GRAMMY Museum is on point for the month of August. The New Yorker has called Tift Merritt the bearer of a proud tradition of distaff country soul that reaches back to artists like Dusty Springfield and Bobbie Gentry, a standard upholding that got underway in earnest with Bramble Rose, the 2002 solo debut that put her on the Americana map forever. As her sophomore album, Tambourine, was GRAMMY nominated for Best Country Album in 2004 and was followed by Another Country and See You on the Moon, Merritt found acclaim coming not just from critics and awards orgs but her own heroes, like Emmylou Harris, who marveled that Merritt stood out like a diamond in a coal patch. Now a leading lady in her own right, Merritt is hardly one to hog the spotlight. She engages in dialogue with fellow artists of all disciplines on her public radio broadcast and podcast The Spark With Tift Merritt, bringing in fellow sojourners ranging from Patty Griffin and Rosanne Cash to Rick Moody and Nick Hornby.
Join the Clive Davis Theater as we welcome Tift for the latest installment of our Spotlight series. In discussion with Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation, Scott Goldman, Tift will talk about her Southern roots as a musician, her approach to songwriting and her most recent album, Traveling Alone. After the discussion, Tift will take audience questions and will perform.
Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $20 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members starting Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at noon. Public onsale is Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at noon. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org
The Drop: Skylar Grey
Presented By American Express
Thursday, August 8, 2013; 8:00 p.m.
Born Holly Brook Hafermann in the village of Mazomanie, Wisconsin, a town so tiny it doesnt have a stoplight, Skylar Greys journey to this point has been studded with highs and lows. Grey began performing professionally at age six with her mother as a folk duo, and by the age of 14 had released three independent albums. In middle school, exhausted from the ridicule from her peers, Grey went solo and began writing her own music, eventually quitting high school in 2006 to move to Los Angeles and devote herself to becoming a serious artist. Today, Grey is a five-time GRAMMY-nominated singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is responsible for co-writing some of the most memorable songs to light up the Billboard Hot 100 and iTunes sales charts, totaling more than 25 million singles globally. Grey co-wrote the biggest-selling single of 2010: Eminems Love the Way You Lie, which earned her two GRAMMY Award nominations for Best Song and Best Rap Song of the Year. She also co-wrote and appeared on Dr. Dres I Need A Doctor, which she performed alongside Dre and Eminem on the 2011 GRAMMY Awards telecast and for which she was nominated for two GRAMMY Awards. Please join us in the Clive Davis Theater as we welcome Grey to celebrate her hotly-anticipated debut album Dont Look Down. Hosted by Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares Scott Goldman, hear Grey discuss her musical journey and the making of the album. After a unique audience Q & A session, Grey will perform.
Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $20 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members starting Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at noon. Public onsale is Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at noon. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org
Bad Empressions
Presented By American Express
Monday, August 12, 2013; 8:00 p.m.
What started as the brainchild of Kathy Valentine, former bassist of The Go-Gos, to celebrate the debut of Seattles Experience Music Project Women Who Rock Exhibit, has now become a bonafide female supergroup. Bad Empressions features Valentine, Hole drummer Patty Schemel, former KSM guitarist Shae Padilla and Dominique Davalos (who plays bass in Valentines band The Blue Bonnets.) Now the band is bringing their act to Los Angeles, along with guest singers Annabella Lwin (Bow Wow Wow) and Kim Shattuck (The Muffs), and joining us in the Clive Davis Theater. The star-studded band will participate in an engaging discussion, moderated by Vice President of The GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares, and will perform music by women that influenced them, along with some songs of their own.
Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $15 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members starting Friday, July 19, 2013 at noon. Public onsale is Thursday, July 26, 2013 at noon. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org
Reel to Reel: Sangeet Ratna
Tuesday, August 13, 2013; 7:30 p.m.
Celebrated for both his unique artistic vision and deep understanding and love of music, Alan Kozlowski is an award winning visual artist, filmmaker and GRAMMY-nominated music producer. Kozlowskis diverse interests and talents integrate extraordinary life experience and a penchant for technology, creating a rich tapestry of artistic adventure and creative expression. However, much of his artistic focus centers around mentor, teacher and dear friend, Ravi Shankar. First exposed to his music at a concert in San Francisco in 1965, Alan was blessed to meet Ravi under auspicious circumstances in 1978, which began 35 years of study and collaboration. Alan went on to perform with Ravi in venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Londons Royal Opera House. Following Shankars passing in December 2012, Kozlowski mined the archives to produce Sangeet Ratna (Jewel Of Music), a 35-minute tribute to his life and work, presented in March 2013, at Ravis memorial event at Nehru Park in New Delhi. As part of our Indian American Music Celebration, please join us for a special screening and panel discussion of Sangeet Ratna. Joining Kozlowski on stage for the discussion will be Ravis wife, Sukanya Shankar, and moderator Scott Goldman.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free; reservations required. Members receive priority seating. To reserve your seats, please e-mail programs@grammymuseum.org.
Who Was Prince Really? An In-Depth Conversation
Featuring Touré, Susannah Melvoin, Alan Leeds, and LA Reid
Wednesday, August 14, 2013; 8 p.m.
A group of Prince insiders and experts convene to dig into the legendary and enigmatic artist. Occasioned by the publication of Tourés new book I Would Die 4 U: Why Prince Became An Icon, a deep look at Prince’s music and life. Its not a biography, its a deconstruction and appreciation of the artist bolstered by a candid interview with Prince in 1998 and interviews with many of Prince’s band members and girlfriends as well as musicologists, and even Bible scholars. Please join us in the Clive Davis Theater as Touré, an MSNBC host and a longtime music journalist, talks with Prince insiders: Susannah Melvoin, a member of Prince’s band the Revolution for several years, Alan Leeds, Prince’s tour manager for over ten years; and LA Reid, the chairman and CEO of Epic Records.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10. Tickets can be purchased at the Museum Box Office or online at AXS.com starting Wednesday, July 18, 2013 at noon. All proceeds benefit The GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org.
Celebrity Autobiography: The Music Edition Volume 3
Thursday, August 15, 2013; 8:00 p.m.
Back at the GRAMMY Museum with new material by popular demand! As seen on Bravo TV, you’ll enjoy a night of non-stop laughter as you experience a variety of jaw-dropping vignettes inspired and torn straight from the pages of the most unforgettable music tell-alls and more. Originally created by Emmy-Award nominated writer-performer Eugene Pack and developed by Pack and Dayle Reyfel, Celebrity Autobiography has been profiled in virtually every major media outlet including Nightline, CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, NPR’s All Things Considered and The View. The national and international tours of the show garnered rave reviews across the board- from The New York Times to Rolling Stone to Time Magazine. For this special installment, outrageous and true music memoirs will be acted out live on stage by a starry cast of performers. Artists currently scheduled to appear include: Roger Bart, Joey Fatone, Lainie Kazan, Melissa Manchester, Laraine Newman, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Fred Willard and Rita Wilson.
Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $45. Tickets can be purchased at the Museum Box Office starting Wednesday, July 10, 2012 at noon. All proceeds benefit The GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org.
An Evening With Chip Taylor
Presented By American Express
Tuesday, August 20, 2013; 8:00 p.m.
Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, Chip Taylor is a renaissance man who is best known for hits Wild Thing and Angel of the Morning. Taylor (a.k.a. James Wesley Voight) fell in love with music at the of eight when he convinced his parents to let him stay up late to listen to a country radio station. He began playing with his high school band, Town and Country Brothers in Yonkers, New York. After the band split up, Taylor had a brief stint as a professional golfer before suffering a wrist injury. It was then that he decided to give music his full attention. In 1961, he signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records and had his first top 100 hit single, Here I Am. As a country songwriter, Taylor had his first big hit with Bobby Bares version of Just a Little Bit Later Down The Line. He continued his success in songwriting with songs that remain a staple in the American music diet, Try (Just A Little Bit Harder) a performance favorite of Janis Joplin, I Cant Let Go (The Hollies, Linda Ronstadt) and Country Girl, City Man (Ike and Tina Turner). Taylor has released sixteen albums thus far, and Rolling Stone acclaimed Chip Taylors Last Chance as one of the best country albums of 1973. Taylor will discuss his decades-long career as a country songwriter and recording artist. After the discussion, Taylor will take audience questions and perform a selection of songs.
Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $15 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members starting Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Public onsale is Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org
Spotlight: Lee Brice
Presented By American Express
Wednesday, August 21, 2013; 8:00 p.m.
Lee Brice is a man whose time has come. On his stunning sophomore album, Hard 2 Love (Curb Records), the four-time Academy of Country Music nominee demonstrates a new maturity and patience, both in his songwriting and vocals. Throughout the album, Brice presents himself as a man who fully knows who he is and steps up to own it. He co-produced every track, bringing in friends Kyle Jacobs, Jon Stone, Doug Johnson and Matt McClure to share production duties on various cuts. “Parking Lot Party,” the 4th single from Lee Brice’s latest studio release Hard 2 Love, is exploding at radio. It’s the fastest start Lee has seen for a single yet, with 100 stations playing the song in its third week at radio. His previous three singles from Hard 2 Love all reached number 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart including “I Drive Your Truck,” which was recently certified Gold and featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, Country Weekly and the front page of the Boston Herald. Join us in the Clive Davis Theater as we welcome country music sensation, Lee Brice for a discussion on the makings of his latest album, Hard 2 Love and how he has made country music history on more than one occasion. Moderated by Vice President of The GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares Scott Goldman, Brice will take audience questions and perform a selection of songs. Lee Brice will return to the LA area with two shows in November with a full band at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, CA on Nov 15 and in West Hollywood, CA on Nov 16.
Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $20 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members starting Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Public onsale is Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org
The Drop: Yoshiki
Presented By American Express
Monday, August 26, 2013; 8:00 p.m.
Although known as the founder of Japans biggest rock band X Japan and credited as the catalyst for the flamboyant visual kei rock sub-genre, Yoshiki is a world-renowned classically trained multi-instrumentalist/composer/musician. As one of Asia’s most influential musical artists and biggest rock icons, Yoshiki has made an impressive mark within the classical genre as well. Having recently composed the 2012 Golden Globe Awards theme song, hes also composed and performed an orchestral piece/piano concerto to commemorate the Japanese Emperor’s 10th anniversary of his reign, along with the theme for the World Expo in Japan. Yoshikis double album Yoshiki Presents Eternal Melody remains one of Japan’s top-selling classical albums. His most recent album, Yoshiki Classical sees collaborations between Yoshiki and legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra and the Quartet San Francisco. Hear Yoshiki in discussion, along with Vice President of The GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares, about his varied career and the new album, which will be released digitally worldwide on August 27. After the Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $25 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members starting Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Public onsale is Thursday, August 1, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org
The Drop: Trombone Shorty
Presented By American Express
Tuesday, August 27, 2013; 8:00 p.m.
Hailed as “New Orleans’ brightest new star in a generation” (NPR), Troy Trombone Shorty Andrews burst onto the national scene with 2010’s GRAMMY-nominated Backatown and followed it up a year later with For True, which spent 12 weeks in the top slot on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Chart. He’s performed at The White House, played on recent releases by everyone from Zac Brown to Rod Stewart to Cee Lo Green, and initiated a mentoring program at Tulane University via his Trombone Shorty Foundation. The New Orleans icon has appeared on the covers of Downbeat and Jazziz Magazines, performed on Conan, The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and took on the highly prestigious slot closing the entire New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival this year. Please join us as we welcome Trombone Shorty to The Clive Davis Theater to discuss his sound that is a genre of his own making and his upcoming album, Say That To Say This, the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2011 album For True. To celebrate the upcoming release, Trombone Shorty will discuss the album with GRAMMY Museum Executive Director Bob Santelli, and a special performance will follow.
Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $20 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members starting Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Public onsale is Wednesday, August 14, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org
A Conversation With Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Presented By American Express
Wednesday, August 28, 2013; 8:00 p.m.
Hailing from Seattle, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are known for their expertly crafted music and innovative music videos and media. They broke new ground by independently releasing their debut, full-length album, The Heist, which shot to the #1 slot on iTunes, debuted at #2 the Billboard charts, and was certified Gold without the support of a traditional record label. Recently, they made Billboard history as the only duo to send their first two singles to #1 on both the Hot 100 and Top 40 Radio charts with new single Cant Hold Us and breakout smash hit Thrift Shop. “Same Love”, a song and video in support of marriage equality, galvanized young fans and voters, and is currently soaring at radio on multiple formats with certified Gold sales. Since releasing The Heist, the duo has garnered attention in Rolling Stone, Billboard, NPR, TIME and GQ and won Billboards Top Rap Song of 2012. They have performed live on talk shows and award shows like Saturday Night Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and the Billboard Music Awards. Please join us as we welcome the international hip hop stars to the Clive Davis Theater for a special discussion about their album and upcoming fall tour. Following the discussion, moderated by Vice President of The GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares, the duo will take audience questions. Joining the Macklemore and Lewis on stage for the Q & A will be Zach Quillen, who currently manages the duo, and will discuss the business of their success.
Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $20 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members starting Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Public onsale is Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org
Aloha Spirit, KoAloha Style
Ukulele Workshop with Tj Mayeshiro
Live Performance by Tj Mayeshiro and Tony Conjugacion
Presented By American Express
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Workshop: 6:00 p.m.
Performance: 7:30 p.m.
Traditionally a Hawaiian instrument, the 4-stringed guitar-like ukulele has found a niche in popular music. Its unique sound brings an instant island tone to any piece of music. Back by popular demand, KoAloha Ukulele artist partners, Tj Mayeshiro and Tony Conjugacion, will be sharing their manao (Hawaiian for thoughts or knowledge) on their two different distinct ukulele styles. An up-and-coming young ukulele talent, Tj Mayeshiro will delight everyone with his edgy ukulele playing. Later, multi Nâ Hôkû Hanohano award winning recording artist/composer and Kumu Hula, Tony Conjugacion, will showcase his classic style of both traditional Hawaiian and contemporary music. Prior to the Aloha Spirit, KoAloha Style performance, you’re invited to join Tj for a one-hour workshop titled Ukulele 101. This informal class is a fun and educational way to learn more about the various style of ukulele playing. Done in the Hawaiian “talk-story” style, Tj will share his love and knowledge of this special instrument. Although not required, guests are welcome to bring their own ukulele with them to learn and strum along.
Doors open at 7:30 pm. American Express presale tickets are $10 and can be purchased online by American Express Card members starting Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. Public onsale is Thursday, August 1, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. American Express is the exclusive payment method for presale tickets. American Express ticket purchasers will also receive a special gift. All proceeds benefit the GRAMMY Museum. For more information, please call (213.765.6803) or visit grammymuseum.org