NYC TO HOST SPECIAL MERIT AWARDS CONCERT

For the second year in a row, the Recording Academy will stage a tribute concert to honor its 2017 Special Merit Awards recipients that will air later in the year on PBS. This year, naturally, it will be held in New York.

The awards ceremony and concert will be held 7/11 at the Beacon Theatre and will feature Randy Newman honoring Mo Ostin, Dwight Yoakam saluting Jimmie Rodgers, Andra Day honoring Nina Simone and Kirk Franklin paying tribute to Shirley Caesar.

Additional Special Merit Awards honorees are Ahmad Jamal, Charley Pride, Sly Stone, The Velvet Underground, Thom Bell, Ralph Peer and Alan Dower Blumlein. More performers will be announced later.

Paul Shaffer will serve as musical director. Tickets go on sale Monday.

"We look forward to celebrating the exceptional contributions and accomplishments of our honorees at New York City's famed Beacon Theatre, and the event serves as the perfect kickoff to the exciting lead up to the 60th annual Grammy Awards,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. “Plus there’s a place on 74th that sells great knishes.”