Friday, December 20, 2024

Prince Among Honorees for 2025 Lifetime Achievement Grammy

The Recording Academy has announced that Prince, the legendary artist who reshaped contemporary
music, will posthumously receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Special Merit Awards Ceremony. The event, set for February 1 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles during Grammy Week, will honor Prince's enduring influence on global music.

Born Prince Rogers Nelson on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Prince was a musical prodigy, mastering instruments by age seven and recording his first demo at 17. His innovative blend of funk, rock, R&B, and pop, along with his bold fashion and electrifying performances, made him a global icon. Albums like "1999," "Purple Rain," and "Sign o' the Times" became cultural touchstones.

"Purple Rain," released in 1984, earned Prince an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score and produced classics like "When Doves Cry." The accompanying film solidified his reputation as a charismatic performer and storyteller.


Prince's fight for artistic freedom was as renowned as his music. His refusal to conform to industry standards led him to build Paisley Park Studios, where he could produce music independently. In the 1990s, he famously adopted an unpronounceable symbol as his name, protesting Warner Bros.' control over his catalog. This act spotlighted issues of artistic ownership, inspiring musicians to assert their rights.

Beyond his solo work, Prince penned hits for artists like Sinéad O'Connor ("Nothing Compares 2 U") and The Bangles ("Manic Monday"). His mentorship and collaborations left a lasting imprint across genres.

Prince passed away on April 21, 2016, at 57, but his legacy continues to inspire musicians and fans worldwide.

Other recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award include Frankie Beverly of Maze, The Clash, Dr. Bobby Jones, Taj Mahal, Roxanne Shante, and Frankie Valli. Trustees Awards will be presented to Erroll Garner, Glyn Johns, and Tania León, with Dr. Leo Beranek receiving the Technical Grammy Award.

Sponsored by Budweiser, the Special Merit Awards Ceremony is a highlight of Grammy Week, leading up to the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on February 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

2025 Special Merit Awards Honorees:

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Prince
Frankie Beverly (Maze)
The Clash
Dr. Bobby Jones
Taj Mahal
Roxanne Shante
Frankie Valli (The Four Seasons)

Trustees Awards:
Erroll Garner
Glyn Johns
Tania León

Technical Grammy Award:
Dr. Leo Beranek
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Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Chic's Alfa Anderson, Disco Star, Dead at 77

Photo Courtesy: officialalfaanderson.com
Alfa Anderson, whose powerful voice helped define the sound of disco as a vocalist with the iconic band Chic, died Tuesday at age 77, according to several reports and a social media post by Nile Rodgers, the band's co-founder, producer and guitarist. While often labeled a "former" member, Anderson's enduring career proved that the music industry, much like the infectious rhythms of Chic's "Good Times," never truly lets go.

Anderson, who rose to fame in the late 1970s, delivered soaring vocals on Chic's hits, including "Le Freak," and "I Want Your Love." These were the anthems that ruled the dance floors of legendary clubs like Studio 54 and propelled the band to international stardom. But Anderson's journey, like that of many disco stars, was more nuanced than the often-simplified narratives presented in posthumous tributes.

Born in the Bronx, New York, but raised in Augusta, Georgia, Anderson graduated from Lucy C. Laney High School before embarking on a music career that would span decades. A longtime friend of Luther Vandross, she was invited by the R&B legend to a vocal session for a new group called Chic, according to a 2017 interview with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

After contributing backing vocals to early tracks like "Dance, Dance, Dance" and "Everybody Dance," she was promoted to co-lead vocalist in 1978. Anderson's commanding voice became a defining feature of the band's sound on the critically acclaimed albums "C'est Chic" (1978) and "Risqué" (1979).

As Chic's output slowed in the early 1980s, Anderson continued to work as a session vocalist, toured with Vandross for five years, and pursued a solo career. She released the album "Alpha's Beta" in 1986, which featured the dance single "Love and Understanding." She also formed the spiritual group Voices of Shalom with her husband, Tinkr Barfield.

The 2010s saw a renewed appreciation for Anderson's contributions to music. She reunited with former Chic vocalists Luci Martin and Norma Jean Wright for select performances. In 2013, she released the single "Former Lady of Chic," a nod to her enduring connection to the band. Anderson was also featured in James Arena's 2014 book, "First Legends of Disco," and performed at several high-profile events, including Central Park SummerStage and the grand opening of the Hard Rock Hotel in Ibiza.

Paying tribute to Anderson on social media, Rodgers wrote, "#restinpoweralfaanderson #chic #loveyou." But beyond the social media tributes, Anderson's legacy endures through the timeless music she helped create. Her voice, an essential element of the Chic sound, remains a defining part of the disco era.

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Report: Lil Wayne, Chris Brown Looted COVID-19 Relief Funds

Pictured (From left): Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Tyga are pictured on the set of their "Loyal" music video. A 2024 report alleges Brown and Lil Wayne misused millions in COVID-19 relief funds intended for struggling artists.
While everyday Americans struggled during the pandemic, some of hip-hop's biggest stars were living large on taxpayer-funded COVID-19 relief money, according to a bombshell investigation by Business Insider.

The report reveals how millions of dollars meant to rescue struggling artists and shuttered venues were allegedly funneled into the pockets of celebrities like Lil Wayne and Chris Brown.

These stars then used the funds to bankroll extravagant lifestyles, according to the report.

These revelations are part of a broader pattern of COVID-19 relief fraud and abuse that has plagued numerous federal aid programs, raising serious questions about government oversight and accountability.

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, a federal initiative championed by Sen. Chuck Schumer in 2020, was intended as a lifeline for independent music venues and working-class artists devastated by pandemic shutdowns.

Schumer said the program would ensure that "young artists" and "middle-class people" could weather the economic storm.
However, Business Insider's findings suggest that for some, "weathering the storm" involved private jets, lavish parties, and questionable travel expenses, all courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer.

Rapper Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter Jr., received a staggering $8.9 million in SVOG funds through his touring company, Young Money Touring, Inc.

While the money was ostensibly earmarked for touring expenses, records obtained by Business Insider indicate a significant portion was spent on luxuries that had little to do with keeping his crew employed.

According to the report, over $1.3 million went to private jet travel, $460,000 was spent on high-end clothing, and $175,000 was used for a music festival promoting his marijuana brand, GKUA.

An additional $15,000 was reportedly used for flights and hotel stays for women with no clear connection to his tours.

Chris Brown's financial exploits were equally eyebrow-raising.

His company, CBE Touring, Inc., received $10 million in SVOG funds.

Records show that Brown spent $80,000 of that money on a lavish 33rd birthday party for himself, complete with an LED dance floor and body-painted models.

Brown also apparently used $24,000 in grant money to transport his tour bus to Tulum, Mexico, where he filmed a music video — but did not perform, Business Insider reported.

While stars like Lil Wayne and Chris Brown were enjoying the largesse, their crews were often left with meager compensation.

The Business Insider investigation highlights a disturbing disparity between the millions flowing to headliners and the comparatively small sums doled out to the roadies, technicians, and other workers who make live music possible.

Many smaller venues and independent artists, the intended beneficiaries of the SVOG program, have reported receiving inadequate support or facing bureaucratic hurdles that prevented them from accessing funds, further fueling the sense of injustice.

The Small Business Administration, which administered the SVOG program, has faced intense criticism for its apparent lack of oversight.

Initially, musicians and their loan-out companies were deemed ineligible for the grants.

However, a December 2021 internal memo reversed that decision, paving the way for wealthy artists to receive substantial payouts. The SBA has yet to explain this abrupt policy shift.

Further fueling concerns, the agency prioritized speed over scrutiny, postponing anti-fraud checks until after funds were disbursed.

A staggering $6 billion in grants remains under review for compliance, according to Business Insider.

The SBA has stated that it is working with law enforcement to investigate credible evidence of fraud, but critics argue that more needs to be done to recover misspent funds and hold those responsible accountable.

"They were just trying to get money out. If it was fraudulent, if it was not eligible – whatever," an SBA insider told Business Insider, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The fallout from the scandal has been swift and severe.

"It never crossed my mind that we should be trying to get this money for my artists," one manager who lobbied for the program told Business Insider, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Brandy Hotchner, who runs the Arizona Actors Academy, said the funds saved her school during the pandemic.

She called the misuse by celebrities "a disappointment" that could tarnish public trust in government support for the arts.

Business Insider reports that the SBA has recovered $43 million in misspent COVID-19 relief funds but has yet to assign staff to review the remaining cases.

Calls for greater accountability have grown louder, with some lawmakers demanding a thorough investigation into the SVOG program's administration.

Sen. Schumer's office has not yet released a public statement addressing the specific allegations raised in the Business Insider report.

The revelations underscore the challenges of balancing rapid relief with effective oversight and raise troubling questions about who truly benefited from a program designed to help those most in need.
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