Grammy Hall of Fame induction 2016

The Grammys inducted twenty-six recordings into the Grammy Hall of Fame at the 58th annual ceremony held February 15, 2016.  A bunch of my favorites made it in!

The always-entertaining and lovely Andrews Sisters 1942 recording of Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else but Me).

Ella Fitzgerald's and Louis Armstrong's collaboration Ella and Louis released in 1956.

The Loco-Motion's first release in 1962 by Little Eva.

Jimmy Buffett's timeless Margaritaville from 1977.

Blondie's first big hit Heart of Glass from 1978

Celebration from Kool & the Gang from 1980.

Joan Jett with the Blackhearts 1981 breakout single I Love Rock 'n' Roll.

Maroon 5 Win Grammy Award for Best New Artist 2005

I've been a fan of Maroon 5 ever since I saw them the for the first time on Saturday Night Live, which was probably around the time they won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the 47th annual ceremony February 13, 2005.  They were nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for their song She Will Be Loved.

Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar, a compilation of works by Mancini, produced by James R. Jensen won Best Pop Instrumental Album.

The Grammy Hall of Fame inducted twenty recordings into its vaults.  I have several favorites that were honored that night:

Alexander's Ragtime Band by Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan (1911)

All of Me by Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra (1932)

America the Beautiful by Ray Charles (1972)

Peter Gunn by Henry Mancini (1959)

Irving Berlin publishes "Alexander's Ragtime Band" 1911

Alexander's Ragtime Band, written by Irving Berlin, was published March 18, 1911.  It is considered a sequel to Alexander and his Clarinet, which he co-wrote with Ted Snyder in 1910 but it was a much bigger hit.  It sold a million copies of sheet music in one year.

Of course, with success comes controversy.  It was alleged that Berlin did not write the song but was written by Lukie Johnson, a pianist who denied the claim.  Then it was claimed that Berlin stole the music from Scott Joplin, from his opera Treemonisha, although it was registered for a copyright two months after Alexander's Ragtime Band.  Joplin passed away in 1917 still convinced his work had been stolen.

It was played on the Titanic while it was sinking.

In the years since its publication, it has been covered by many different artists including Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, the Andrews Sisters and Ella Fitzgerald who won a Grammy for her Berlin anthology in 1959.