Seventy recordings have been added to the list that now features 798 titles. The Hall of Fame, according to a press notice, "serves as a celebration and reminder of the triumphs and achievements of the recording arts." All categories of music are eligible for nomination.
In a statement Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy, said, "The Grammy Hall of Fame is one of The Academy's most prized endeavors, spotlighting recorded musical masterpieces that have significantly impacted our musical history. This year's inductees span nine decades and represent a diverse array of genres from classical and show tunes to blues, jazz and rock and roll. They exemplify the best qualities that make the recording arts such a vital part of our culture — and each not only uniquely reflects the zeitgeist of its time, but also possesses the enduring power of transcending time."
Among the inductees of interest to fans of theatre and the American popular standard are "Cabaret" (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1972); Company (Original Broadway Cast, 1970); "Give My Regards to Broadway" (Billy Murray, 1905, single); "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" (Marian Anderson, 1936, single); "Indian Love Call" (Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, 1936, single); "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" (Duke Ellington & His Famous Orchestra, 1932, single); "It's Not for Me to Say" (Johnny Matthis, 1957, single); Oliver! (Original Broadway Cast, 1962); "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Gertrude Lawrence, 1927, single); "St. Louis Blues" (Louis Armstrong, 1929, single); "Strangers in the Night" (Frank Sinatra, 1966, single); "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" (Fred Astaire, 1935, single); "The Way We Were" (Barbra Streisand, 1974, single); and "You're the Top" (Ethel Merman, 1934, single).
The Grammy Hall of Fame was created in 1973 to "honor recordings of lasting significance that were issued prior to the 1958 inception of the Grammy Awards. The Hall is now open to any recording that has been in release for at least 25 years." New submissions are chosen each year.
For a complete list of inductees, visit www.grammy.com. The 50th Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast live on Feb. 10, 2008, at 8 PM ET on CBS.
