THE RECORDING ACADEMY: “PLAY IT FORWARD” GRAMMY EVENT WITH LEANN RIMES, DIONNE WARWICK, ED SHEERAN AND MORE
Photo Credit, Mike Danenberg
The Grammys is the most anticipated awards show of the year that celebrates the best of the best in music. We attended the 15th Annual Grammy Foundation Music Preservation Project event, “Play It Forward: A Celebration of Music’s Evolution and Influencers” sponsored by Seagate.
The Grammy Foundation was established to create programs and grants to help fund music and arts education and preserve music.The “Play It Forward” celebration promotes their mission of recognizing and preserving our musical past, so that future generations can continue to benefit from an appreciation and understanding of those contributions.This year, we enjoyed fantastic performances by Grammy winners: Yolanda Adams, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, LeAnn Rimes and Dionne Warwick; Grammy winner and current nominee, Lupe Fiasco; current nominees, Ed Sheeran, Mike Einziger of Incubus, Lianne La Havas, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, violinist, Ann Marie Simpson, Guy Sebastian and George Thorogood and The Destroyers.
Dionne Warwick opened the show with lots of classics followed by Gospel singer, Yolanda Adams who received a standing ovation for her wonderful and moving performance. Hip Hop artist, Lupe Fiasco closed the show with a performance with Australian, multi-platinum recording artist, Guy Sebastian singing “Battle Scars.” A choir joined them on stage and brought everyone to their feet.
The show offered a unique mix of genres on one stage that everyone could enjoy and relate to. The event was about recognizing music influencers. We spoke to a few celebrities asking them what they think it takes to be considered a music influencer.
Yolanda Adams said, “Well I think first of all you have to be yourself and be honest with yourself and be true to yourself. At the end of the day I believe that everybody has a God given talent to do something phenomenal. Find out what it is and you stick with it.”
Lianne La Havas told us that she feels that honesty is what one should have to be considered an influencer in music. “Honesty in whatever type of music you do. It always cuts through if you’re honest about it and if it’s coming from your actual soul.”
Scott Goldman, the Vice President of the Grammy Foundation, spoke to us about what the foundation does and why it’s important to preserve music history. He said, “Our grants program provides funding to institutions and individuals all over the country, saving important collections of music related material. Our cultural legacy is in the material that we are involved in saving and if we don’t do that, then it won’t be there for successive generations to heed them.”
We had a great time and felt that it was the perfect pre-event to get ready for the Grammy Awards on Sunday!
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