Taylor Makes Acceptance Speech from Ski Lift
By JOHN DALY
Veteran songwriters took the spotlight at the 63rd annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday as James Taylor, Chick Corea and Dolly Parton were among the big winners of the night.
In a virtual year when gatherings have been limited because of the pandemic, award-nominated and winning artists were scattered around the world at awards time. Taylor, who won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for American Standardwas on a ski lift and made his acceptance speech on social media from a moving chair.
“Well we just got the news and what an embarrassment of riches to be here in the mountains skiing and just getting the news that we got a GRAMMY for American Standard,” Taylor said. “I’m tickled pink and very grateful.”
American Standard by Taylor won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album edging Blue Umbrella by Burt Bachrach and Daniel Tashian; True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter by Harry Connick, Jr.; Unfollow The Rules by Rufus Wainwright and Judy by Renee Zellweger.
While many of today’s pop stars like Megan Thee Stallion, Beyonce and Billie Eilish dominated at the annual awards, legacy artists also showed longevity on music’s night of nights.
Chick Corea won Best Improvised Jazz Solo for “All Blues,” which featured Corea, Christian McBride and Brian Blade. Corea, McBride and Blade also secured the win in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category for Trilogy 2.
Dolly Parton was on the winning songwriting team with Zach Williams, Cassey Beathard, and Jonathan Smith on “There was Jesus,” which won Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song. Kanye West won Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Jesus Is King.
The late Jon Prine won Best American Roots Performance for “I Remember Everything,” for which he and fellow songwriter Pat McLaughlin also won Best American Roots Song.
Bobby Rush secured the win in the Best Traditional Blues Album category for Rawer Than Raw.
Toots and the Maytals and Linda Rondstadt were also among the rock “elders” honored during the evening as Toots took Best Reggae Album for Got To Be Tough, and a film about Ronstadt, Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice, won Best Music Film. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings won Best Folk Album for All The Good Times.
Los Angeles represented as Gustavo Dudamel, conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic won Best Orchestral Performance for Ives: Complete Symphonies.
“This recording was made during some of the final performances before the pandemic shutdown, and so we all have such powerful, poignant memories around it,” Dudamel said. “We are honored to have it receive this award and recognition, and we look forward to the day when we can all make music together again safely!”
