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Solo Artist of the Century Garth Brooks, Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Darrell Issa to Be Honored at GRAMMYs on the Hill
Solo Artist of the Century Garth Brooks, Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Darrell Issa to Be Honored at GRAMMYs on the Hill® in Washington, D.C., on April 14
Awards Event to be Followed by Largest Ever Advocacy Day for Music Creators on April 15
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Often referred to as "Washington's most interesting mix of music and politics," honorees for the 2010 GRAMMYs on the Hill® Awards were announced today by The Recording Academy® (www.grammy.com). Solo artist of the century and two-time GRAMMY® Award winner Garth Brooks, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and U.S. Representative Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) will be honored for their work in improving the environment for music creators. Taking place in the U.S. capitol, this year's GRAMMYs on the Hill events include the awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 14 and an advocacy day on Capitol Hill on Thursday, April 15, at which hundreds of music professionals from across the country will visit with legislators to advance pro-music policies that improve the environment for music and its makers. For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/thegrammys, www.facebook.com/thegrammys.
“Washington's most interesting mix of music and politics”
"This year's honorees truly define leadership, and GRAMMYs on the Hill gives us the opportunity to thank our political and musical leaders for their work to advance the rights of music makers," noted Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "As one of the most popular and philanthropic artists, Garth Brooks is an inspiration to musicians and fans alike. Senator Durbin's leadership in the Senate translates into effective support for the music community, and Representative Issa has been a leader on creating a fair performance right for artists and truly understands the potential for the partnership between music and technology. It is more important than ever for our members and the music industry to come to Washington and help advance the rights of music creators through direct advocacy on Capitol Hill."
GRAMMYs on the Hill Awards: April 14, 6:30 – 10 p.m.
Taking place at the Liaison Capitol Hill hotel, GRAMMYs on The Hill Awards will include a cocktail reception preceding the awards ceremony with special guest presenters and performers to help recognize the achievements of Brooks, Durbin, and Issa. Past honorees have included then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator Orrin Hatch, Congressman Steny Hoyer, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, two-time GRAMMY winner Kelly Clarkson and 27-time GRAMMY winner Quincy Jones.
GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day: April 15
This advocacy day for music makers features a morning briefing with keynote speeches by leading legislators, lobbying members of Congress, and an afternoon musical event on Capitol Hill with special guests. Past events have featured Kelly Clarkson, Gloria Estefan, and BeBe Winans.
About Garth Brooks
Certified by the RIAA as the No. 1-selling solo artist in U.S. history, Garth Brooks has sold in excess of 128 million albums and is the top-selling solo artist of the 20th century. His body of work, including the groundbreaking No Fences, Ropin' The Wind, The Hits, and Double Live propelled country music as a genre to the front pages of newspapers worldwide and the covers of magazines. Brooks became the first artist to put out a simultaneous edition of his latest collection for a charitable cause when the launch of the pink edition of The Ultimate Hits was available only at the Susan G. Komen Web site in fall 2007.
About Dick Durbin
Senator Dick Durbin was elected by his fellow Democratic senators in December 2006 to the post of Majority Whip, the Senate's second-highest ranking position. Durbin, a Democrat, is the 47th U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois (Springfield) and the first Illinois senator to serve on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee in more than a quarter of a century. He serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which oversees many of the issues most important to the music community, and has been a defender of intellectual property and protecting music as an economic force and cultural treasure.
About Darrell Issa
Congressman Darrell Issa represents the people of California's 49th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. In Congress and as a leader in California's grassroots politics, Issa has championed the cause of smart, efficient government. An original sponsor of the Performance Rights Act, Issa has been a leading force behind creating parity across broadcast platforms by providing artists with a radio performance right. He serves on the House Judiciary Committee and has participated in a number of Recording Academy programs, including the GRAMMY Town Hall.
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. 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. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thegrammys), MySpace (www.myspace.com/thegrammys), Twitter (www.twitter.com/thegrammys), and YouTube (www.youtube.com/thegrammys).