Shirley Caesar; Robert EctorA PBS special featuring highlights of the Grammy Salute to Music Legends concert will premiere Friday, October 13, at 9 p.m. as part of the network’s Great Performances series.
The show, which celebrated the Recording Academy’s 2017 Special Merit Award winners, took place July 11 at New York’s Beacon Theatre.
It featured musical tributes to Lifetime Achievement Award honorees Nina Simone, Shirley Caesar, country legend Charley Pride, jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal and Sly Stone.
Grammy-nominated singer Andra Day performed Simone’s 1964 song “Mississippi Goddam,” while Kirk Franklin and Le’Andria Johnson sang a medley of Caesar’s “You Name It,” “It’s Alright, It’s OK, You’re Next in Line For a Miracle” and “Satan, We’re Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down.”
Shirley also appeared onstage to sing her songs “Caught Up” and “Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name.”
Other artists at the show included Charlie Wilson, Valerie Simpson and Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid — all performing an homage to Sly Stone — plus Dionne Warwick and ex-Stylistics singer Russell Tompkins Jr.
Other honorees celebrated at the event included country singer Jimmie Rodgers, pioneering rock band The Velvet Underground, “Philly Soul” architect Thom Bell and record executives Mo Ostin and Ralph S. Peer.
Here are the honorees featured on the Grammy Salute to Music Legends special, followed by the performers saluting them:
Thom Bell
“You Make Me Feel Brand New” — Russell Thompkins Jr.
“Then Came You” — Dionne Warwick
Ahmad Jamal
“But Not for Me”/”Ahmad’s Blues”/”Poinciana” — Stanley Cowell
Nina Simone
“Mississippi Goddam” — Andra Day
Jimmie Rodgers
“Hobo Bill’s Last Ride”/”Mule Skinner Blues”/”T for Texas” — Dwight Yoakam
Ralph S. Peer
“Crazy Blues” — Catherine Russell
“The Great Pretender” — Russell Thompkins Jr.
“Georgia on My Mind” — Andra Day
The Velvet Underground
“I’m Waiting for the Man”/”Sunday Morning” — John Cale Band with Maureen “Moe” Tucker
Shirley Caesar
Medley: “You Name It”/”It’s Alright, It’s OK”/”You’re Next in Line for a Miracle”/”Satan, We’re Going to Tear Your Kingdom Down” — Kirk Franklin with Le’Andria Johnson
“Caught Up”/”Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name” — Shirley Caesar
Mo Ostin
“A Few Words in Defense of Our Country”/”I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” — Randy Newman
Charley Pride
“Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone” — Neal McCoy
“Kiss an Angel Good Morning” — Charley Pride
Sly Stone
“I Want to Take You Higher”/”Everybody Is a Star”/”Sex Machine”/”Dance to the Music” — Charlie Wilson, Valerie Simpson, Vernon Reid
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