Former Recording Academy Chair Mike Melvoin Dies
GRAMMY-nominated jazz pianist and former Recording Academy Chairman/President Mike Melvoin died Feb. 23. He was 74. Born in Oshkosh, Wisc., Melvoin began playing piano at age 3. He graduated from Dartmouth with a degree in English before deciding to become a professional musician. In 1961 he relocated to Los Angeles. As a top session player, Melvoin worked with artists including the Beach Boys, Tony Bennett, John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Tom Waits. He earned a GRAMMY nomination in 2003 for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for "All Or Nothing At All" from his album It's Always You. In 2006 he was honored with the Musician's Musician Lifetime Achievement Award from the Friends of Jazz at UCLA, and in 2010 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Jazz Society. "Mike Melvoin was a talented pianist, composer and performer who worked with hundreds of artists during his 50-year-plus career," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "The Academy is grateful for his contributions, his passion, and his unwavering belief in its missions. We have lost a dear friend, and our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and fans." (2/24)
Adele Is iTunes' First Double-Platinum Artist
Following this week's "GRAMMY Effect" sales report, Adele has become the first artist to sell more than 2 million digital copies of an album at the U.S. iTunes Store. The GRAMMY-winning artist's 21 has now sold more than 2 million units exclusive to iTunes. Cumulative U.S. sales for 21 have totaled more than 7 million units, according to the RIAA. (2/24)