42nd Annual Grammy Awards
The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 23, 2000 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1999. Santana was the main recipient with eight Grammys, tying Michael Jackson's record for most awards won in a single night. Santana's album Supernatural was awarded a total of nine awards. American teen singers Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were both nominated for Best New Artist, ultimately won by Aguilera.
Performances
- Will Smith – "Freakin' It" / "Wild Wild West"
- Backstreet Boys – "How Deep Is Your Love" / "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" / "I'll Make Love To You" / "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely"
- TLC – "Unpretty"/"No Scrubs" Medley
- Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas – "Smooth"
- Britney Spears – "From the Bottom of My Broken Heart" / "...Baby One More Time"
- Elton John and Backstreet Boys – "Philadelphia Freedom"
- Faith Hill – "Let Me Let Go"
- Ricky Martin – "Maria"
- Kid Rock – "Only God Knows Why" / "Bawitdaba" / "We're an American Band"
- Marc Anthony – "I Need To Know"
- Dixie Chicks – "Goodbye Earl"
- Whitney Houston – "It's Not Right But It's Okay" / "I Learned From the Best" Medley
- Diana Krall, Erykah Badu and George Benson – "I Can't Give You Anything But Love"
Award winners
General
;Record of the Year- "Smooth" – Santana featuring Rob Thomas
- * Matt Serletic, producer; David Thoener engineer/mixer
- "I Want It That Way" – Backstreet Boys
- *Kristian Lundin & Max Martin, producers; Kristian Lundin, Max Martin & Daniel Boom, engineers/mixers
- "Believe" – Cher
- * Brian Rawling & Mark Taylor, producers; Mark Taylor, engineer/mixer
- "Livin' la Vida Loca" – Ricky Martin
- * Desmond Child & Robi Rosa, producers; Craig Lozowick, German Ortiz, Nathan Malki & Charles Dye, engineers/mixers
- "No Scrubs" – TLC
- * Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, producer; Carlton Lynn & Leslie Brathwaite, engineers/mixers
- Supernatural – Santana
- *Carlos Santana, Clive Davis, Stephen M. Harris, Dante Ross, Matt Serletic, Lauryn Hill, Jerry Duplessis, Wyclef Jean, K. C. Porter, Fher Olvera, Alex González, Dust Brothers, Todd Ray, Art Hodge, Charles Goodan & J. B. Eckl, producers; Glen Kolotkin, Mike Couzzi, Jim Gaines, Ben Conrad, Steve Fontano, John Seymour, Andy Salas, Dave Dar, John Gamble, Steve Farrone, Michael Anderson, Tom Lord-Alge, Femio Hernandez, David Thoener, Andy Haller, Gordon "Commissioner Gordon" Williams, Tony Prendatt, Jamie Siegel, Warren Riker, Andy Grassi, Chris Theis, Chuck Bailey, Jason Groucott, Michael McCoy, Jeff Poe, John Karpowich, Adam Olmstead, Claudio Leiva, Tony Flores, Benny Faccone, Anton Pukshansky, David Frazer, Bill Kinsley, Billy Konkel, Tracey Brown, Todd Ray, Glen Kolotkin, Alvaro Villagra, Jim Scott, Matthew Spindel, Alejandro Cassini & Frank Rinella, engineers/mixers; Ted Jensen & Stephen Marcussen, mastering engineers
- Millennium – Backstreet Boys
- *Kristian Lundin, Max Martin, Rami Yacoub, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Stephen Lipson, Timmy Allen, Mattias Gustafsson, Edwin "Tony" Nicholas & Eric Foster White, producers; Kristian Lundin, Max Martin, Bo Reimer, Daniel Boom, Rami Yacoub, Chris Trevett, George Spatta, Adam Barber, Heff Moraes, Dawn Reinholtz, Devon Kirkpatrick, Mick Guzauski, Stephen George, Adam Blackburn, John Bates & Carl Robinson, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
- Fly – Dixie Chicks
- *Blake Chancey & Paul Worley, producers; Billy Sherrill, Christopher Rowe, Clarke Schleicher, Mark Martin, Tony Castle, John Guess & Patrick Murphy, engineers/mixers; Denny Purcell & Jonathan Russell, mastering engineers
- When I Look in Your Eyes – Diana Krall
- *Tommy LiPuma, Johnny Mandel & David Foster, producers; Al Schmitt, Bill Smith, Koji Egawa, Anthony Ruotolo & Rory Romano, engineers/mixers; Doug Sax, mastering engineer
- FanMail – TLC
- *Dallas Austin, Babyface, L.A. Reid, TLC, Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Ricciano Lumpkins, Daryl Simmons, Jermaine Dupri, Carl So-Lowe & Debra Killings, producers; Alvin Speights, Vernon Mungo, Carlton Lynn, Leslie Brathwaite, "Jazzy Jeff" Griffin, Sejoon Kahng, Ty Hudson, Dylan Dresdow, Gordon Fordyce, Xavier Smith, Dave Rideau, Steve Hodge, John Horesco IV, Paul Boutin, Kevin Lively, Ralph Cacciurri, Thom Kidd, Jermaine Dupri, Phil Tan, Brian Frye, Aman Junaid, Ricciano Lumpkins, Jon Gass, E'lyk & Claudine Pontier, engineers/mixers; Herb Powers, mastering engineer
- "Smooth"
- *Itaal Shur & Rob Thomas, songwriters
- "I Want It That Way"
- *Andreas Carlsson & Max Martin, songwriters
- "Livin' la Vida Loca"
- *Desmond Child & Draco Rosa, songwriters
- "Unpretty"
- *Dallas Austin & Tionne Watkins, songwriters
- "You've Got a Way"
- *Robert John "Mutt" Lange & Shania Twain, songwriters
- Christina Aguilera
- Macy Gray
- Kid Rock
- Britney Spears
- Susan Tedeschi
Pop
- "I Will Remember You" – Sarah McLachlan
- "Genie in a Bottle" – Christina Aguilera
- "Beautiful Stranger" – Madonna
- "Thank U" – Alanis Morissette
- "...Baby One More Time" – Britney Spears
- "Brand New Day" – Sting
- "I Need to Know" – Marc Anthony
- "Mambo No. 5" – Lou Bega
- "Sogno" – Andrea Bocelli
- "Livin' la Vida Loca" – Ricky Martin
- "Maria Maria" – Santana
- "I Want It That Way" – Backstreet Boys
- "Kiss Me" – Sixpence None the Richer
- "All Star" – Smash Mouth
- "Unpretty" – TLC
- "Smooth" – Santana featuring Rob Thomas
- "The Prayer" – Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli
- "When You Believe" – Whitney Houston & Mariah Carey
- "Music of My Heart" – *NSYNC & Gloria Estefan
- "Love of My Life" – Santana featuring Dave Matthews
- "El Farol" – Santana
- "The Look of Love" – Herb Alpert
- "A Day in the Life" – Jeff Beck
- "Song C" – Bruce Hornsby
- "Night and Day" – Willie Nelson
- "Believe" – Cher
- "Don't Let This Moment End" – Gloria Estefan
- "Praise You" – Fatboy Slim
- "Waiting for Tonight" – Jennifer Lopez
- "I Will Go with You " – Donna Summer
- Brand New Day – Sting
- Millennium – Backstreet Boys
- Believe – Cher
- Ricky Martin – Ricky Martin
- Mirrorball – Sarah McLachlan
- – Tony Bennett
- Come by Me – Harry Connick Jr.
- – Neil Diamond
- Manilow Sings Sinatra – Barry Manilow
- You're the Top: Love Songs of Cole Porter – Bobby Short
Rock
- "Sweet Child o' Mine" – Sheryl Crow
- "Bliss" – Tori Amos
- "Jukebox" – Ani DiFranco
- "Angels Would Fall" – Melissa Etheridge
- "Possession" – Sarah McLachlan
- "American Woman" – Lenny Kravitz
- "Can't Change Me" – Chris Cornell
- "What It's Like" – Everlast
- "The Promise" – Bruce Springsteen
- "Hold On" – Tom Waits
- "Put Your Lights On" – Santana featuring Everlast
- "Special" – Garbage
- "Black Balloon" – Goo Goo Dolls
- "Malibu" – Hole
- "Scar Tissue" – Red Hot Chili Peppers
- "Whiskey in the Jar" – Metallica
- "Get Born Again" – Alice in Chains
- "Lit Up" – Buckcherry
- "Bawitdaba" – Kid Rock
- "Freak on a Leash" – Korn
- "Nookie" – Limp Bizkit
- "Iron Man" – Black Sabbath
- "Bad Blood" – Ministry
- "Enter Sandman" – Motörhead
- "Starfuckers, Inc." – Nine Inch Nails
- "Superbeast" – Rob Zombie
- "The Calling" – Santana featuring Eric Clapton
- "What Mama Said" – Jeff Beck
- "Espionage" – Green Day
- "Bodyrock" – Moby
- "Windows to the Soul" – Steve Vai
- "Scar Tissue"
- *Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis & Chad Smith, songwriters
- "Angels Would Fall"
- *John Shanks & Melissa Etheridge, songwriters
- "The Promise"
- *Bruce Springsteen, songwriter
- "Room at the Top"
- *Tom Petty, songwriter
- "Special"
- *Garbage, songwriters
- Supernatural – Santana
- Breakdown – Melissa Etheridge
- Significant Other – Limp Bizkit
- Echo – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Mutations – Beck
- To Venus and Back – Tori Amos
- You've Come a Long Way, Baby – Fatboy Slim
- Play – Moby
- The Fragile – Nine Inch Nails
R&B
- "It's Not Right but It's Okay" – Whitney Houston
- "All That I Can Say" – Mary J. Blige
- "Almost Doesn't Count" – Brandy
- "Love Like This" – Faith Evans
- "Do Something" – Macy Gray
- "Staying Power" – Barry White
- "Did You Ever Know" – Peabo Bryson
- "When a Woman's Fed Up" – R. Kelly
- "Fortunate" – Maxwell
- "Sweet Lady" – Tyrese
- "No Scrubs" – TLC
- "Spend My Life with You" – Eric Benét featuring Tamia
- "Don't Waste Your Time" – Mary J. Blige & Aretha Franklin
- "Bills, Bills, Bills" – Destiny's Child
- "Heartbreak Hotel" – Whitney Houston featuring Faith Evans & Kelly Price
- "No Scrubs"
- *Kandi Burruss, Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs & Tameka Cottle, songwriters
- "All That I Can Say"
- *Lauryn Hill, songwriter
- "Bills, Bills, Bills"
- *Kandi Burruss, Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs, Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Roberson & Kelendria Rowland
- "Heartbreak Hotel"
- *Carsten Schack, Kenneth Karlin & Tamara Savage
- "It's Not Right but It's Okay"
- *LaShawn Daniels, Tony Estes, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins & Isaac Phillips
- FanMail – TLC
- Mary – Mary J. Blige
- My Love Is Your Love – Whitney Houston
- R. – R. Kelly
- Back at One – Brian McKnight
- Staying Power – Barry White
- Unconditional Love – Peabo Bryson
- Valence Street – The Neville Brothers
- It's Harder Now – Wilson Pickett
- Intimate – Smokey Robinson
Rap
- "My Name Is" – Eminem
- "Gimme Some More" – Busta Rhymes
- "Vivrant Thing" – Q-Tip
- "Wild Wild West" – Will Smith
- "Changes" – 2Pac
- "You Got Me" – The Roots featuring Erykah Badu
- "What's It Gonna Be?!" – Busta Rhymes featuring Janet Jackson
- "Satisfy You" – Puff Daddy featuring R. Kelly
- "Still D.R.E." – Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg
- "Guilty Conscience" – Eminem & Dr. Dre
- The Slim Shady LP – Eminem; Jeff Bass, Marky Bass & Eminem, producers; Mr. B, engineer/mixer
- ' – Busta Rhymes; Robert Burnette, Busta Rhymes & Vinny Nicoletti, engineers/mixers
- Da Real World – Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott; Timbaland, producer; Jimmy Douglass & Timbaland, engineers/mixers
- 'I Am – Nas; Rich Travali, engineer/mixer
- Things Fall Apart – The Roots; The Grand Wizzards, producers; Keith Cramer, David Ivory & Axel Niehaus, engineers/mixers
Country
- "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" – Shania Twain
- "Ordinary Heart" – Emmylou Harris
- "Let Me Let Go" – Faith Hill
- "Forget About It" – Alison Krauss
- "I Love You" – Martina McBride
- "Choices" – George Jones
- "Don't Come Cryin' to Me" – Vince Gill
- "That's Right " – Lyle Lovett
- "Please Remember Me" – Tim McGraw
- "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" – Dwight Yoakam
- "Ready to Run" – Dixie Chicks
- "Honky Tonk Song" – BR549
- "Unbelievable" – Diamond Rio
- "Amazed" – Lonestar
- "Little Good-Byes" – SHeDAISY
- "After the Gold Rush" – Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton & Linda Ronstadt
- " A Little More Time on You" – Alabama featuring NSYNC
- "Going Away Party" – Asleep at the Wheel featuring The Manhattan Transfer & Willie Nelson
- "Roly Poly" – Asleep at the Wheel featuring Dixie Chicks
- "When I Said I Do" – Clint Black with Lisa Hartman Black
- "Bob's Breakdowns" – Asleep at the Wheel featuring Tommy Allsup, Floyd Domino, Larry Franklin, Vince Gill & Steve Wariner
- "Black Mountain Rag" – Del McCoury, Doc Watson & Mac Wiseman
- "Mr. John Henry, Steel Driving Man" – Marty Stuart & Earl Scruggs
- "The Greatest Love of All Time " – Marty Stuart
- "The Harry Shuffle" – Steve Wariner
- "Come On Over"
- * Robert John "Mutt" Lange & Shania Twain, songwriters
- "Amazed"
- * Marv Green, Chris Lindsey & Aimee Mayo, songwriters
- "Choices"
- * Mike Curtis & Billy Yates, songwriters
- "Ready to Run"
- * Marcus Hummon & Martie Seidel, songwriters
- "Two Teardrops"
- * Bill Anderson & Steve Wariner, songwriters
- Fly – Dixie Chicks
- Ride with Bob – Asleep at the Wheel
- Trio II – Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt & Dolly Parton
- The Cold Hard Truth – George Jones
- Forget About It – Alison Krauss
- Ancient Tones – Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
New Age
- Celtic Solstice – Paul Winter
- Citizen of the World – David Arkenstone
- Turning – Suzanne Ciani
- Inside Monument Valley – Paul Horn & R. Carlos Nakai
- Inner Voices – R. Carlos Nakai
- Plains – George Winston
Jazz
- Inside – David Sanborn
- Ethnomusicology, Vol. 1 – Russell Gunn
- Animation/Imagination – Tim Hagans
- Joy Ride – Bob James
- Yin-Yang – Victor Wooten
- When I Look in Your Eyes – Diana Krall
- "In Walked Wayne" – Wayne Shorter
- "Straight Up and Down" – Gary Burton
- "Wigwam" – Chick Corea
- "There Is No Greater Love" – Stefon Harris
- "In Vogue" – Chris Potter
- Like Minds – Gary Burton, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Roy Haynes & Dave Holland
- Change – Chick Corea & Origin
- Requiem – Branford Marsalis Quartet
- ' – Brad Mehldau
- Inner Voyage – Gonzalo Rubalcaba
- Serendipity 18 – Bob Florence
- Far East Suite – Anthony Brown's Asian American Orchestra
- Time's Mirror – Tom Harrell
- Epiphany – Vince Mendoza
- Inspiration – Sam Rivers' Rivbea All-Star Orchestra
Gospel
- Speechless – Steven Curtis Chapman
- Kennedy Center Homecoming – Bill Gaither & Gloria Gaither
- A Glen Campbell Christmas – Glen Campbell
- Roy Clark Sings & Plays Gospel Greats – Roy Clark
- Winding Through Life – Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
- The Final Sessions – J. D. Sumner & The Stamps
- Christmas with Shirley Caesar – Shirley Caesar
- Mountain High...Valley Low – Yolanda Adams
- High and Lifted Up – Carol Cymbala, performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
Blues
- Blues on the Bayou – B.B. King
- Take Your Shoes Off – The Robert Cray Band
Children's
- Best Musical Album for Children
- *Andy Hill for The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland performed by various artists
- Best Spoken Word Album for Children
- *Steven Epstein, David Frost, Graham Greene, Kate Winslet & Wynton Marsalis for Listen to the Storyteller
Comedy
- From 1994 through 2003, see "Best Spoken Comedy Album" under the "Spoken" field, below.
Classical
- Best Orchestral Performance
- *Michael Tilson Thomas, the Peninsula Boys Choir, the San Francisco Girls Chorus & the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Stravinsky: Firebird; The Rite of Spring; Perséphone
- Best Classical Vocal Performance
- *Claudio Abbado, Anne Sofie von Otter, Thomas Quasthoff & the Berliner Philharmonic for Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn
- Best Opera Recording
- *Nicholas Parker, John Eliot Gardiner, Ian Bostridge, Anne Sofie von Otter, Bryn Terfel, Deborah York, the Monteverdi Choir & the London Symphony Orchestra for Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress
- Best Choral Performance
- *Robert Shafer, Betty Scott, Joan McFarland, the Maryland Boy Choir, the Shenandoah Conservatory Chorus & the Washington Chorus for Britten: War Requiem
- Best Instrumental Soloist Performance
- *Charles Dutoit, Martha Argerich & the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3/Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 3
- Best Instrumental Soloist Performance
- *Vladimir Ashkenazy for Shostakovich: 24 Preludes & Fugues, Op. 87
- Best Small Ensemble Performance
- *Joseph Jennings & Chanticleer for Colors of Love - Works of Thomas, Stucky, Tavener & Rands
- Best Chamber Music Performance
- *Anne-Sophie Mutter & Lambert Orkis for Beethoven: The Violin Sonatas
- Best Classical Contemporary Composition
- *Pierre Boulez & the Ensemble Inter-Contemporain for Boulez: Répons
- Best Classical Album
- *Andreas Neubronner, Michael Tilson Thomas, the Peninsula Boys Choir, the San Francisco Girl's Chorus & the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Stravinsky: Firebird; The Rite of Spring; Perséphone
- Best Classical Crossover Album
- *The Chestnut Brass Company & Peter Schickele for Schickele: Hornsmoke ; Brass Calendar; Hornsmoke - A Horse Opera''
Composing and arranging
- Best Instrumental Composition
- *Don Sebesky for "Joyful Noise Suite"
- Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
- *Madonna & William Orbit for "Beautiful Stranger" performed by Madonna
- Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
- *Randy Newman for A Bug's Life
- Best Instrumental Arrangement
- *Don Sebesky for "Chelsea Bridge"
- Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist
- *Alan Broadbent for "Lonely Town" performed by the Charlie Haden Quartet West featuring Shirley Horn
Film/TV/media
- Best Soundtrack Album
- *Tarzan – Mark Mancina & Phil Collins
- *American Beauty –
- *Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me –
- *The Matrix –
- *The Prince of Egypt –
- Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
- *"Beautiful Stranger" – Madonna & William Orbit, songwriters
- *"Music of My Heart" – Diane Warren, songwriter
- *"The Prince of Egypt " – Steven Schwartz & Babyface, songwriters
- *"The Time of Your Life" – Randy Newman, songwriter
- *"You'll Be in My Heart" – Phil Collins, songwriter
- Best Instrumental Composition Written for Motion Picture or Television
- *A Bug's Life - Randy Newman
- *Shakespeare in Love - Stephen Warbeck
- * - John Williams
- *Le Violon Rouge - John Corigliano
- *La Vita è Bella - Nicola Piovani
Folk
- Press On - June Carter Cash
- Mule Variations - Tom Waits
Historical
- Best Historical Album
- *Orrin Keepnews, Steven Lasker, Paul Brizzi & Dennis Ferrante for The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition - The Complete RCA Victor Recordings
Latin
- Best Latin Pop Performance
- *Rubén Blades for Tiempos
- Best Traditional Tropical Latin Performance
- *Tito Puente for Mambo Birdland
- Best Mexican-American Performance
- *Plácido Domingo for 100 Años de Mariachi
- Best Latin Rock/Alternative Performance
- *Chris Perez Band for Resurrection
- Best Tejano Performance
- *Los Palominos for Por Eso Te Amo
- Best Salsa Performance
- *Los Van Van for Llego...Van Van - Van Van Is Here
- Best Merengue Performance
- *Olga Tañón for Olga Viva Viva Olga
Musical show
- Best Musical Show Album
- *John McDaniel, Stephen Ferrera & the New Broadway cast with Bernadette Peters & Tom Wopat for Annie Get Your Gun
Music Video
- "Freak on a Leash" – Korn
- * Terry Fitzgerald, Bart Lipton ; Graham Morris, Todd McFarlane, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
- "All Is Full of Love" – Bjork
- * Cindy Bulmar ; Chris Cunningham
- "Everything Is Everything" – Lauryn Hill
- * John Oloen ; Sanji
- "Back at One" – Brian McKnight
- * Heather Jansson ; Francis Lawrence
- "Unpretty" – TLC
- * Kati Haberstock ; Paul Hunter
- Band of Gypsies - Live at Fillmore East – Jimi Hendrix
- *Chips Chipperfield & Neil Aspinall, Bob Smeaton
Packaging and notes
- Best Recording Package
- *Buddy Jackson, Ray Benson & Sally Carns for Ride With Bob performed by Asleep at the Wheel
- Best Boxed Recording Package
- *Arnold Levine & Ron Jaramillo for Miles Davis - The Complete Bitches Brew Sessions performed by Miles Davis
- Best Album Notes
- *Bob Blumenthal for John Coltrane - The Classic Quartet: Complete Impulse! Studio Recordings performed by John Coltrane
Polka
- 'Polkasonic''-Brave Combo
Production and engineering
- Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
- *Al Schmitt for When I Look in Your Eyes performed by Diana Krall
- Best Engineered Album, Classical
- *Markus Heiland, Michael Tilson Thomas, the Peninsula Boys Choir, the San Francisco Girl's Chorus & the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra & Chorus for Stravinsky: Firebird; The Rite of Spring; Perséphone
- Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
- *Walter Afanasieff
- Producer of the Year, Classical
- *Adam Abeshouse
- Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical
- *Club 69
Reggae
- Calling Rastafari - Burning Spear
- Roots Revival - Aswad
- The Doctor - Beenie Man
- Living Legacy - Steel Pulse
- Generation Coming - Third World
Spoken
- Best Spoken Word Album
- *LeVar Burton for The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Best Spoken Comedy Album
- *Chris Rock for Bigger & Blacker
World
- Livro - Caetano Veloso
Special merit awards
[MusiCares Person of the Year]
- Elton John
The 42nd GRAMMY LOGO
"I imagined all the instruments emanating from behind the logo. My problem was how to translate that into a visual. I designed black and white icons of the instruments using a vector program. I was working overtime and I was getting desperate. I was moving the different icons around the GRAMMY logo but none of the combinations seemed to work. As I picked up the guitar icon, I decided to pray and make a deal with God. I said 'if you bless me with a winning design, I will give you the glory every time I share how I designed the GRAMMY logo.' Suddenly, I inadvertently released my hold of the icon and it fell on top of the GRAMMY logo. I stared at the image on my screen and I saw my solution. I added the other icons and curved them to suggest movement from behind. Eureka! That was it!"
With suggestions from the staff and the people at the Recording Academy in the course of several weeks, the design underwent an evolution from a 2 dimensional rendering into 3D.