The Grammys will salute Prince in a tribute concert at the Los Angeles Convention Center that will air on CBS later this year, CBS announced Thursday.
“Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince” take place on Jan. 28, two days after the 62nd annual awards ceremony, and the special will then air on CBS at some point later this year.
Beck, Common, Gary Clark Jr., Earth, Wind & Fire, Foo Fighters, H.E.R., Juanes, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Mavis Staples, St. Vincent, Usher and Susanna Hoffs will all perform an array of Prince’s hit songs. And Prince’s collaborators The Revolution, Sheila E. and funk band Morris Day and the Time will all take the stage together for a joint performance.
Additional performers will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase at AXS.com.
“Prince. The Purple One. His Royal Badness — regardless of how you identify him, he is indisputably one of the greatest musical virtuosos of all time,” Deborah Dugan, president and CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “With his subversive attitude and commanding nature, he straddled musical genres and created electrifying music that was bursting with character. He continues to serve as an inspirational icon for artists and fans worldwide, and we are so honored to pay tribute to his legacy at this year’s post-Grammys special.”
“One of the true joys of producing the Grammy Awards is both working with and being able to tribute your heroes, and Prince gave me the opportunity of doing both,” executive producer Ken Ehrlich said in a statement. “His Grammy appearances, though few, were historic, and it’s with mixed feelings that we approach this opportunity to celebrate the amazing legacy he left us. We’ve gathered a remarkable collection of artists across genres and across generations to salute one of music’s truly singular iconic writer/performers, and believe me, it’s a tall order to do him justice.”
The Grammys have in the past paid tribute to The Beatles, the Bee Gees, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and the music of Motown.
“Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince” is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC, with the cooperation of the Prince Estate. Ehrlich is executive producer, Ron Basile and Chantel Sausedo are producers and David Wild is the writer/producer. Sheila E., Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are the co-musical directors of the special.