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George Augspurger P&E GRAMMY week

George Augspurger

Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images The Recording Academy

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Revisiting One Night Only: P&E Wing’s 20th Anniv. revisiting-one-night-only-producers-engineers-wing-20th-anniversary-celebration-2021

Revisiting One Night Only: Producers & Engineers Wing 20th Anniversary Celebration 2021 Recap

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The milestone event saw new and past moments from marquee names across two decades—from Neil Young to Alicia Keys to Dr. Dre—praise and celebrate the P&E Wing’s numerous skills and accomplishments
Katherine Turman
GRAMMYs
Mar 18, 2021 - 4:56 pm

The Producers & Engineers Wing 20th Anniversary Celebration included tears (of joy), lots of laughter plus, as always at P&E Wing Celebrations, great music. The GRAMMY Week fete was jam-packed with the P&E Wing’s highlights and accomplishments from the last two decades, not to mention excitement for the future of the more than 4,400-member-and-growing group of dedicated professionals.

The hour-long event, which featured clips from previous A-list honoree speeches, including Jack White, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, and Quincy Jones, among others, kicked off with a surprise for Maureen Droney (Senior Managing Director, P&E Wing), who was honored for her 15-year stewardship.

Chair & Interim President/CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr. presented the certificate of appreciation and thanked Droney for her "tireless dedication to bettering the lives of music creators." He continued: "Maureen really, really loves producers and engineers, and tonight we reflect that love back to her."

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Through happy tears, Droney proclaimed, "Should we get the party started?!"

A variety of laughs, gravitas, information, and education was on tap, kicked off with a little history. Jeff Greenberg from the storied Village Studios in West Los Angeles joined Droney to set the stage for some colorful P&E history, courtesy of Al Schmitt and the late Ed Cherney. The pair told the tale of the Wing as a group that began as the Music Producer’s Guild of the Americas.

Or, as they prefer to be known, Cherney said, "The people in the studio who actually do the work."

Congratulations were also on tap for George Augspurger, the 2020 Technical GRAMMY recipient. He shared some words of advice for technical hopefuls: "If you like music but are curious about how things work and why things sound the way they do, recording technology can be an awful lot of fun. It certainly is for me," he said.

Highlights included intimate performances from past events by Skylar Grey, Dave Matthews and Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals.

The 20th Anniversary Celebration created a space to discuss the joys of an audio career as well as the challenges. As made clear, the P&E Wing faces issues with crediting, metadata, creating technical guidelines, archiving and preservation, and of course, the digital transition. Among the sentiments of the night was that P&E Wing professionals are not an island. Their work is very much a collaboration, in a manner that sets important precedents for future generations.

As Cherney noted, if you ask, "What’s in it for me?" that’s not the right question. "It’s about supporting your profession, being a keeper of the faith, it’s about thinking of ourselves as part of a group with common goals and ideas," Cherney stated. "That’s who we are."

Harvey Mason Jr. P&E 2021 GRAMMY Week

Harvey Mason Jr. Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images The Recording Academy

P&E Wing’s members concur, especially following the difficult year of 2020, where community building, support and shared goals became even more crucial.

As Mason told the party-goers, in 2020, the world turned to music for comfort, requiring creators, producers and engineers to help provide and deliver that saving grace.

"Producers and engineers are not people who give up," Mason noted. "We are by nature, problem solvers. We deal with those challenges, and strive to stay ahead of the curve."

Last year also saw an increased flow of online content, including the second round of the Recording Academy’s "Behind the Record" campaign, bringing the names of many deserving behind-the-scenes players to the forefront.

The event also took guests to previous annual galas: Jack White spoke of his humble teenaged beginnings on a 4-track reel-to-reel Tascam mixer, as he remembered back to the times when erasing a tape meant, "it was gone forever."

In another moment, Nile Rodgers, playing the P&E-appropriate Sister Sledge hit "We Are Family" with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and Kathy Sledge, took the moment to share: “I’m honored to be standing here because dance music changed my life."

A clip of Quincy Jones at the 6th annual celebration cut to the chase: "Music and water will be the last things to leave this planet. You can’t live without it, man."

He captured the joy felt by so many who work with music. The event was powered by L-Acoustics, Audio-Technica, Fraunhofer, Lurssen Mastering, and the P&E Wing’s sustaining partner Iron Mountain Entertainment Services (IMES).

Jeff Greenberg and Maureen Droney_Producers & Engineers Wing 20th Anniversary Celebration

Jeff Greenberg and Maureen Droney. Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images The Recording Academy

Stellar newly found and restored Dylan footage of the troubadour backstage and performing while facing down initially hostile fans during his legendary 1966 electrified tour—courtesy of the Bob Dylan Archives and IMES—thrilled the virtual attendees. Fellow icon Neil Young quipped, "We create great stuff in the studio and then we just kiss its ass goodbye. The time has come for us to recover, and to bring music back to the people in a way that they can recognize it in their souls through the window of their soul, their ears."

Young was feted at that event via a surprise perf by a nervous Dave Matthews, who turned in a homespun version of Young’s "Needle and the Damage Done."

But it might have been past honoree Willie Nelson who had the best, and shortest, thank you speech, bringing the laughs in 2019. The beloved legend said, "I want to thank the producers and engineers over the years for really making me sound as good as I could. And I’m glad they liked me, ‘cause they really coulda screwed me up!"

All attendees and honorees over the years—as was made clear in this One Night Only: Producers & Engineers Wing 20th Anniversary Celebration—share a powerful camaraderie and pride in their work.

The festivities also emphasized the tremendous strides—made with humor, hard work, and turned up to 11—that the P&E Wing has achieved, and will continue to work on, via

hands-on technical workshops that engage and educate, advocacy, and being an integral part of one of humanity’s most beloved: music.

As Keys so inspiringly said, "I believe in the art of making a record… I believe in the music community and just the power of music, period. It’s medicinal." She quoted her own song, the perfect words for the P&E Wing: "We are the authors of forever."

5 Key Quotes From GRAMMY In The Schools Fest 2021

Yolanda Adams and PJ Morton at the Inaugural Black Music Collective GRAMMY Week Celebration

Yolanda Adams (L) and PJ Morton (R)

Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images The Recording Academy

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Relive The Black Music Collective GRAMMY Event heres-what-went-down-black-music-collectives-inaugural-2021-grammy-week-celebration

Here's What Went Down At The Black Music Collective's Inaugural 2021 GRAMMY Week Celebration

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In case you missed it, we have all the words of wisdom shared and performance highlights from the Inaugural Black Music Collective GRAMMY Week Celebration
Jaelani Turner-Williams
GRAMMYs
Mar 11, 2021 - 5:56 pm

The Black Music Collective’s Inaugural GRAMMY Week Celebration, held on Wednesday, March 10 as part of GRAMMY Week 2021, honored the upliftment of Black music and its impact on both society and industry culture. Hosted by Jeriel Johnson, Executive Director of the Recording Academy’s Washington D.C. chapter, and sponsored by Mastercard and Amazon Music, the event provided the space for artists, industry professionals and executives to speak about inclusion opportunities for Black artists across music genres. Here are some of the moments that took place at the historic event.

Harvey Mason Jr, Valeisha Butterfield BMC GRAMMY Week 2021

Harvey Mason jr. (L) and Valeisha Butterfield Jones (R) attend the Inaugural Black Music Collective GRAMMY Week Celebration | Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images The Recording Academy

H.E.R, Harvey Mason Jr. And Valeisha Butterfield-Jones Started The Celebration

H.E.R. opened up the festivities with a noir version of her protest anthem, "I Can’t Breathe." The two-time Grammy winner performed with her guitar in-hand as a montage of protest images were displayed behind her. 

After the R&B singer’s touching performance, the Recording Academy’s first Black Chair and Interim President/CEO, Harvey Mason Jr., and Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, continued the program with hope and solemnity. Mason Jr. spoke about the Recording Academy’s commitment to overseeing emerging industry opportunities while Butterfield-Jones took a moment to note the pandemic’s disproportionate effect on communities of color and the effects of heightened police brutality on Black music. 

John Legend And Social Justice Leader Tamika Mallory Discussed Music And Activism After Freddie Gibbs And The Alchemist Took The Virtual Stage

2021 GRAMMY Awards show Best Rap Album nominees Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist then set up the mood with an in-studio performance of Alfredo single "Scottie Beam" after a brief Mogul Moment clip with Quincy Jones.

Following Jones' appearance, the first fireside chat of the evening took place. Eleven-time GRAMMY winner and Trustee of the L.A. Recording Academy chapter, John Legend, spoke with Activist and Social Justice Leader, Tamika Mallory. The two chatted about the impact of Black music and the culture-shifting power of it, as well as the impact of Black women in the industry.

The conversation naturally turned towards activism when Mallory, who has been mentored by legendary Jamaican-American singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte, shared a quote from activist Paul Roberson she learned from Belafonte: "Artists are the gatekeepers of truth. We are civilization's radical voice."

Mallory also touched on how activism and music have come together in the past, recalling James Brown’s activism through music in the late ‘60s . 

"When I think about James Brown saying ‘I’m Black and I’m proud”, I can only imagine that in that moment, the [Black] Panthers and other organizers felt good," she said. "This is one of the hottest entertainers saying ‘I’m in solidarity with you."

Legend followed up with another quote, one from iconic singer Nina Simone that he referenced during his Oscar win in 2015 alongside Common for their track "Glory" from the Martin Luther King biopic Selma: "It’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times."

When Mallory asked Legend about his choice of becoming a conscious artist, Legend shared the purpose of his art-making statement:

"I feel like I can be the full range of my humanity—I write about love in all of its forms. Part of what it means to love in public means that you love people that you don’t even know. That means you care about what happens to them, you see their humanity, you care about justice for them," he said. "We also feel the range of human emotion—we feel joy, we feel attraction, we celebrate, we do it all in our music. What I love about Black music is that we are able to express all those things and we are at the forefront of what’s happening in music. [We’re] so influential well beyond our representation in the population—our music has an outsized influence on American culture and global culture."

Mallory brought up the way she expresses her activism work. Touching on accountability measures for police and financially supporting local activism and political campaigners, Mallory spoke about her upcoming book State of Emergency: How We Win in the Country We Built. The book features a foreword with a conversation between educator and activist Angela Davis and Cardi B. Mallory said she received backlash for using the discussion between the two as the book’s foreword.

"I explain to people that, number one, I am Tamika Mallory, this girl who grew up in the housing projects in Harlem. I’m a good mix between Cardi B and Angela Davis; I have a Birkin one minute and I’m strapping up my boots to hit the streets in the next," Mallory joked. "The conversation the two of them are having is so powerful because Angela Davis is giving Cardi advice to keep being who she’s been and to keep using her voice."

Universal Music Group CEO Jeffery Harleston Provided Words Of Wisdom 

In the next segment of the program, Jeffery Harleston, Universal Music Group CEO provided five pieces of advice for his younger self and rising executives who work with musicians, fans and partners to move the culture:

"The first would be to listen. You learn so much more by listening when you’re starting out. The second would be to demand excellence in yourself and everything you do, and excellence in who you’re working with. The third and one of the most important things I’ve learned in my career is flexibility; the one thing that’s certain in the music business is change and you have to be able to move with the currents as they’re changing. The fourth is something that someone did tell me when I first entered the music business and it was about integrity because you only have one opportunity to make an impression. If you carry yourself with integrity, you’ll be able to have a long-standing career. And finally, the reason why we’re all in this business is to remember you’re in the music business, to have fun."

PJ Morton And Yolanda Adams Performed Before BET CEO Debra Lee Acknowledged How Black Music Has Broken Barriers

Gospel and R&B artists PJ Morton and Yolanda Adams shared a touching rendition of "Say So" and "Follow Your Heart" in separate locations. (Morton was supported by a band and accompanying vocalists while Adams appeared on her own.)

Debra Lee, former Chairman and CEO of BET talked about witnessing the ‘60s Detroit origins of Motown, and Black artists facing racial barriers in music. 

"Music helped integrate our industry and our world. Black musicians and artists who came along early on had to break the racial injustice they encountered," she said. "Even today, hip-hop and other forms of music are telling the story of our times. In times of crisis and in good times, music is always a reflection of our times."

Issa Rae And Janelle Monáe Talked About Power, Progress and Purpose

Issa Rae, Janelle Monae BMC GRAMMY Week 2021

Clockwise from top-left: Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Janelle Monáe and Issa Rae attend the Inaugural Black Music Collective GRAMMY Week Celebration | Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images The Recording Academy

Moderated by Butterfield-Jones, Issa Rae and Janelle Monáe discussed power, progress and purpose in the industry as well as the state of Black music. Like other creatives, Monáe and Rae felt the initial shock of event cancellations, facing an early denial but accepting that the world was experiencing the pandemic together. 

Monáe also reflected on taking a non-traditional path in music and facing rejection by label executives before her breakout debut album, The Archandroid. Leaving performing arts school in New York and relocating to Atlanta’s HBCU area where she prepared to be an independent artist, Monáe gained confidence in and redefined her narrative of Black music. Her efforts came full circle in 2020 when Monáe was tapped by Georgia politician and social justice leader Stacy Abrams to contribute to her documentary All In: The Fight for Democracy.

"Creating music for me has come from a place of normalcy. When things started to turn with politics and this global pandemic, I didn’t know how to create in that space. I felt like the concrete was pulled from under my feel— had no foundation and I needed to get stable. Then I watched All In: The Fight for Democracy and I said ‘there’s no way I can say no to this," Monáe said. "The angle that I wanted to come from was, ‘How do I narrate the revolution we’re in right now?’ It’s not about a hit song, it’s not about an album—we’re in a revolution, everybody’s gonna need fuel, we’re gonna get fatigued. I was like, ‘What kind of music does Stacy Abrams need to hear when she’s advocating for us and protect marginalized voices?'"

Rae agreed with the sentiment and discussed the final season of "Insecure" and how showcasing independent artists and Black music on the show has kept her inspired. For Rae, the music of Insecure was an extension of each episode and the celebration of independent artists. 

"We were in the process of editing and mixing the final episodes when the pandemic hit. Normally, mixing an episode is a highlight, because it’s the first time you see it with other people who aren’t on set, who aren’t a part of the writers' room,” Rae said. “What kept me motivated was sometimes there [are] artists who haven’t gotten the exposure, and people who haven’t heard the song before will associate that emotion with this particular scene or how they felt at the time with this particular episode. There’s something so powerful about, and admittedly selfish about, [associating] whatever they were going through and whatever they felt at that time with these characters and your intention."

Jimmy Jam Shared Importance Of Paying It Forward And Marvin Gaye Helped End Program On A Touching Note

Relaying a message of ‘paying it forward’ legendary producer Jimmy Jam spoke about the unison of the Black community and music community. 

"What’s important is finding our commonalities, not fighting over our differences. Like I say about my partner Terry Lewis—we’ve never had an argument. An argument is something you’re trying to win and I never want to see Terry Lewis lose at anything. Music is the divine art, it is the way we learn our language. Putting melody into people’s lives is what we do," Jam said.

Riggs Morales, Co-Chair of the Black Music Collective ended the program with the final words of the night. Evoking a legend, PJ Morton and Yolanda Adams closed the night with a cover of Marvin Gaye's classic "What’s Going On."

On its first event, the collective covered an array of radical changes in the music industry and the necessary steps for Black inclusivity.

Learn more about the Recording Academy's Black Music Collective.

Women In The Mix 2021 Recap: How Female Powerhouses Convened To Close The Wage Gap And Amplify Women's Voices Across The Music Industry

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HAIM

Photo: Reto Schmidh

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Women In The Mix: HAIM, Saweetie & More Added women-in-the-mix-grammy-week-2021-dr-angela-davis-haim-saweetie-elaine-welteroth

The Recording Academy Announces Additional Guests For Women In The Mix GRAMMY Week 2021 Event: HAIM, Dr. Angela Davis, Saweetie And More Confirmed

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Taking place on International Women's Day (Monday, March 8) as part of GRAMMY Week 2021, the inaugural Women In The Mix event has announced additional guests, including Terri Lyne Carrington, Emily Lazar, Joanie Leeds and many others
GRAMMYs
Mar 5, 2021 - 12:52 pm

The Recording Academy has announced additional guests and special appearances to the lineup for the inaugural Women In The Mix event, taking place publicly on GRAMMY.com/women on International Women's Day (Monday, March 8) starting at 5 p.m. as part of GRAMMY Week 2021.

The newly announced guests include: Terri Lyne Carrington, current GRAMMY-nominated artist; Lanre Gaba, General Manager/Senior Vice President of Urban A&R, Atlantic Records; IV Jay, singer/songwriter; Emily Lazar, current three-time GRAMMY-nominated mastering engineer; Joanie Leeds, current GRAMMY-nominated artist; Saweetie, rapper and songwriter; and Elaine Welteroth, journalist and New York Times best-selling author. Viewers can also expect special appearances by Dr. Angela Davis and current two-time GRAMMY nominees HAIM.

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They join previously announced guests include Christine Albert, Chair Emeritus, Recording Academy Board of Trustees; Ingrid Andress, current three-time GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter; Denisia "Blu June" Andrews (Nova Wav), current three-time GRAMMY-nominated songwriter; Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Recording Academy; Brittany "Chi" Coney (Nova Wav), current three-time GRAMMY-nominated songwriter; Rocsi Diaz, television personality; Maureen Droney, Senior Managing Director, Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing; Chloe Flower, classical pianist & composer; Tera Healy, Senior Director, East Region, Recording Academy; Tammy Hurt, Vice Chair, Recording Academy Board of Trustees; Leslie Ann Jones, five-time GRAMMY-winning engineer and Recording Academy Trustee; Cyndi Lauper, two-time GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter; EveAnna Manley, president, Manley Laboratories; Ruby Marchand, Chief Industry Officer, Recording Academy; Harvey Mason jr., Chair & Interim President/CEO, Recording Academy; MC Lyte, GRAMMY-nominated rapper; Piper Payne, mastering engineer; Kelley Purcell, Vice President, Membership & Industry Relations, Recording Academy; Sheila E., GRAMMY-nominated artist and percussionist; Ebonie Smith, music producer, engineer & singer/songwriter; and Tina Tchen, president & CEO of TIME'S UP.

Read More: Cyndi Lauper Is Still The Feminist Pop Star We Need

Women In The Mix will recognize the contributions of women in music and amplify their voices across the industry. Highlighting producers, engineers, artists and executives, this program champions women who set the tone and work to close gender gaps on and off the stage.

The event will feature performances by Chloe Flower and Joanie Leeds. Tina Tchen will deliver the keynote address. Topics of discussion for panels and fireside chats include Women in the Mix, Women Behind the Music, Women Pioneers in Music, and She Sets the Tone. Special segments will take place throughout the evening, including Charity Spotlights and women in music features.

Designing Women In The Mix: How Music Inspired The Artwork Behind The Debut GRAMMY Week 2021 Event

John Legend performs at MusiCares: Music On A Mission

John Legend performs at MusiCares: Music On A Mission

Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images The Recording Academy

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How Music On A Mission Honored The Music Community musicares-music-mission-2021-grammy-week-john-legend-her-bts-lady-gaga

How MusiCares' Music On A Mission Honored The Resilience Of The Music Community

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Featuring performances from HAIM, H.E.R., BTS, Jhené Aiko, John Legend and more, MusiCares' inaugural Music on a Mission event celebrated the wider music community and helped raise funds for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic
Lily Moayeri
MusiCares
Mar 17, 2021 - 5:50 pm

The MusiCares Person Of The Year ceremony is one of the most anticipated events at GRAMMY Week every year. MusiCares' annual celebration recognizes the artistic achievement and philanthropic work through the Person Of The Year Award. This year, the nonprofit reimagined its marquee event—which would have celebrated its 30th anniversary—to celebrate the music community as a whole. The inaugural Music on a Mission event, hosted by MC Lyte, on March 12 opened its virtual doors to the public and featured special performances by 2021 GRAMMY nominees to raise money for music professionals impacted by COVID-19.

The event also included a mix of special appearances by previous Person Of The Year recipients and words from a cross-section of musicians and music industry workers. Before the show began, DJ D-Nice provided the sounds that fueled excitement for the meaningful night with his well-selected jams, including remixes of Sister Sledge's "Lost in Music" and Stevie Wonder's "Another Star." 

The energy ramped up even more as the event segued into a flashback of MusiCares' 2012 Person Of The Year event honoring Sir Paul McCartney. The audience went back to the moment Cirque du Soleil transported their "The Beatles LOVE" Las Vegas experience to Los Angeles with their acrobatics to "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." Following that introduction, McCartney performed a rousing rendition of "Magical Mystery Tour" from that year's event, pulling David Crosby, Steven Van Zandt, and Don Was out of their seats.

MusiCares executive director Laura Segura and Vice President of Amazon Music and board chair Steve Boom gave a short welcome after the epic throwback performance. "With the simple act of purchasing a ticket and enjoying tonight's performances, you've made a difference in the lives of people in need," Boom said.

The celebration then continued with exclusive performances. Jhené Aiko delivered a live acoustic rendition of "LOVE" from her album, Chilombo. Backed by a guitarist and percussionist, she faded the song out by playing her healing sound bowls. John Legend also performed live. The GRAMMY-winning singer lit up the virtual stage from home with a version of "U Move, I Move," featuring Aiko, from his 2020 album Bigger Love on his grand piano. 

Styled and glammed, H.E.R. brought the GRAMMY show vibe with a full band, including strings and brass. She sang "Fight For You," from the Judas and the Black Messiah film. The performance was in sharp contrast to HAIM who were introduced by Recording Academy Chair and Interim President/CEO Harvey Mason jr. The group's raw rendition of "The Steps" felt like an eavesdrop during a rehearsal in their parents' basement. 

South Korean global pop superstars BTS provided their own captivating show. The group shared a performance of their smash "Dynamite" from an empty theatre. The band members sang from various spots in the seated venue and came together on stage. Spotlights and camera angles provided a stunning visual of their stripped-back, electrifying performance, with the group sitting in a horseshoe arrangement at the center of the stage with a blue-haired Jungkook on drums.

But the night wasn't all performances. Also interspersed throughout were messages from Ringo Starr, Shakira, Elton John, Mick Fleetwood, Jesse & Joy, Ledisi, Macklemore and Bonnie Raitt, all thanking MusiCares for their work and encouraging viewers to donate to the organization's efforts. As Shakira put it, "Putting on a show takes a village," and the people who actually put on the shows in real life have been "disproportionately affected by the shutdown of shows."

The night also opened the vault to past Person Of The Year tribute performances, a tradition of the celebration previously only seen by those in attendance. Included in the virtual concert were the Jonas Brothers doing their version of Aerosmith's "Crazy" from the 2020 MusiCares Person Of The Year celebration honoring the band. A performance from Bruce Springsteen, the 2015 MusiCares Person Of The Year honoree, of "Born to Run," with his E Street Band, too, had its moment at the event. The program also featured an unforgettable performance from 2017 MusiCares Person Of The Year recipient Tom Petty performing "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" with Stevie Nicks; the performance was one of his last five shows.

Several other magical moments from past Person Of The Year celebrations were made public during Music on a Mission. At one point of the night, Lionel Richie, 2016 MusiCares Person Of The Year honoree, shared that MusiCares helped him realize it was time to give back. He introduced another flashback, this one to Usher's dynamic performance of the Commodores' "Lady (You Bring Me Up)," which had Richie grooving during that year's event. Carole King, 2014 MusiCares Person Of The Year recipient, introduced a luminous Lady Gaga who performed her version of King's "You've Got A Friend."

But Music on a Mission's most moving moments were those where musicians and music workers shared their stories of how MusiCares has helped them. Those included singer/songwriter Brittni Jessie who spoke of the mental and emotional support she received from MusiCares in the last year. "It's an incredible thing to know that we do struggle as artists, and it's good to know we have someone in our corner that understands what being a touring musician is like," she said.

Hubert Payne, the recording and touring drummer for Little Big Town, is the sole provider for his family, which includes five children under 8. During the event, he mentioned that MusiCares has been a bridge for him multiple times, including when he suffered from a knee injury a few years back. The organization was "truly a hand up, for me and a lot of my friends," he said. "Understand you're not the only one. No one's going to judge you and make you feel less than. The support will really help you reach the next step."

VIP event manager Alyssa Garcia is a behind-the-scene music worker whose life was pulled out from under her in the early part of 2020. She emphasized how easy it was to reach out to MusiCares and how the organization eagerly helped. "Reaching out will make you feel better," Garcia said.

MusiCares continues to provide support and assistance to all music workers. The organization's unusually heavy workload persists due to the ongoing pandemic. As the musicians in Music on a Mission stated, all financial support from its efforts goes directly to those in the wider music community who are affected. 

Music on a Mission is available on-demand until Friday, March 19. Buy a ticket here. All proceeds from Music on a Mission will be distributed to music people in need.

5 Key Quotes From GRAMMY In The Schools Fest 2021

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10 Moments At The 2021 GRAMMYs: BTS, Megan, DaBaby 10-must-see-moments-2021-grammy-awards-show-winners

10 Must-See Moments From The 2021 GRAMMY Awards Show, From Anderson .Paak To BTS To Megan Thee Stallion

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The 2021 GRAMMY Awards show may have been reimagined in comparison to past editions. But that simplicity added elegance and kept the music front and center, from BTS to Cardi B and beyond
Pamela Chelin
GRAMMYs
Mar 15, 2021 - 12:50 pm

Music's Biggest Night more than lived up to that tagline last night at the 63rd GRAMMY Awards, broadcast from downtown Los Angeles. An elegantly scaled-back event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the GRAMMYs still managed to seem as big and celebratory as they've ever been.

From Harry Styles’ delightful opening performance to Cardi B's and Megan Thee Stallion’s captivating combination to South Korea's always-engaging BTS, the GRAMMYs exemplified the special power of music. For a few lively hours, it transported viewers to another plane and provided a reprieve from the pandemic.

Trevor Noah Kept Things Jovial

The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah was a charming GRAMMYs host. Noah balanced his terrific sense of humor with his deep love of music and appreciation of artistry, keeping the show's tone upbeat and fun after a tough year. Noah said the last year has felt like a decade due to the coronavirus in his opening monologue.Acknowledging our world gone Zoom, Noah joked that the Staples Center behind him was real—not a Zoom background. 

Noah ended his short but sweet opening monologue on a hopeful note. "We're hoping that this is all about what 2021 can be, you know," he said. "Full of joy, new beginnings and coming together, never forgetting what happened in 2020, but full of hope for what is to come. So, let's do this, people."

Three Sisters, One Classic Sound

Los Angeles natives HAIM performed their GRAMMY-nominated rock song "The Steps" from their GRAMMY-nominated record Women in Music, Pt. III. Billie Eilish, FINNEAS and Harry Styles looked on and grooved along with the high-energy, lovable sisters.

With Danielle on drums, Este on bass (on her birthday, to boot!), and Alana on guitar, the sisters were effortlessly rock-cool, their voices blending seamlessly. Haim quickly demonstrated their musical versatility, switching it up on the song's second verse, where Danielle took over on guitar and Alana played drums.

Black Pumas Brought The Soul

Multiple GRAMMY-nominated Austin band Black Pumas performed their soulful song "Colors." In a short film introducing the duo, singer Eric Burton recalled moving from New Mexico to Los Angeles in 2014, where he had to take two trains and two buses to busk at the Santa Monica Pier.

Burton said he had a love-hate relationship with street performing. Yet he always performed as if he was on the GRAMMYs stage, which he dreamed about as a little kid. With backup singers, wailing guitars, and smooth vocals, the dynamic performance—replete with a screeching yowl or two—gave the night some essential groove.

Enter DaBaby

Multiple GRAMMY-nominated rapper DaBaby performed the GRAMMY-nominated "Rockstar" with multiple GRAMMY nominee Roddy Ricch and a guest appearance by Anthony Hamilton. Backed by a gospel choir of older folks dressed as judges in robes, DaBaby kicked off his performance with his back to the audience, facing the choir and waving a conducting baton.

When Ricch and Hamilton took the mic, DaBaby turned around and conducted the choir. DaBaby added lyrics to the original version of "Rockstar," rapping about his GRAMMYs performance right then and there. "My skin don't look the same, so I get singled out/ Right now, I'm performing at the GRAMMYs; I’ll probably get profiled before leaving out."

Rounding out the ensemble was violinist MAPY. DaBaby then joined GRAMMY winner Dua Lipa for the disco-infused "Levitating."

Introducing… Silk Sonic!

Anderson .Paak, who won a GRAMMY for Best Melodic Rap Performance, and Bruno Mars debuted their new R&B project Silk Sonic. The performance followed a playful campaign on Twitter during GRAMMY week. They tweeted at the Recording Academy that they are "two out of work musicians" who would love to perform, a request that was happily obliged.

Performing their '70s soul-infused first single "Leave the Door Open" from their forthcoming record An Evening with Silk Sonic in throwback suits and shades, the pair delivered a smooth, crowd-pleasing performance. 

They even caught the eyes and ears of Halle Berry, who tweeted "Ima leave the door ooopen!"

A Touching In Memoriam

During a year in which we lost over 500,000 American lives to the pandemic, the In Memoriam tribute was even more poignant. Noah introduced the segment, explaining that because of the number of people we tragically lost in the last year, not all the names would appear, but they'd all be online after the show. 

The segment opened with footage of GRAMMY-winner Bill Withers, who died in March, performing his GRAMMY-winning song "Ain't No Sunshine." Then, Bruno Mars (on vocals) and Anderson .Paak (on drums) honored rock and roll pioneer Little Richard, who died in May, with "Good Golly Miss Molly" and "Long Tall Sally."

Lionel Richie, who wrote Kenny Rogers' hit song "Lady," performed the song in a touching tribute to the country legend and Richie's longtime friend who died last March. After his performance, an emotional Richie said, "I miss you, Kenny. I miss you, man." 

There was also footage of country legend Charley Pride, who died in December from complications of coronavirus, singing his GRAMMY-winning song "Kiss an Angel Good Morning," and multiple GRAMMY-winner Italian composer Ennio Morricone, who died last summer, conducting the score to "Cinema Paradiso."

Brandi Carlile Performs John Prine | 2021 GRAMMYs

Brandi Carlile paid tribute to her friend, the GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter John Prine, who died in April from complications related to the coronavirus, with a stirring performance of his song "I Remember Everything." At the end of her performance, Carlile said, "We all thank you, John. For everything."

Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard took the stage with Coldplay's Chris Martin accompanying her on the piano. They performed a powerful rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone," originally written by Rodgers and Hammerstein and a hit song in the 1960s for Gerry and the Pacemakers, whose lead singer Gerry Marsden died in January. 

The segment ended with a tribute to Walter C. Miller, a longtime veteran director of the GRAMMY Awards, Tonys, Emmys, and CMAs who died last year.

Country's Leading Lights Shone Bright

Country artist Mickey Guyton, who Noah introduced as the first Black female solo artist ever nominated in the country category, performed her gorgeous GRAMMY-nominated song "Black Like Me," giving an especially stirring and goosebumps-inducing performance with a backing gospel choir. Vibrant GRAMMY-winner Miranda Lambert performed her catchy country GRAMMY-nominated hit "Bluebird."

GRAMMY-nominated Maren Morris performed her hit GRAMMY-nominated song "Bones" accompanied by John Mayer on guitar. With Morris wearing a red gown and diamond choker and Mayer dressed casually in a blazer, white t-shirt and jeans, the pair looked at odds with each other. Still, they had powerful chemistry and seemed to be having a good time, with Mayer smiling broadly at Morris.

Post Malone Took Us To Church

A multiple-GRAMMY nominated Post Malone performed his poignant GRAMMY-nominated song "Hollywood's Bleeding." Opening with a robed choir holding candles in the darkness, Malone emerged on stage dressed entirely in leather covered in crosses with a giant cross hanging around his neck. Kneeling over in complete darkness, which became illuminated by purple lighting, Malone gave a focused and vibrant performance surrounded by dry ice.

BTS Made A Joyful Sound

Watch: BTS "Dynamite" 2021 GRAMMYs Performance

South Korea's BTS, who made their GRAMMY debut last year performing alongside Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo, and Nas, were first-time GRAMMY nominees this year. The seven-member boy band closed out the show from Seoul, Korea, on a set resembling the GRAMMYs in downtown Los Angeles.

Looking sharp in their colorful suits, they performed their GRAMMY-nominated smash hit "Dynamite." The slick choreography took the seven members on a journey from a rose-festooned stage to a red carpet with fireworks to a rooftop with strobe lights.

Lil Baby Raised His Voice

Multiple GRAMMY-nominated rapper Lil Baby took on police brutality with his highly charged performance of his GRAMMY-nominated song "The Bigger Picture." The performance opened with pulling over actor Kendrick Sampson and removing him from his car. As a quote by writer and activist James Baldwin was piped in, the police opened fire.

Activist Tamika Mallory appeared on stage, putting a call out to President Biden, saying, "President Biden, we demand justice, equity, policy and everything else that freedom encompasses." 

Later, Killer Mike made a surprise appearance rapping a verse from RTJ4's "Walking in the Snow." Lil Baby ended his moving performance standing on a police cruiser as fireworks are set off, his face turned toward the sky as he holds one arm high above his head.

2021 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominees List

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