Andra Day, Elle King and Hanson were just a few of the performers on hand to perform at the Grammy Museum‘s inaugural Hall of Fame Gala, which took place Tuesday night in downtown Los Angeles.
The evening was a celebration and induction of 10 classic songs and albums into the Grammy Hall of Fame, a ceremony that mixed pre-recorded videos with additional live covers from the War and Treaty, Shinedown, Ravyn Lenae and William Bell. Hosted by CBS journalist Anthony Mason, the event inducted classics from Guns N’ Roses, De La Soul and Donna Summer, among others, in a stretch to the conclusion that honored Atlantic Records and its achievements over the past 77 years.
“For the first time ever, we are going to recognize the 10 recordings which annually since 1973 have been added to the Grammy Hall of Fame, with a live and a hopefully exciting evening where we do what we do best, which is give you some great music, a little history and maybe even a couple drinks and dinner,” quipped Mason at the start of the event. “We are here tonight to celebrate some of the greatest recordings ever made. The Grammy Hall of Fame is not a place, it’s an honor, a list, and boy, does it mean something special on that list. We’re celebrating recordings that not only changed music — they changed our lives.”
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Day, who recently released her third album “Cassandra (Cherith),” did double-duty performances, giving buttery renditions of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” and Lauryn Hill’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” a cover of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ original. Hill made a rare appearance in the crowd, and Day paid her further homage at the end of her performance.
“Lauryn, I love you, my whole heart, my whole career, my greatest inspiration,” she said. “Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. God bless you, God bless you. We love you.” Hill, accompanied by her children, stood up to raucous applause.
The love for Hill didn’t stop there — sort of — as R&B singer Ravyn Lenae gave a sultry performance of inductee Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly,” which Hill covered as a member of the Fugees in 1996. Lenae’s cover was part of a tribute to Atlantic Records, which also featured rock group Shinedown giving its take on Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” Shortly after, Atlantic Chairperson/CEO Julie Greenwald and Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman took the stage to reflect on their company’s accomplishments and legacy.
“When we look at the list of Atlantic’s Hall of Fame inductees,” said Greenwald, “we are so proud of the incredible diversity of the artists. This label has always been about changing culture and making history no matter the genre. In fact, so many Atlantic artists withstand categorization. They defy genre and they own a signature sound.”
Elsewhere, the War and Treaty paid homage with covers of two songs — Charley Pride’s “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'” and Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say,” which closed the night — while Hanson put a harmony-laden spin on the Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes.” Elle King appeared for Wanda Jackson’s “Let’s Have a Party,” and soul singer William Bell himself was on hand to perform his 1967 song “You Don’t Miss Your Water.”
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., who took the podium throughout the evening alongside Grammy Museum President/CEO Michael Sticka, called Bell back to the stage after his performance to give him extra shine. “On behalf of the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum, it’s my sincere honor to welcome your song ‘You Don’t Miss Your Water’ to the Grammy Hall of Fame. Congratulations. Was that special or what?”
Check out the full list of inductees into the Grammy Hall of Fame below:
3 FEET HIGH AND RISING
De La Soul
Album
APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION
Guns N’ Roses
Album
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB
Buena Vista Social Club
Album
“I FEEL LOVE”
Donna Summer
Single
“KISS AN ANGEL GOOD MORNIN’”
Charley Pride
Single
“LET’S HAVE A PARTY”
Wanda Jackson
Single
“ORY’S CREOLE TROMBONE”
Kid Ory’s Creole Orchestra
Single
THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL
Lauryn Hill
Album
“WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES”
The Doobie Brothers
Single
“YOU DON’T MISS YOUR WATER”
William Bell
Single
