The Recording Academy has released its list of recipients for the 2025 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and it includes Prince, The Clash and Frankie Valli.
- READ MORE: The 20 best Prince songs of all time by the NME office
The awards institution revealed its selection earlier today (December 20) via its official website, with the three aforementioned acts joined by gospel singer Dr Bobby Lee, old-school hip hop pioneer and rapper Roxanne Shante, Maze frontman Frankie Beverly, and blues singer Taj Mahal.
Meanwhile, producer Glyn Johns – who was involved in the production of iconic albums by The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles – along with jazz pianist Erroll Garner and classical music composer Tania León will receive the Trustees Award.
Per the Academy, the latter award is given to individuals who have “made significant contributions, other than performance, to the field of recording”. Finally, the late acoustics engineer Dr. Leo Beranek, who died in 2016 aged 102, will receive the Technical Grammy Award.
Out of the nominees, the following Lifetime Achievement Award acts will receive their awards posthumously: Prince, who died in 2016 aged 57, The Clash’s Joe Strummer, who died in 2002 aged 50, and Beverly, who died in September this year at the age of 77.
Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. said in a statement: “It’s an amazing privilege to honour this eclectic group of music icons during the year’s biggest week in music.”
“Each of this year’s Special Merit Award recipients has left an indelible mark on music, from paving the way for others to innovation that forever has changed the trajectory of the musical landscape. We can’t wait to celebrate this group and their achievements in February.”
In August, Prince was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame, an honour which his sister Sharon Nelson had declared an “award he wanted more than any other in life”.
Meanwhile, Valli recently issued a statement after viral videos of the 90-year-old singer at recent shows sparked concern from fans, saying that “nobody has ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do.”
Last week, Sam Fender performed a cover of The Clash’s ‘London Calling’ during a concert at The O2.
