Special Merit Awards celebrate artists and industry leaders' contribution to music's history
GRAMMY.com
Ernesto Lechner
If the GRAMMY Awards ceremony represents the glitter and glamour of the music business, the invitation-only Special Merit Awards Ceremony is a musicologist's delight — a low key but soulful event paying tribute to legendary industry veterans who have dedicated their entire lives to the art of melody and sound.
The 2008 ceremony held on Saturday evening at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre was no exception.
From a moving video message courtesy of classical luminary Itzhak Perlman to stellar appearances by guests such as Quincy Jones and exhilarating video tributes to Burt Bacharach and Cab Calloway, the presentation showcased the exuberance and diversity of music in the past century — all the while acknowledging The Recording Academy's ongoing efforts in preserving and honoring its many heroes.
Because he was performing a concert in Australia, Bacharach was unable to attend, but his three children accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf. A video tribute to his career, including a '60s clip of Dionne Warwick performing "Walk On By," underscored Bacharach's place as one of the most sophisticated, elegant and unique composers in the history of American music.
Virtuoso violinist Perlman was unfortunately absent too. But he sent a video greeting boasting his trademark dry wit. He explained that this Lifetime Achievement Award was particularly auspicious because it indicated that The Academy did not regret giving him his previous 15 GRAMMY Awards.
A living legend from the golden era of both Hollywood filmmaking and popular music, Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Doris Day sent a letter that was read by Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. The performer of "Que Sera, Sera" and countless other standards stated that she considered herself blessed because she was able to work with some of the most talented people in the music business.
Representing the late jazz legend Cab Calloway, who continued to perform until his death in 1994 at age 86, his daughter Cabella spoke at length about the man's contribution to popular culture in the United States, emphasizing that his unique style of scat singing would be echoed decades later in freestyling and hip-hop. In a way, she added, Calloway was the first MC.
With its heady combination of blues, country, folk, rock and roll and R&B, the Band changed the landscape of American rock during the late '60s and most of the '70s. Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Robbie Robertson and Garth Hudson were joined by Arlie Manuel, the widow of keyboardist Richard Manuel. Drummer Levon Helm and the late bassist Rick Danko were also remembered. "In the '60s and '70s, they didn't give GRAMMYs to groups like us," quipped Robertson. "I want to congratulate the GRAMMYs on their evolution."
The man who forever changed the aesthetic of jazz drumming with a freer approach to the drum kit and a thirst for avant-garde experimentation, Max Roach passed away in August of last year. Accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award on his behalf, his eldest son Daryl recalled that many musicians from the classical sphere would go to jazz clubs to study his father's innovations. In effect, he added, Roach helped to legitimize jazz as the "classic music" of this country.
The spirit of traditional Americana was also present at the ceremony. The video tribute to bluegrass pioneer Earl Scruggs illustrated his history-making invention of the three-finger picking style on the banjo. Accompanied by his sons, a typically unassuming Scruggs said that it was a real pleasure being there with friends and family.
The evening's three Trustees Awards were given to music industry executive Clarence Avant, who was congratulated for his colorblind approach to management; founder of Elektra and Nonesuch Records Jac Holzman; and Memphis sound pioneer Willie Mitchell. All three were saluted with standing innovations.
The man who nurtured the careers of both the Doors and Queen among others, Holzman shared a hilarious anecdote involving a reckless Jim Morrison. Avant exchanged affectionate words of praise with lifelong friend Quincy Jones. "If you have a friend like Clarence in this world," said a visibly moved Jones, "that is all you will ever need." During his speech, a gracious Mitchell wished that all of the people who had helped him in his career could be onstage with him.
Earlier in the evening, Ampex Corporation and the late audio engineering expert John Eargle were bestowed Technical GRAMMY Awards for their outstanding contributions to the field of recording.
