The first five inductions into the Grammy Hall of Fame were announced on the Grammy telecast in March 1974, but it has taken the Recording Academy 50 years to produce a stand-alone event to honor the year’s inductees. Better late than never.
The inaugural Grammy Hall of Fame Gala was held at the Novo Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 21.
To produce the event, the Academy and the Grammy Museum, which co-presented the event, turned to Ken Ehrlich, who guided the Grammy telecast for 40 years. To host, they enlisted CBS broadcast journalist Anthony Mason.
Six of the inductees were honored with performances. Four were handled with video tributes.
Some of the artists whose recordings were being honored were present, including William Bell, who performed his own song, “You Don’t Miss the Water;” Lauryn Hill, who was on hand to watch Andra Day perform a song from her inducted album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter of the Doobie Brothers, whose “What a Fool Believes” was honored.
In other cases, producers of the inducted recordings were on hand, including Mike Clink (Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction) and Prince Paul (De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising). In still other cases, family members were in the audience.
In some cases, the program spelled out exactly why recordings were chosen. Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” was obviously hugely influential in paving the way for the mainstream acceptance of EDM. Kid Ory’s Creole Orchestra’s “Ory’s Creole Trombone” from 1922, we were told, was the first recording of Black Creole New Orleans jazz.
But in other cases, we were left to wonder. They should always spell out in one sentence exactly why the record was important and/or influential and why it was chosen over the roughly 200 other records that were vying for one of the 10 spots.
In addition to the 10 recordings being inducted, there was a tribute to Atlantic Records on what we were told was its 75th anniversary. (The label was founded in November 1947, so the 75th anniversary has passed.) Three classic Atlantic recordings were performed on the show. A video presentation included many of the label’s greatest artists, though Genesis and Yes seemed to be missing. Atlantic chairperson/CEO Julie Greenwald and chairman/CEO Craig Kallman accepted the honor.
Here are the best moments from the inaugural Grammy Hall of Fame Induction Gala.
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Andra Day Honors Donna Summer and Lauryn Hill
Andra Day got to showcase her range, singing Donna Summer’s icy, robotic smash “I Feel Love” and Lauryn Hill’s soulful spin on the Frankie Valli classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” was a curious choice to represent The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. It’s the only song on the album that Hill didn’t write or co-write. And hearing it raised the question why isn’t Valli’s original version in the Grammy Hall of Fame? That 1967 classic has certainly endured. Justice for Frankie!
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The War and Treaty Honors Charley Pride and Ray Charles
It had been announced that The War and Treaty would sing Charley Pride’s “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin,’” a charming song that conveys simple truths. The husband-and-wife team did a great job on it, too. And having a contemporary Black act that’s making inroads into country music honor someone who so plainly paved the way for them was very fitting.
The duo – Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter – closed the show with an unannounced performance of Ray Charles’ funky R&B classic “What’d I Say,” part of the salute to Atlantic Records. The Trotters were well-served by having the chance to perform two such wildly different songs.
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Hanson scores on The Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes”
The three members of Hanson weren’t even born when “What a Fool Believes” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1979 or when it won Grammys for record and song of the year in February 1980. But they nailed it. Their performance was a reminder that just because an act’s chart fortunes may have diminished, it doesn’t follow that their talent has.
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Elle King does justice to Wanda Jackson
Elle King did an impressive job on Wanda Jackson’s 1960 rockabilly hit “Let’s Have a Party.” It was as if King knew she needed to redeem herself in the eyes of this industry crowd after her sloppy and drunken performance in tribute to Dolly Parton in January at the Grand Ole Opry. She did that, and put the spotlight back on her talent.
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Shinedown scores on Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”
Shinedown did an impressive job on Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” the most played power ballad of the 1970s and maybe ever. It’s not easy to take on a song so identified with a legendary act. And while Shinedown didn’t attempt to bring anything new to it, they did a solid job of replicating it.
“Stairway to Heaven” was part of the Atlantic anniversary salute, as was Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” Ravyn Lenae did a valiant job singing Flack’s smash, but that’s too big of an ask for a newcomer. (Lenae, 25, has released one studio album and three EPs.) Flack’s recording is one of the finest pop/soul singles of all time. The track is 51 years old and it still sounds fresh and vital.
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William Bell Sings William Bell
William Bell sang his own inducted recording, “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” a soulful song about regrets. Bell, who is probably best known for “Tryin’ to Love Two,” a top 10 hit on the Hot 100 in 1977, is 84. He was 22 when “You Don’t Miss Your Water” was a chart hit in 1962.
“You Don’t Miss Your Water” is a good record, but this one could have used some explanation. Why this record, of all records. It peaked at No. 95 in its one week on the Hot 100, which of course shouldn’t disqualify it, but it does make you wonder why the selection committee thought it was so important to include.
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Full List of 2024 Inductees
3 Feet High and Rising
De La Soul
Tommy Boy (1989)Appetite for Destruction
Guns N’ Roses
Geffen (1987)Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club
World Circuit/Nonesuch (1997)“I Feel Love”
Donna Summer
Casablanca (1977)“Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’”
Charley Pride
RCA Victor (1971)“Let’s Have a Party”
Wanda Jackson
Capitol (1960)The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill
Ruffhouse/Columbia (1998)“Ory’s Creole Trombone”
Kid Ory’s Creole Orchestra (As Spike’s Seven Pods of Pepper Orchestra)
Nordskog (1922)“What a Fool Believes”
The Doobie Brothers
Warner Bros. (1978)“You Don’t Miss Your Water”
William Bell
Stax (1961)