Ken Ehrlich: Last News

Grammys 2002 telecast, where the man himself introduced — via video call — Lady Gaga’s solo performance of their duet “Love for Sale.”He’s also up for five more gramophones at the 64th annual awards taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (airing at 8 p.m. ET on CBS with host Trevor Noah).

Carlos Santana had no idea about the kind of otherworldly magic that his “Supernatural” album was going to conjure up when it swept the Grammys 25 years ago.“I didn’t have any expectations, but I had what I call ‘willingness,’” the 77-year-old guitar god told The Post via email. “I just opened my heart to manifest blessings and miracles.“Before the show, my kids were asking me about it,” he continued.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic We’re officially coming up on Grammy season — but right before that, in this week between Christmas and New Year’s, it’s Grammy commemoration season, thanks to a couple of two-hour throwback specials premiering on CBS. First, on Friday night, comes “Grammy Greats: The Stories Behind the Songs,” dedicated to the winners in the Song of the Year category.

his death at 96 on Friday.“Tony Bennett was one of the most important interpreters of American popular song during the mid to late 20th century,” Joel, 74, told The Post in a statement.“He championed songwriters who might otherwise have remained unknown to many millions of music fans.”Joel noted that Bennett was a vaunted vocalist whose talent transcended generations and genres.“He was a unique talent that made the transition from the era of jazz into the age of pop,” he said.“I will always be grateful for his outstanding contribution to the art of contemporary music.”Joel collaborated with Bennett on the “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” singer’s 2001 LP “Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues,” which won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.“He was a joy to work with,” said Joel.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic The vibe surrounding Joni Mitchell being bestowed with the Gershwin Prize in Washington, D.C. earlier this month — as seen in a new PBS special — couldn’t have been more harmonious, from all accounts. And that’s a good thing, because under less loving circumstances, there could have been a turf war over who would get to sing “Both Sides Now,” the song that was Mitchell’s first hit in 1967 and might still stand as her signature song, if someone had to pick one with a gun to their head. The victor, in this quiet, bloodless battle: the inimitable Annie Lennox, who performed at the tribute to Mitchell just months after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Eurythmics.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic When an all-star cast of musicians came together to rehearse their salute to Joni Mitchell for a Washington, D.C. tribute concert in February, in honor of her being the latest annual recipient of the Gershwin Prize for songwriting, executive producer Ken Ehrlich had an early epiphany about where Marcus Mumford’s cover of “Carey” should go. “During the rehearsal, it was obvious to me: that was the opening number.” As you watch the remainder of “Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song,” though — as it premieres on PBS tonight, and is available thereafter for streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app — you won’t see Mumford disappearing from the stage for very many extended periods. Mumford has been part of the parties at Mitchell’s home the last couple of years, and participated in the “Joni jam” at the Newport Folk Festival last summer, so he is well familiar with her and her catalog at this point. And so, as Ehrlich explains it, “When I reached out to him, it probably wasn’t a half hour before he got back to me and said, ‘Of course I’d love to do this.’ And then he quickly followed with: ‘Can I play with the band?’ And he became the resident percussionist, which I didn’t have.

Chris Willman Music WriterAs the Grammys return as a big-scale live event this year, so is the tradition of filming a tribute to a superstar musician in the days following the awards show, with the 2022 honoree being Paul Simon, who’ll be saluted by an all-star cast at L.A.’s Pantages Theatre.“Homeward Bound: A Grammy Salute to the Songs of Paul Simon” will be filmed April 6, three days after the Grammys, with a CBS air date to be determined for later in the year. Ken Ehrlich is reprising the role he’s had in the past as the annual salute’s executive producer.Among the performers booked for the tribute are Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews, Rhiannon Giddens, Brad Paisley, Angélique Kidjo, Little Big Town, Billy Porter, Trombone Shorty, Shaggy, Take 6 and Irma Thomas.