Grammy-winning rock band Chicago leads a list of musical acts to be honored by the Recording Academy with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Lifetime Achievement Award “celebrates performers who have made outstanding contributions of artistic significance to the field of recording,” according to the academy.
Chicago was among the first acts to bring big jazz band-style horns into rock music. They have released five No. 1 albums and nearly three dozen Top 40 hits. Other Lifetime Achievement Award winners to be announced include Roberta Flack, Isaac Hayes, Iggy Pop, John Prine, Public Enemy and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
“Our industry is one that prides itself on influence and paying it forward and each year, the Recording Academy has the privilege of honoring a select group of visionaries whose creative contributions have rippled throughout our culture,” said Deborah Dugan, President/CEO of the Recording Academy.
Ken Erlich, Philip Glass and Frank Walker will be honored with the Trustees Award, which honors contributions in areas other than performance. George Augspurger will receive the Technical Grammy Award for contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording industry.
The recipients “have molded their musical passion into pieces of history that will continue to influence and inspire generations of music creators and music lovers to come,” Dugan said.
A special award presentation ceremony and concert celebrating the honorees will be held April 18, 2020, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.