The Grammy Award for Song of the Year is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. The Song of the Year award is one of the four most prestigious categories at the awards, presented annually since the 1st Grammy Awards in 1959. According to the 54th Grammy Awards description guide, the award is presented:
to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position.
Lionel Brockman Richie Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He rose to fame in the 1970s as a songwriter and the co-lead singer of the Motown group Commodores; writing and recording the hit singles "Easy", "Sail On", "Three Times a Lady" and "Still", with the group before his departure. In 1980, he wrote and produced the US Billboard Hot 100 number one single "Lady" for Kenny Rogers.
The 28th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 25, 1986, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year, 1985. The night's big winner was USA For Africa's "We Are The World", which won four awards, including Song of the Year which went to Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. It marked the first time in their respective careers that they received the Song of the Year Award. For Richie, it was his sixth attempt in eight years. The other three awards for the latter single were given to the song's producer, Quincy Jones.
The Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical is an honor presented to record producers for quality non-classical music at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
Robert McElhiney James is an American jazz keyboardist, arranger, and record producer. He founded the band Fourplay and wrote "Angela", the theme song for the TV show Taxi. According to VICE (magazine), music from his first seven albums has often been sampled and believed to have contributed to the formation of hip hop. Among his most well known recordings are "Nautilus", "Westchester Lady", "Tappan Zee", and his version of "Take Me to The Mardi Gras".
Can't Slow Down is the second solo studio album by American recording artist Lionel Richie. It was released on October 14, 1983, by Motown Records.
Earl Klugh is an American acoustic guitarist and composer. He has won one Grammy award and thirteen nominations. Klugh was awarded the “1977 Best Recording Award For Performance and Sound” for his album “Finger Painting” by “Swing Journal” a Japanese jazz magazine.
This Time is the fourth studio album by Jazz vocalist Al Jarreau, released in 1980 on Warner Bros. Records. The release marked a change in Jarreau's sound to a more R&B-oriented flavor. As a result, the album achieved more success on the mainstream charts than his previous works, while also topping the Jazz Charts. It also reached No. 6 on the R&B charts and No. 27 on the Billboard 200." In 1981 "Never Givin' Up" gave Jarreau a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.
One on One is a 1979 collaboration album by jazz keyboardist Bob James and guitarist Earl Klugh that won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1981. In 1982 the album was certified gold in the United States.
Crazy for You is the 8th studio album by Earl Klugh, released in 1981. This is the first album which Klugh produced by himself. The album received two Grammy nominations at the 25th Grammy Awards in 1983; for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, and for Best Arrangement on an Instrumental Recording, the latter shared jointly by Klugh, keyboardist Ronnie Foster, and string arranger Clare Fischer.
The Spice of Life is a smooth jazz studio album by Earl Klugh released in April 2008. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009.
Naked Guitar is a solo-guitar studio album by Earl Klugh released in 2005. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 48th Grammy Awards in 2006. After six years of studio absence, Klugh returned to the studio and released a fingerstyle jazz album similar to his 1989 release "Solo Guitar". Naked Guitar is the first album to be recorded by Klugh on the Koch Records label. It features solo interpretations of 13 standards and pop classics, as well as the song "Angelina", a tune from Klugh's self-titled 1976 solo debut album that he wrote in 1971.
Midnight in San Juan is a smooth jazz studio album by Earl Klugh released on February 19, 1991. The album was a commercial success as it reached No.1 on many jazz radio and retail charts, including hitting No.1 on the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums charts. In this release, Klugh lays heavy emphasis on Latin and Caribbean elements. Two songs on the album feature legendary NEA Jazz Master Jean "Toots" Thielemans on the harmonica and Grammy Award winner Don Sebesky as conductor and arranger.
Whispers and Promises is an instrumental-pop studio album by Earl Klugh released in 1989. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 32nd Grammy Awards in 1990. In this release, Klugh delivers his well-known "light and smooth guitar picking, backed by swarms of violins, chimes and gentle alto saxophones, beautifully arranged and wonderfully romantic". The album also features Grammy Award winner Don Sebesky as conductor and arranger.
Nightsongs is an instrumental-pop studio album by Earl Klugh released in 1984. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance at the 27th Grammy Awards in 1985. This release has Klugh perform "a collection of funk-free, soft melodic standards with heavy string orchestrations", featuring legendary NEA Jazz Master Jean "Toots" Thielemans on the harmonica and Grammy Award winner Don Sebesky as conductor and arranger.
Dream Come True is the 6th studio album by Earl Klugh released in 1980. The album received a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Fusion Performance at the 23rd Grammy Awards in 1981.
Life Stories is the 13th studio album by Earl Klugh released in 1986. This release, "sets Klugh`s ballads against a variety of musical backgrounds, including violins, flutes, electric guitars and a variety of synthesizers". As in some of his previous albums, Klugh is joined by David Matthews and Grammy Award winner Don Sebesky who conducted and arranged some of the songs.
Move is the 17th studio album by Earl Klugh released in 1994.
Two of a Kind is the second album by Earl Klugh and Bob James, released in 1982. The album received a nomination for Best Selling Jazz Album at the NARM Awards in 1983, and peaked at No.1 on the Billboard Jazz chart in January 1983.
John Frederick Robinson, known professionally as JR, is an American drummer and session musician who has been called "one of the most recorded drummers in history". He is known for his work with producer Quincy Jones, including Michael Jackson's multi-platinum Off the Wall album and the charity single "We Are the World". JR's drum fill kicks off Jackson's chart topper "Rock with You", and his drum solo opens the Steve Winwood album Back in the High Life (1986) to begin the number 1 song "Higher Love".
