Earlier in the year, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences selected seven artists to receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards. Recipients included New Orleans funk legends The Meters, renowned British rock act Queen, soft-rock singer-songwriter Neil Diamond, Queen of Rock Tina Turner, country music icon Emmylou Harris, pioneering swing artist Louis Jordan, and famed “Wrecking Crew” studio drummer Hal Blaine in 2018. Furthermore, the night also celebrated a number of Special Merit Awards, including Bill Graham, Seymour Stein, John Williams, Tony Agnello, and Richard Factor.
To celebrate the massive accomplishments from these high-profile musicians and industry insiders, the Grammys hosted an all-star concert titled the Grammy Salute To Music Legends at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, on Saturday, July 14th, with the intention of the show being broadcast on PBS later in the year. On Friday night, 2018’s Grammy Salute To Music Legends finally premiered on PBS’s Great Performances, much to the delight to music fans eager to see some of their favorite artists honored.
For each Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, the show offered up montages to catalog each artist’s long-spanning career. Furthermore, other high-profile musicians were invited to pay tribute to (and frequently collaborate with) these musical heroes. Grammy-winning Gospel songstress Yolanda Adams played host for the evening, opening the show with Neil Diamond’s “Holly Holy” before Neil Diamond himself performed “I’m A Believer” with Micky Dolenz and “Sweet Caroline” solo.
With a history of being repeatedly snubbed by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, this year, The Meters finally received the recognition they deserve as a pioneering and hugely influential force behind funk music for the last half-century toward the end of the show. Their on-air montage opened with an endorsement from The Rolling Stone‘s Keith Richard, who explained succinctly, “The Meters are one of the greatest, funkiest bands from New Orleans or anywhere in the world.”
Original Meters members and founders, drummer Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste, bassist George Porter Jr., and guitarist Leo Nocentelli were on hand for the ceremony, and the trio was also joined by Cyril Neville, a longstanding member of the band who was brought on by his brother, The Meters’ founding keys player, Art Neville. This crew performed two of the band’s hits, “Cissy Strut” and “Fire on the Bayou” toward the end of the ceremony, marking a feel-good and cathartic segment for funk lovers around the world. Furthermore, Art Neville’s son and Dumpstaphunk guitarist Ian Neville was also on hand after the musical performance to accept the award in his father’s stead.
You can watch the full Grammy Salute To Music Legends 2018 below, which was aired on Friday night on PBS’ Great Performances.