Each year, the Recording Academy (the organization behind the GRAMMY Awards) honors a handful of musical giants through its Special Merit Awards: the Lifetime Achievement Award, Trustees Award, and Technical GRAMMY Award. And each year, artists and others in the music-making community are invited to write heartfelt tributes to the honorees that are published in the exclusive GRAMMY Awards program book distributed to the stars and VIPs in attendance at the telecast.
Sometimes the relationship is obvious (Quincy Jones honoring Michael Jackson), and sometimes the influence is more indirect (Taylor Swift paying tribute to Brenda Lee or Patti Smith writing on the Jefferson Airplane). This captivating book gathers a number of years' worth of these sometimes touching, sometimes humorous, always inspiring essays and presents them in the context of the history of the award honorees and those who were impacted by their work.
For music fans of all kinds, these essays offer a glimpse into how artists are personally affected by other artists, and the debt of gratitude, influence, and inspiration they owe each other.
