Jon Batiste To Receive Ray Charles Award at Grammy Hall of Fame Gala
He’s the first artist to receive the award.
Jon Batiste will receive the inaugural Ray Charles “Architect Of Sound” Award at the forthcoming Grammy Hall of Fame Gala. The award is a partnership with The Ray Charles Foundation.
Per a statement from the Grammys, the Ray Charles Award is meant to honor a musician “whose influence echoes across generations. This award celebrates those who, like Charles, transcend genre, redefine creativity, and leave an indelible mark on music and culture. Whether through innovation in sound, groundbreaking artistry, or an unwavering commitment to musical excellence, the recipient embodies the pioneering spirit of one of music’s greatest architects.”
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Batiste, a decorated pianist, composer and solo musician, released his most recent album, Beethoven Blues, in 2024. This new award marks his seventh career Grammy—he received his most recent honor at the 2024 awards, for Best Music Film and Best Song Written For Visual Media for American Symphony and its song “It Never Went Away.”
In his own statement, Batiste shared: “Ray Charles is a beacon for me, a blueprint. He is a singular example of musical genius, artistic freedom and craft of the highest level that will continue to inspire humanity for generations and stand the test of time. I am honored to receive this award. It is vitally important to me to carry on our cultural legacy of true artistic greatness and lead the way for generations to come.”
The award will be presented during the gala at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on May 16. CBS News’ Anthony Mason returns to host the show this year. The annual ceremony celebrates the 2025 Grammy Hall Of Fame inducted recordings—this year, they include tracks by Jay-Z, Santana, Cat Stevens / Yusuf, Big Star, Clara Ward, Eddie Floyd, Emmylou Harris, Fela Kuti & Afrika 70, Geeshie Wiley, Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine, J.D. Crowe & The New South, Linda Martell, and Luther Vandross.
