Fifty years of the GRAMMY® Awards and the artists who have made each year special, are celebrated in the book, And The GRAMMY Goes To… The Official Story of Music’s Most Coveted Award, released today by Borders under the retailer’s exclusive and proprietary publishing program. This commemorative volume, authored by noted Rolling Stone Magazine and Emmy®-nominated television writer David Wild, contains a special foreword by legendary, 27-time GRAMMY-winning music producer and GRAMMY 50th Celebration Ambassador, Quincy Jones. Also included is commentary from Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy®.
“We are extremely proud and fortunate to join with Borders to bring this first-ever official chronicle of GRAMMY moments from the past five decades,” said Portnow. “The pages are filled with compelling stories and photos from Music’s Biggest Nightâ„¢ and it’s truly a must-have for any music fan.”
Along with this hardcover, commemorative book, Borders is offering two exclusive compilation CDs, the Ultimate GRAMMY Collection: Classic Pop and Classic R&B, released by Shout! Factory. Also hitting shelves today in Borders stores across the country is the official 50th GRAMMY Awards artwork poster.
And The GRAMMY Goes To… contains a half century of music history filled with seldom and never-before-seen photographs of past GRAMMY winners, GRAMMY nominees, and some of Hollywood’s leading acting talents who appeared on the telecast. Each chapter chronicles an individual show in the 50-year history of the GRAMMY Awards with a year-by-year recap of the biggest songs, moments and events. Completing each chapter are “Winner Snapshots” listing the winning artists of such notable categories as Record Of The Year and Album Of The Year, along with a “Did You Know?” summary detailing little-known facts about the winners, nominees and the GRAMMY Awards.
According to George Jones, Borders Group chief executive officer and a newly elected director of the GRAMMY Foundation, the new book is destined to become a collector’s item. “Music’s highest accolade is the GRAMMY Award and its history is a fascinating walk through the history of modern music in America. We expect this book to be in high demand as a holiday gift, and are pleased to team exclusively with The Recording Academy to bring it to life especially for Borders customers. It is just a part of our ongoing efforts to provide our customers with compelling titles they cannot find anywhere else.”
The two exclusive compilation CDs, the Ultimate GRAMMY Collection: Classic Pop and Classic R&B, features 32 original tracks of past GRAMMY-winning artists and songs ranging from Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” and the Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone” to Kenny Loggins’ “This Is It” and Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” The two Ultimate GRAMMY Collection CDs are available only in Borders stores nationwide.
David Wild, the author of And The GRAMMY Goes To…, is a bestselling writer, a contributing editor to Rolling Stone Magazine and was nominated for an Emmy as head writer for “America: A Tribute To Heroes.” He also served as the host of Bravo’s acclaimed interview and performance series “Musicians,” and is the author of numerous of bestselling books including The Showrunners and Friends . . .’Til The End. Wild has also been a lead writer on the GRAMMY Awards telecast since 1999.
Borders’ first exclusive and proprietary novel, Slip & Fall by Nick Santora, was highly successful and reached the bestseller lists of The Wall Street Journal and The Boston Globe. Future titles yet to be released under Borders’ exclusive and proprietary publishing program include a John Legend tour book.
About The Recording Academy
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. In its 50th year, The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.
About Borders, Inc.
Borders Group, Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BGP. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., the company is a $4.1 billion global retailer of books, music, movies, and gift and stationery items. Through its subsidiaries, Borders Group has more than 30,000 employees and operates over 1,100 stores worldwide. More information on Borders Group is available at www.bordersgroupinc.com.