Nina Simone, Shirley Caesar & More To Be Honored With The “Lifetime Achievement Award” At 2017 Grammy Awards

With the recent 2017 Grammy nominations; everyone is buzzing with excitement with their “fave artist,” but the Grammy Awards honor those that came before them.

The Recording Academy announced its 2017 Special Merit Awards recipients. The Lifetime Achievement Award honorees are Shirley Caesar, Ahmad Jamal, Charley Pride, Jimmie Rodgers, Nina Simone, Sly Stone, and the Velvet Underground. Thom Bell, Mo Ostin and Ralph S. Peer are Trustees Award honorees; Alan Dower Blumlein is the Technical GRAMMY Award recipient.

Recipients:

Jazz singer-songwriter Nina Simone is one of the most acclaimed singers of all time. She recorded over 40 albums over 5 decades and is known for her interpretations of “I Loves You, Porgy,” “Feeling Good” and “Sinnerman.” In 2000, she was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame. Zoe Saldana portrayed Simone in the 2016 biopic, “Nina.”

Gospel Icon  Shirley Caesar‘s list of accomplishments include 11 Grammy Awards, 14 Stellar awards, 15 Dove awards, a NAACP Image Award and a Soul Train Music Award. She is well-known for her time with the Chicago-based gospel group The Caravans, before deciding to pursue a solo career in 1966. Most recently, the #UNameItChallenge has taken storm and brought her to a younger generation.

Pianist Ahmad Jamal‘s career spans over 50 years. He is known for his interpretations on such pieces as “Poinciana” and “Dolphin Dance,” as well as his own original compositions, including “Ahmad’s Blues.”

Singer/guitarist Charley Pride was the first African-American singer to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in 1967, and later became the Grande Ole Opry’s first African-American member almost 30 years later. His expansive song catalog includes “Just Between You And Me” and “All I Have To Offer You (Is Me),” among many others.

Sly Stone is perhaps best known as the leading figure of the funk-rock band Sly & The Family Stone. Stone wrote a myriad of songs throughout his career, including “Dance To The Music,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” “Everyday People” and “There’s A Riot Going On.”