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Grammy winners of yesteryear: where are they now?
The annual Grammy Awards is upon us once more and we take a look at six musicians who have disappeared into the musical mist.
The Recording Academy last year created a task force in response to major backlash that the Grammys are consistently too male and too white. AFP/File/Don EMMERT
The goal? The little gold statuette that’s been said to create legends each year and endow them with a certain promise of immortality.
And one need only recall Grammy-winning greats such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Barry White, or The Artist Formerly Known as, as, as (you know the one) to agree with the king- and queen-making powers of the accolade.
But there’s no guarantee that the Grammy winner or their music will forever be immortalised in the annals of music history and the hearts of fans.
As we get ready for the 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony this Sunday February 10, we thought we’d round up five Grammy winners who’ve all but vanished from music memory:
BOY GEORGE: 1 Grammy Award
He ran riot on our radios when he was with Culture Club but this flamboyantly dressed ever-effervescent karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon quickly fell from fame and most of our hearts when he went solo.
TERENCE TRENT D’ARBY: 1 Grammy Awards
This arty ’80s funk/R&B pretty boy and snappy dresser Terence Trent D’Arby got us all moving with instant-hits such as Dance little Sister, Sign Your Name and If You Let Me Stay. But then he just faded after scooping the Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance 30 years ago.
ALANIS MORISSETTE: 7 Grammy Awards
She caused a stir and sent Mariah Carey into a fit of jealousy at the 38th awards ceremony when she scooped 7 trophies, including Best Album. But where is she now? Does anyone care?
BOBBY MCFERRIN: 10 Grammy Awards
Bobby McFerrin, who is best known for his unshakeable upbeat 1988 hit Don’t Worry, Be Happy, still has a devoted following among jazz listeners but we aren’t worried and are extremely happy to finally rid ourselves of that nauseatingly catchy tune.
JOHN MAYER: 7 Grammy Awards
We hear the multiplatinum artist’s career hasn’t recovered after his racist rant in that 2010 interview with Playboy Magazine, and he’s been performing with former members of the Grateful Dead.
Don’t forget to catch Grammy Awards on Sunday February 10, with Alicia Keys as host.
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