Multi-genre artist Jon Batiste was the biggest winner at the 64th Grammys in Las Vegas on Sunday, winning album of the year and four other awards.Batiste, who leads the band on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” won the night’s biggest prize for “We Are,” a jazz album inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.
His other wins included best music video for “Freedom,” a vibrantly coloured tribute to New Orleans, and an award for composing and arranging of songs for animated Pixar movie “Soul.”“I believe this to my core – there is no best musician, best artist, best dancer, best actor. The creative arts are subjective,” Batiste said.“I just put my head down and I work on the craft every day.”
Silk Sonic, featuring Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, claimed the song and record of the year awards for their 1970s inspired hit “Leave the Door Open.”The pair rose from their seats and danced slowly before making their way to the stage.“We are really trying our hardest to remain humble at this point,” joked Paak as the pair accepted the second honour.Olivia Rodrigo, the 19-year-old singer of heartbreak ballad “drivers license” on her album “Sour,” scored three awards, including best new artist.
“This is my biggest dream come true. Thank you so much!” Rodrigo said as she held her trophy.The awards featured a surprise appeal for support from wartime President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Ukraine.
Midway through the ceremony, host Trevor Noah introduced a video message from Zelenskiy, who contrasted the joy found through music to the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion of his country more than a month ago.
“What is more opposite to music? The silence of ruined cities and killed people,” Zelenskiy, wearing a green t-shirt, said in a hoarse voice.“Fill the silence with your music,” he added. “Support us in any way you can. Any, but not silence.”The remarks preceded a John Legend performance that featured two Ukrainian musicians and a Ukrainian poet.The highest honours in music were postponed from January during a spike in COVID-19 cases and moved from Los Angeles to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.Stars walked a red carpet and thousands of spectators packed the venue, a contrast to last year’s scaled-down outdoor event.