The Grammy Museum and the Songwriters Hall of Fame will debut a new exhibit Thursday exploring the history of songwriting and iconic recordings.<\/p>\n
The exhibit, \u201cTower of Song: Iconic Songwriters & Recordings,\u201d will open Thursday at the museum in downtown Los Angeles. A public program featuring Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Jimmy Jam and Diane Warren will coincide with the opening, according to organizers.<\/p>\n
The exhibit will showcase artifacts, recordings and interactive displays tied to songwriters and artists inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and recordings recognized by the Grammy Hall of Fame, including instruments, handwritten lyrics, stage-worn clothing and recording memorabilia spanning multiple generations of music history.<\/p>\n
Items featured in the exhibit include Kurt Cobain\u2019s Mosrite Gospel electric guitar used while writing songs for Nirvana\u2019s \u201cNevermind,\u201d Neil Diamond\u2019s handwritten lyrics for \u201cSong Sung Blues,\u201d Diane Warren\u2019s Yamaha DX 7 keyboard and Allee Willis\u2019 handwritten lyrics for Earth, Wind & Fire\u2019s \u201cSeptember.\u201d<\/p>\n
Additional artifacts include the LinnDrum and Ensoniq Mosaic synthesizer used by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis during the creation of Janet Jackson\u2019s \u201cRhythm Nation 1814,\u201d one of Herb Alpert\u2019s trumpets and A&M Records tape boxes tied to \u201cThe Lonely Bull\u201d and \u201cA Taste of Honey,\u201d Miles Davis\u2019 red lacquer Martin Committee trumpet and carrying case, and Prince\u2019s gold-rimmed glasses and clothing worn during the \u201cPurple Rain\u201d era.<\/p>\n
The exhibit also features Keith Moon\u2019s gold Premier drum kit used in \u201cTommy,\u201d one of Jim Morrison\u2019s personal notebooks, microphones used by Frank Sinatra during Capitol Records sessions, and one of Bill Withers\u2019 acoustic guitars, according to organizers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Grammy Museum is where people can engage more deeply with the music of yesterday and today, discovering influences, uncovering context, and connecting with artists and songs in a meaningful way,\u201d Jasen Emmons, chief curator and vice president of curatorial affairs, said in a statement. \u201cBy exploring songwriters and recordings that have shaped music history, the Tower of Song exhibit invites music fans to hear and think about iconic songwriters and recordings in new ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
The exhibit will also include an original film featuring interviews with songwriters discussing their creative process and songwriting approaches.<\/p>\n