Chaka Khan, Cher, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, Fela Kuti and Whitney Houston were honored by the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Recording Academy during the Grammys Special Merit Awards Saturday night. Khan, upon accepting his award, said: "Music has been my prayer, my healing, my joy, my truth. Thanks to it, I saved my life."
A single stage appearance
Chaka Khan was the only laureate present at the ceremony, which was held at the small Wilshire Ebell Theatre from Los Angeles, the day before the big Grammy Awards ceremony. A short documentary retraced his career, highlighting his successes as a member of the funk group Rufus and as a solo artist, with iconic tracks such as “Tell Me Something Good”, “Ain't Nobody”, “I'm Every Woman” and “I Feel For You”. Dressed in a shimmering ocean green dress, she thanked her many collaborators while admitting that some weren't entirely reasonable: "For over 50 years, I've had the privilege of walking alongside extraordinary artists, musicians, writers, producers, creatives... and madmen."
Posthumous tributes to Kuti and Houston
The family accepted the awards for Fela Kuti, the Nigerian Afrobeat legend who died in 1997, and for Whitney Houston, who died in 2012. Pat Houston, Whitney's sister-in-law and manager, noted: "His voice, that voice!, remains eternal. His legacy will live forever." Three of Fela Kuti's children accepted the award on his behalf. He was presented as a producer, arranger, political radical, outlaw, and father of Afrobeat, the first African musician to be so honored. Femi Kuti stated: "Thank you for bringing our father here. It's so important for us, for Africa, for world peace, and for the struggle."
Cher and Santana make a video appearance
The public expressed its disappointment when Academy President Harvey Mason Jr. announced Cher's absence. In a short video, the artist shared: "The only thing I ever wanted to be was a singer. When I was 4 years old, I used to run around the house naked, singing into a hairbrush. Things haven't changed that much." Carlos Santana also spoke via video after his son Salvador received his award. He stated that in a world gripped by fear, his music and message brought hope, courage, and joy to heal the world.
Tributes to Paul Simon and Bernie Taupin
Elton John's longtime lyricist, Bernie Taupin, paid tribute to Paul Simon, calling him "Greatest living American songwriter"Taupin himself was honored by the Grammys Trustees Award, which recognizes contributions to music outside of the performance stage. Despite his involvement in the vast majority of Elton John's hits, he had never won a competitive Grammy. Looking at his honorary trophy, he confided: "I've been waiting 57 years for one of these awards." He then shared the writing principles he has always followed, insisting that one should avoid clichés, never write in a closed office, and not say that one will die if the loved one leaves, because that is not true.
Other artists in the spotlight
Eddie Palmieri, pianist and composer, a great innovator of Latin jazz and rumba, was also honored. He became the first Latino to win a Grammy in 1975 and died last year at the age of 88. Sylvia Rhone, the first Black woman to head a major record label, also received an award, as did John Chowning, a Stanford professor and pioneer of 1980s synthesizer sounds. Jennifer Jimenez, a marching band director at South Miami Senior High School, was recognized for its educational role, while Raye's song “Ice Cream Man” received the Harry Belafonte Song for Social Change Award.
