John Legend, Alicia Keys, and Usher will perform at a special Prince tribute concert set to take place after the 2020 Grammy Awards that will air on television later in the year.
According to Rolling Stone, the all-star tribute will be held January 28th at the Los Angeles Convention Center, just two days after the Grammys. The show will be broadcast in April.
Former Prince drummer Sheila E. will serve as the night’s musical director alongside longtime Prince associates Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The lineup also includes Beck, Common, Foo Fighters, H.E.R., Earth, Wind & Fire, St. Vincent, Mavis Staples, Chris Martin, Gary Clark, Jr., and Juanes.
“Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince” will also feature several classic Prince collaborators, including Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles (who sang the Prince-written hit “Manic Monday”), and Morris Day and the Time. The musician’s old band, the Revolution, has also signed on, with drummer Bobby Z telling Rolling Stone everyone is “involved and looking forward to honoring Prince.”
In a statement, Recording Academy President/CEO Deborah Dugan said, “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.”
Longtime Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich admitted that while the idea for a Prince celebration had been kicking around for some time, he was a bit apprehensive.
“Sometimes you worry about these things, because when an artist is so iconic, so individualistic and so unique, you get a little bit nervous about having people interpret their work,” Ehrlich said.
Dugan summed up the honor of paying tribute to Prince.
“He continues to serve as an inspirational icon for artists and fans worldwide, and we are so honored to pay tribute to his legacy.”
