Grammy Awards

And now for something completely different—

As you may know, our album, Happy, by the Isham Jones Rainbo Orchestra is up for two Grammy Awards: Best Historical Album and Best Album Notes. We get asked a lot by well-wishers if we are actually planning on attending the awards show. The answer is: yes, of course! It’s great fun and not to be missed.

Other questions surround the organization of the various events, so we thought we’d share with you some of what goes on “behind the curtain,” as it were. First of all, this entire week is filled with special events in Los Angeles sponsored by the Recording Academy, including the “Legacy Concert” this Thursday and the “MusiCares” celebration on Friday (honoring Bob Dylan). These events are part of the Academy’s community outreach efforts; MusiCares supports musicians in need, for instance.

Saturday is when the official nominee events begin. On Saturday afternoon, nominees attend the Special Merit Awards Ceremony, which honors recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Trustees Award, and the Technical Grammy Award. This year’s Lifetime Achievement honorees include the Bee Gees, Pierre Boulez, Buddy Guy, George Harrison, Flaco Jiménez, Louvin Brothers, and Wayne Shorter. Trustees Award recipients include Richard Perry, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, and George Wein. Receiving the Technical Grammy Award is Ray Kurzweil. Short tribute films are shown, and many of the honorees and/or their families are in attendance to accept the awards. It’s a fabulous little ceremony at which you get a deep sense of history.