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Clapton’s Recording “I Shot The Sheriff” Becomes Part Of The Grammy Hall Of Fame

At this year’s Grammy Awards Ceremony, Eric Clapton’s version of "I Shot The Sheriff" will become part of the body of recordings that make up the Grammy Hall of Fame. The song was written by reggae legend, Bob Marley and was recorded by Clapton in 1974 for his album, "461 Ocean Boulevard." Tracks nominated to the Hall of Fame can be single-length or full albums and must be at least 25 years old.

PRESS RELEASE / THE RECORDING ACADEMY (US):

2003 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced

From "Blowin’ in the Wind" to "Stairway to Heaven," Majority of Honorees Represent the Wealth of Great Recordings from the ’60s and ’70s

The Recording Academy has announced the newest additions to its GRAMMY(R) Hall Of Fame Awards, adding 21 recordings to a timeless list that now includes 606 titles. The Hall Of Fame serves as a reminder and celebration of the triumphs and achievements of the recording arts. Selections are drawn from all major categories of music, acknowledging the diversity of musical expression for which the Academy has become renowned.

Overall, the Recording Academy honored 11 recordings from the ’70s, including Bruce Springsteen’s 1975 breakthrough album, "Born To Run," which made him a rock icon and Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 "Rumours" album in its first year of eligibility. Paul Simon’s 1975 album "Still Crazy After All These Years" also was inducted, making the Kew Gardens native a double honoree this year, also receiving a lifetime achievement award for his work with Simon and Garfunkel. Grammy Hall of Fame selections must be at least 25 years old but can be either single tracks or full-length albums. A panel of music professionals, including historians and musicologists, choose recordings based on their "enduring quality and relevance or historical significance".

Other honorees from the ’70s include: Elton John for his "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" album; Steely Dan for its "Aja" album; Eric Clapton for the "I Shot the Sheriff" single; The Eagles for the "Hotel California" single; Carole King for "It’s Too Late"; Labelle for "Lady Marmalade"; Led Zeppelin for "Stairway to Heaven"; and Ike and Tina Turner for "Proud Mary".

From the ’60s, the Academy chose: Arthur Rubenstein for his album performance of Chopin’s "Mazurkas"; Petula Clark for her "Downtown" single; Judy Collins for "Both Sides Now"; The 5th Dimension for "Up, Up and Away"; Henry Mancini for "The Days of Wine and Roses"; and Peter Paul & Mary’s version of "Blowin’ in the Wind".

Selections from earlier years: The New York Philharmonic for its 1956 recording of "Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99"; Thelonious Monk for his 1949 album, "The Genius of Modern Music, Vols. 1 & 2"; The Flamingos for the 1959 single, "I Only Have Eyes for You," and Ethel Waters for her 1933 version of "Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All the Time)".

"The purpose of the Hall Of Fame is to spotlight recorded musical masterpieces that have significantly impacted our musical history," said Academy President Neil Portnow. "This year’s selections are outstanding recordings and compositions of social significance that uniquely represent pieces of our country’s cultural history. They all greatly deserve to be memorialized".

The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame was established in 1973 by the Recording Academy’s Board of Trustees to honor recordings of enduring quality and relevance or historical significance. Recordings can be either single tracks or full-length albums. Balloting is open to recordings released more than 25 years ago and are selected by a panel of respected professionals from the recording arts field, including musicologists and historians. For more information about the Hall Of Fame or the 45th Annual GRAMMY Awards (to be broadcast on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. on the CBS Television Network), please visit www.grammy.com.

An entire list of all GRAMMY Hall Of Fame recipients through 2002 can be found at http://www.grammy.com/awards/hall_fame.html.

Grammy Hall Of Fame 2003 Inductees are:

Aja
Steely Dan
ABC (1977)
Pop (Album)

Blowin’ In The Wind
Peter, Paul & Mary
Warner Bros. (1963)
Pop (Single)

Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
Columbia (1975)
Rock (Album)

Both Sides Now
Judy Collins
Elektra (1968)
Pop (Single)

Chopin: Mazurkas (Complete)
Artur Rubinstein, piano
RCA Red Seal (1967)
Classical (Album)

Days Of Wine And Roses
Henry Mancini
RCA (1963)
Pop (Single)

Downtown
Petula Clark
Warner Bros. (1964)
Pop (Single)

The Genius Of Modern Music, Vols. 1 & 2
Thelonious Monk
Blue Note (1949)
Jazz (Album)

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Elton John
MCA (1973)
Rock (Album)

Hotel California
Eagles
Asylum (1977)
Rock (Single)

I Only Have Eyes For You
The Flamingos
R&B (Single)
End (1959)

I Shot The Sheriff
Eric Clapton
RSO (1974)
Rock (Single)

It’s Too Late
Carole King
Ode (1971)
Pop (Single)

Lady Marmalade
Labelle
Epic (1975)
R&B (Single)

Proud Mary
Ike & Tina Turner
Liberty (1971)
Rock (Single)

Rumours
Fleetwood Mac
Warner Bros. (1977)
Rock (Album)

Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 In A Minor, Op. 99
David Oistrakh; Dimitri Mitropoulos cond. New York Philharmonic
Columbia (1956)
Classical (Album)

Stairway To Heaven
Led Zeppelin
Atlantic (1971)
Rock (Track)

Still Crazy After All These Years
Paul Simon
Columbia (1975)
Pop (Album)

Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All The Time)
Ethel Waters
Brunswick (1933)
Traditional Pop (Single)

Up Up And Away
The 5th Dimension
Soul City (1967)
Pop (Single)
 

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