Grammy Salute to Music Legends to Air in October

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In collaboration with PBS’ Great Performances series, the Recording Academy will air Grammy Salute to Music Legends on October 14, from 9-11:30 p.m. on PBS stations. The concert, taped at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 23, honors the Recording Academy’s 2016 Special Merit Awards recipients: Jefferson Airplane, Ruth Brown, Celia Cruz, Earth, Wind & Fire, Herbie Hancock, Linda Ronstadt and Run-DMC. John Cage, Fred Foster and Chris Strachwitz are Trustees Award honorees; and EMT and Dr. Harvey Fletcher are Technical Grammy Award recipients. Also being honored is Phillip Riggs, this year’s recipient of the Music Educator Award.

Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen (Photo: Barry Berenson)

The special will feature performances by Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane; Patti Austin; Ry Cooder; Lila Downs; Earth, Wind & Fire; David Foster; Andy García and the CineSon All Stars; Herbie Hancock; Henry Gray; J’Nai Bridges; Kris Kristofferson; Lucrecia; Shelby Lynne; Magnolia Sisters; Martina McBride; Naughty By Nature; Anthony Parce; and JD Souther. Presenters include David Crosby, Jimmy Jam, LL Cool J, Michael Tilson Thoma, and Don Was.

Among the highlights are Kaukonen and Casady performing the Jefferson Airplane classic “Somebody to Love” and an “Embryonic Journey”/”Come Back Baby” medley. (The guitarist and bassist have remained partnered as Hot Tuna for 45 years.) Airplane vocalist Grace Slick, who retired from the music business in 1989 and has rarely appeared at music events since, turned up at the event to accept her Grammy award. The band’s Paul Kantner and Signe Toly Anderson both died on January 28.

Ronstadt, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, has also stopped creating music. And the inclusion of Earth, Wind & Fire is a bittersweet one, as the group lost its co-founder and primary force Maurice White on February 3.

Watch Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady perform Jefferson Airplane’s “Good Shepherd”