In his welcoming speech, Neil Portnow, the President of the Awarding Organization, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, suggested that all in attendance have a good time and implored new President Obama to create a new cabinet position for the Secretary of the Arts.
AP – Alison Krauss, left and Robert Plant accept the award for album of the year at the 51st Annual Grammy
An unlikely pairing for former Led Zeppelin rocker Robert Plant and Nashville bluegrass sweetheart Alison Krauss stole the show, winning five Grammy wards; including “Album of the Year” for “Raising Sand.”
When Krauss accepted the award with Plant, she reminded everyone that, although the rocker is 60, “there’s never a dull moment.” Plant stated, “I’m bewildered. In the old days we would have called this selling out, but I think it’s a good way to spend a Sunday.”
The live acts were an eclectic mix of musical genres, sure to appease all in attendance as well as the millions of starry-eyed television viewers. Some of the notable performances included:
The young pairing of Taylor Swift (19) and Miley Cyrus(16), who sang a duet of Swift’s song “Fifteen”
66 year-old Sir Paul McCartney belting out an old Beatle classic with 40 year-old drummer Dave Grohl on the drums
Soul legend Stevie Wonder teaming up with the Jonas Brothers
A ‘rap pack’ teaming of Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Kayne West, T.I. and a very pregnant M.I.A. in a performance of T.I’s “Swagger Like Us”
Guitar geeks John Mayer and Keith Urban sitting in with Blues legend B.B. King
U2 kicking the event off with their new single “Get On Your Boots”
Rock legend Neil Diamond serenading the crowd with his classic song “Sweet Caroline”
Radiohead performing with the USC marching band
Jay-Z teaming up with Coldplay
A Four Tops tribute
Lil Wayne and Allen Toussaint paying tribute to New Orleans
A teary-eyed performance from Jennifer Hudson of “You Pulled Me Through”
The Grammy Awards tapped into the Internet with official updates on both Twitter and Facebook. There was also an improvisational collaboration to fill in for Rihanna and Chris Brown who were both nominated and scheduled to perform, but were absent after LA Police confirmed that Brown (who is dating Rihanna) is the subject of an investigation into felony domestic violence battery from the night before. So Al Green teamed up with Justin Timberlake, Boyz II Men and Keith urban to perform Green’s iconic soul number “Let’s Stay Together.”
Instead of focusing on the negative, the Recording Academy focused on what the night is all about, the music, the musicians, recording artists and producers and the immeasurable passion that is put forth by all.
Here is a condensed list of the winners:
Album of the Year – “Raising Sand” - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - T Bone Burnett, producer, Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer, Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer
Record of the Year – “Please Read The Letter” - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Song of the Year – “Viva La Vida” - Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters
Best New Artist - Adele
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals – “Rich Woman” - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical - Rick Rubin (Death Magnetic, Home Before Dark, Mercy, Seeing Things, Weezer)
Best Rock Song – “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” - Bruce Springsteen, songwriter
Best Rock Instrumental Performance – “Peaches En Regalia” - Zappa Plays Zappa Featuring Steve Vai & Napoleon Murphy Brock
Best Metal Performance – “My Apocalypse” - Metallica
Best Pop Instrumental Album – “Jingle All The Way” - Béla Fleck & The Flecktones
Best Pop Instrumental Performance – “I Dreamed There Was No War” - Eagles
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance – “You've Got The Love I Need” - Al Green Featuring Anthony Hamilton
Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals – “Stay With Me (By The Sea)” - Al Green Featuring John Legend
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – “Still Unforgettable” - Natalie Cole
Best Country Album – “Troubadour” - George Strait
Best Bluegrass Album – “Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1946 and 1947” - Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
Best Country Instrumental Performance – “Cluster Pluck” - Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals – “Killing The Blues” - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Best Reggae Album – “Jah Is Real” - Burning Spear
Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album – “Raising Sand” - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Best Traditional Folk Album – “At 89” - Pete Seeger
Best Traditional Blues Album –“One Kind Favor” - B.B. King
Best Contemporary Blues Album – “City That Care Forgot” - Dr. John And The Lower 911
Best Long Form Music Video – “Runnin' Down A Dream” - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Peter Bogdanovich, video director; Skot Bright video producer
Best Traditional Gospel Album – “Down In New Orleans” - Blind Boys Of Alabama
Best comedy Album – “It's Bad For Ya” - George Carlin
Best Polka Album – “Let The Whole World Sing” - Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra
Best Recording Package – “Death Magnetic “(Metallica) - Bruce Duckworth, Sarah Moffat & David Turner, art directors
For a complete list of winners visit: www.grammy.com.
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