Herbie Hancock took home the the Grammy Award for album of the year last night, over people you've heard of, like Kanye West and Amy Winehouse.
Apparently everyone was surprised, as this morning's AP headline read "Hancock Steals Grammy Album of the Year" and Hancock himself said "It's immeasurable how surprised I am."
Which left me wondering, who is Herbie Hancock? As far as I know, Tommy Boy taught me he was one of our founding fathers.
Hancock did not sign the Declaration of Independence, but he has won 12 Grammy Awards, including his two this year, and an Academy Award in 1986 for the soundtrack to Round Midnight. He is a 67-year-old jazz pianist and composer and has been considered one of music's most influential figures for decades.
Hancock even displayed his musical talents on Sesame Street.
He took home album of the year for his "River: The Joni Letters," a collection of Joni Mitchell songs covered by various artists.
Although train-wreck of sorts, Amy Winehouse came away with five awards and was apparently let out of rehab to perform her hit song "Rehab" via satellite, kept the award show rooted in celebrity madness, it also awarded some true musicians. Legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen was also justly rewarded with three awards.
I think it's kind of refreshing to see someone I don't see on MTV win a major award at the Grammys. It makes me think that sometimes the awards really are about the best quality and most inspiring music, rather than just whatever album the most teenagers bought.
Check out all the Grammy winners, including Barack Obama who managed to beat Hillary again.
Image © 2006 Herbie Hancock.
1 comment:
Who is Herbie Hancock??? And did you know he once won an MTV video of the year award? However, I will admit that his album of the year award the other night was ... odd. His Joni Mitchell tribute is not something I'm interested in listening to. I think he was as surprised as anyone that he won.
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