The countdown of Local Spins’ most-read stories of the year continues with Albion’s Michael and Tanya Trotter taking part in a star-studded Grammy performance. Today, we update that story from January.
Welcome to the Grammy Awards: The War and Treat performing on stage during the 2020 finale.
SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH THE 2020 GRAMMY AWARDS PERFORMANCE
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EDITOR’S NOTE: No. 11 in Local Spins’ countdown of top 2020 stories spotlights Michigan’s War and Treaty heading to the Grammys, marking another milestone for Michael and Tanya Trotter. The original story first ran on Jan. 23. West Michigan further upped the Grammy ante recently when Ionia native and acoustic guitarist Billy Strings was nominated for a 2021 Grammy for best bluegrass album. Both acts credit Michigan fans for aiding their success. “It touches my heart,” Michael Trotter told Local Spins this week. “Michigan radio means so much to me and Tanya. I remember years ago someone in Albion said that we should try to get on WYCE radar because that’s the station that is happening. That was 2016 (appearance on WYCE) and now we’re a part of the Grand Rapids family.”
It was another step forward in the growing national profile of Michigan’s own The War & Treaty.
The soulful band led by Albion’s Michael and Tanya Trotter performed at the 2020 Grammy Awards taking place Jan. 26 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center and broadcast live on CBS TV.
The War & Treaty performed during what producers described as a signature “Grammy Moment” during the finale of the 62nd annual Grammy Awards show. Michael Trotter called it a “spectacular” display of stars.
2020 Grammy Awards.
“We’re extremely excited,” he told Local Spins. “It’s a huge step and we’re excited about it all.”
The Grammys staged the performance as a tribute to Grammy executive producer Ken Ehrlich while acknowledging “the importance of music education in schools to the Recording Academy, Grammy Museum and Ehrlich.”
The War and Treaty joined Camila Cabello, Gary Clark Jr., John Legend, Debbie Allen, Joshua Bell, Common, Misty Copeland, Lang Lang, Cyndi Lauper and Ben Platt in performing “I Sing the Body Electric” from the film, “Fame.”
Ehrlich called it “unforgettable” and a dream to bring “high-caliber artists” such as these together on one stage.
The War & Treaty traveled to Los Angeles for show rehearsals, the same week that the band released a pair of new singles.
NEW SINGLE DEBUTED DURING LOCAL SPINS ON WYCE
Local Spins on WYCE (88.1 FM) officially debuted one of those songs, the pop-leaning “Jealousy,” on Jan. 24, 2020. Scroll down to listen to that track.
Continuing Their Rise: The War and Treaty. (Photo/Anna Sink)
The War & Treaty has steadily ascended the ranks after releasing a much-buzzed-about album, “Healing Tide,” and winning “emerging act of the year” honors in 2019 from the Americana Music Association.
They had previously won album of the year and song of the year honors at the WYCE-FM Jammie Awards in Grand Rapids.
(After performing on the Grammys, the band played Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on Feb. 27 but had to cancel 2020 touring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. West Michigan drummer Madison George (Blushing Monk, Earth Radio) had been set to join The War & Treaty full-time on tour starting in April, declaring that he was “super stoked” to get a chance to tour with the fast-rising band. Although touring was suspended, The War and Treaty later released a new album, “Hearts Town.”)
The 2020 Grammy Awards show was overshadowed by controversy surrounding the ousting of Grammys CEO Deborah Dugan, who responded by filing a complaint against the Recording Academy of Arts & Sciences that alleges corruption in voting practices as well as other purported problems.
The 2021 Grammy Awards show will be broadcast by CBS on Jan. 31.
VIDEO: “I Sing the Body Electric” at 2020 Grammy Awards, featuring Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Misty Copeland, Gary Clark Jr., The War and Treaty, Common, Lang Lang
LISTEN: The War and Treaty. “Jealousy”
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