Artifacts associated with such wide-ranging recordings as Prince and the Revolution’s Purple Rain, Nirvana’s Nevermind, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass’ “A Taste of Honey” and Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” will be on display beginning Thursday, May 28, when The Grammy Museum presents “Tower of Song: Iconic Songwriters & Recordings,” a new exhibit that showcases the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“Tower of Song” opens with a public program that night at the Grammy Museum’s Clive Davis Theater featuring SHOF inductees Jimmy Jam and Diane Warren, breaking down Hall of Fame recordings and their own favorite songs to provide insights about the songwriting and recording processes. The program will be followed by a cocktail reception at the exhibition. Additional guests are still to be announced.
The exhibit will feature artifacts and media connected to legacy songwriters inducted into the SHOF, and recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, as well as commentary about different songs and albums from the songwriters, artists and producers who created them.
“Tower of Song” includes an original film featuring Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees Alan Menken, Carole King, Warren and Jam, among others, talking about their creative process and approach to songwriting. Complementing the film is a digital interactive experience that poses the question: “What makes this Hall of Fame song great?”
“The 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,” Jasen Emmons, the museum’s chief curator and vp of curatorial affairs, said in a statement. “By 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.”
“Tower of Song” continues the Grammy Museum’s longstanding partnership with the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Their past co-sponsored events include the Legends-In-The-Round and ChartTopper series, each featuring a gathering of Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees and hit songwriters discussing their careers and performing their songs. Other events include movie screenings combined with panel discussions.
The “Tower of Song” exhibit follows The Grammy Museum’s third annual Grammy Hall of Fame Gala, which was held on Friday, May 8, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. This event celebrated the 14 recordings inducted into the 52nd class of the Grammy Hall of Fame and served as a fundraiser to support the Grammy Museum’s national education programs.
Here are some highlights of the upcoming exhibit, “Tower of Song: Iconic Songwriters & Recordings.”
- The LinnDrum and Ensoniq Mosaic synthesizer that SHOF inductees Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis used to create the signature sounds of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2026.
- SHOF inductee Neil Diamond’s handwritten lyrics for “Song Sung Blue.” The Grammy-nominated 1972 smash was also the title of a 2025 film for which Kate Hudson received an Oscar nomination.
- SHOF inductee Diane Warren’s Yamaha DX 7 keyboard used to write many hit songs over the years.
- One of Herb Alpert’s trumpets and tape boxes from A&M Records for his and the Tijuana Brass’ Grammy Hall of Fame recordings “The Lonely Bull” and “A Taste of Honey.”
- Kurt Cobain’s Mosrite Gospel electric guitar that he used to write most of the songs on Nirvana’s breakthrough album Nevermind, which was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018.
- Miles Davis’s red lacquer Martin Committee trumpet, mouthpiece and Harmon mute that he played throughout the 1980s, along with monogrammed leather carrying case. The jazz legend has 11 recordings in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
- SHOF inductee Prince’s gold-rimmed glasses worn in the movie Purple Rain, and a lace shirt with large blue cufflinks worn on his Purple Rain tour. Purple Rain was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011.
- Keith Moon’s gold Premier drum kit that he played in the movie Tommy and on gigs with The Who. The Who’s Tommy was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
- One of Jim Morrison’s personal notebooks and an EV-676 microphone he used for live performances. The Doors have three recordings in the Grammy Hall of Fame: “Light My Fire,” The Doors and “Riders on the Storm.”
- Two microphones used by Frank Sinatra for recording sessions at Capitol Records, and his personal sheet music for “My Way,” which was co-written by SHOF inductee Paul Anka. Sinatra’s recording of “My Way” was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.
- SHOF Inductee Allee Willis’s original handwritten lyrics for the Earth, Wind & Fire classic “September.”
- One of SHOF inductee Bill Withers’ acoustic guitars. The R&B great has two recordings in the Grammy Hall of Fame: “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lean on Me.”
- Ann Wilson’s red tour jacket from a 1977 Heart tour. Heart’s 1976 debut album Dreamboat Annie was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2026.
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