tomorrow's pioneers of the music industry to explore their passion today."
GRAMMY GO also serves as the music community’s newest digital hub for career pathways and editorial content that provides industry insights for members of the industry; visit go.grammy.com for more. For information and enrollment, please visit the landing pages for "Building Your Audience for Music Professionals" and "Music Production: Crafting An Award-Worthy Song."
Photo: Library of Congress
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National Recording Registry Inducts Music From The Notorious B.I.G., Green Day, Blondie, The Chicks, & More
Recordings by the Cars, Bill Withers, Lily Tomlin, Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, and the all-Black 369th U.S. Infantry Band after World War I are also among the 25 selected for induction.
As a founding member of the National Recording Preservation Board, the Recording Academy was instrumental in lobbying and getting the board created by Congress. Now, the Library of Congress has added new treasures to the National Recording Registry, preserving masterpieces that have shaped American culture.
The 2024 class not only celebrates modern icons like Green Day’s punk classic Dookie and Biggie Smalls' seminal Ready to Die, but also honors vintage gems like Gene Autry’s "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and Perry Como’s hits from 1957. These recordings join over 650 titles that constitute the registry — a curated collection housed within the Library’s vast archive of nearly 4 million sound recordings.
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden announced these additions as essential pieces of our nation’s audio legacy, each selected for their cultural, historical, or aesthetic importance. This selection process is influenced by public nominations, which hit a record number this year, emphasizing the public's role in preserving audio history.
Read more: Inside Green Day's Intimate "Right Here, Right Now" Global Climate Concert In San Francisco
"The Library of Congress is proud to preserve the sounds of American history and our diverse culture through the National Recording Registry," Hayden said. "We have selected audio treasures worthy of preservation with our partners this year, including a wide range of music from the past 100 years, as well as comedy. We were thrilled to receive a record number of public nominations, and we welcome the public’s input on what we should preserve next."
The latest selections named to the registry span from 1919 to 1998 and range from the recordings of the all-Black 369th U.S. Infantry Band led by James Reese Europe after World War I, to defining sounds of jazz and bluegrass, and iconic recordings from pop, dance, country, rock, rap, Latin and classical music.
"For the past 21 years the National Recording Preservation Board has provided musical expertise, historical perspective and deep knowledge of recorded sound to assist the Librarian in choosing landmark recordings to be inducted into the Library’s National Recording Registry," said Robbin Ahrold, Chair of the National Recording Preservation Board. "The board again this year is pleased to join the Librarian in highlighting influential works in our diverse sound heritage, as well as helping to spread the word on the National Recording Registry through their own social media and streaming media Campaigns."
Tune in to NPR's "1A" for "The Sounds of America" series, featuring interviews with Hayden and selected artists, to hear stories behind this year’s picks. Stay connected to the conversation about the registry via social media and listen to many of the recordings on your favorite streaming service.
For more details on the National Recording Registry and to explore more about the selections, visit The Library of Congress's official National Recording Registry page.
National Recording Registry, 2024 Selections (chronological order)
"Clarinet Marmalade" – Lt. James Reese Europe’s 369th U.S. Infantry Band (1919)
"Kauhavan Polkka" – Viola Turpeinen and John Rosendahl (1928)
Wisconsin Folksong Collection (1937-1946)
"Rose Room" – Benny Goodman Sextet with Charlie Christian (1939)
"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" – Gene Autry (1949)
"Tennessee Waltz" – Patti Page (1950)
"Rocket ‘88’" – Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats (1951)
"Catch a Falling Star" / "Magic Moments" – Perry Como (1957)
"Chances Are" – Johnny Mathis (1957)
"The Sidewinder" – Lee Morgan (1964)
"Surrealistic Pillow" – Jefferson Airplane (1967)
"Ain’t No Sunshine" – Bill Withers (1971)
"This is a Recording" – Lily Tomlin (1971)
"J.D. Crowe & the New South" – J.D. Crowe & the New South (1975)
"Arrival" – ABBA (1976)
"El Cantante" – Héctor Lavoe (1978)
"The Cars" – The Cars (1978)
"Parallel Lines" – Blondie (1978)
"La-Di-Da-Di" – Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick (MC Ricky D) (1985)
"Don’t Worry, Be Happy" – Bobby McFerrin (1988)
"Amor Eterno" – Juan Gabriel (1990)
"Pieces of Africa" – Kronos Quartet (1992)
Dookie – Green Day (1994)
Ready to Die – The Notorious B.I.G. (1994)
"Wide Open Spaces" – The Chicks (1998)
21 Albums Turning 50 In 2024: 'Diamond Dogs,' 'Jolene,' 'Natty Dread' & More
Image courtesy of the GRAMMY Museum
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The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Returns To Celebrate 50th Anniversary: Inaugural Gala & Concert Taking Place May 21 In Los Angeles
Following a two-year hiatus, the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame returns to celebrate its 50th anniversary with an inaugural gala and concert on Tuesday, May 21, at the NOVO Theater in Los Angeles. Ten recordings will be newly inducted into the Hall this year.
Following a two-year hiatus, the GRAMMY Museum and Recording Academy are reinstating the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame on its 50th anniversary. The momentous event will be celebrated with an inaugural gala and concert on Tuesday, May 21, at the NOVO Theater in Los Angeles; tickets and performers for the event will be announced at a later date. As part of the return, 10 recordings, including four albums and six singles, will be newly inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame later this year.
The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's National Trustees in 1973 to honor recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees. There are currently 1,152 inducted recordings in the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame. View the full list GRAMMY Hall Of Fame past inductees.
This year, the GRAMMY Museum’s GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala will be the first of what will become an annual event, and includes a red carpet and VIP reception on the newly opened Ray Charles Terrace at the GRAMMY Museum, followed by a one-of-a-kind concert at the NOVO Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.
The inaugural gala and concert is produced by longtime executive producer of the GRAMMY Awards, Ken Ehrlich, along with Chantel Sausedo and Ron Basile and will feature musical direction by globally renowned producer and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. For sponsorship opportunities, reach out to halloffame@grammymuseum.org.
Keep watching this space for more exciting news about the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame!