How It Began...

The idea to create a Recording Academy began in early 1957 when
the Hollywood Beautification Committee summoned five top Los Angeles
record executives and asked them to suggest performers that deserved
stars on the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard. From that meeting,
the five-man nucleus consisting of Paul Weston of Columbia, Lloyd
Dunn of Capitol, Sonny Burke of Decca, Jesse Kaye of MGM and Henri
René of RCA Victor, began to explore the idea of creating
an association for recording professionals that would reward artistic
creativity, foster better relationships among members of the industry
and obtain world recognition.

The Recording Academy's first chairman, Jim Conkling, presides over the first membership meeting of the Los Angeles chapter.

On May 28, 1957, after several discussions, the National Academy
of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. was born at a meeting at Hollywood's
legendary Brown Derby Restaurant. Joining this initial group were
a number of Los Angeles-based music executives, including Dennis
Farnon of RCA and Jim Conkling, former president of Columbia. The
first membership meeting was held almost a month later at the Beverly
Hilton Hotel.

In the beginning The Recording Academy owed its survival to members
who donated long hours to the emerging professional association.
A labor of love, the young Academy may not have prevailed had it
not been for the dedication of its charter members.

Observers found it quite remarkable that competitors during daylight
hours would get together in the evening to work toward the common
goal of establishing a Recording Academy. According to co-founder
Sonny Burke, "The music industry has never been known to be
one of fraternal instincts — the competition is too keen; there's
no such thing as secrecy. And those first meetings were all in the
age of the cover record."

Johnny Horton accepts his GRAMMY for Best Country and Western Performance from Meredith Willson at the 2nd Annual GRAMMY Awards announced in November of 1959.

In 1958, National Chairman Jim Conkling and co-founder Lloyd Dunn
sought to organize a second chapter on the east coast. Less than
a year after the launch of The Recording Academy in Los Angeles,
a New York chapter was established. An attempt to start a Nashville
Chapter was made in 1960 but was unsuccessful, allowing Chicago to
become the third jewel in the Academy's crown in 1961. Another attempt
to launch a Nashville chapter was made in 1964. This time the chapter
took hold and grew into The Recording Academy's third largest chapter.
Atlanta was initiated next in 1967, followed by Memphis in 1973 and
San Francisco in 1974. The Academy now boasts 12 Chapters, with the
Pacific Northwest added in 2002.

The Recording Academy Re-Evaluates Its Mission...

In the late 1980s, the Academy recognized that it had tremendous potential
to become a force on behalf of arts and culture, but the existing corporate
structure made it difficult to achieve objectives of national and international
scope.

After careful consideration under then-National Chairman Michael Greene,
The Recording Academy Trustees solidified their concept for a unified
Recording Academy and proposed a dramatic plan to improve the quality
and consistency of member services. This plan would unite the national
Recording Academy with the individual chapters, all previously organized
as autonomous nonprofit corporations.

The national leadership was convinced that a united Recording Academy
was the only way to deliver a consistent level of quality member services
across the board. Facilitating ambitious national programs had been a
struggle in those parts of the country that did not have adequate staff,
financial support or a substantial membership base. With restructuring,
the Academy would be empowered to expand and coordinate activities in
dozens of critical areas and the Academy's growing agenda of arts, cultural
and educational programs could finally be realized.

A United Recording Academy Is Born...

National Recording Academy Headquarters in Santa Monica, California

In April of 1993 a new constitution, ratified by 93.3 percent of
the membership, united the national Academy with the seven regional
chapters. Since national staff would oversee the administration of
the new united Recording Academy, it was necessary to relocate to
facilities that would support its expanded responsibilities.

In the summer of 1993, the national office moved from a small facility
in Burbank to an expansive, 40,000-square foot office at 3402 Pico
Boulevard in Santa Monica. The two-story structure, built around
an open courtyard, was designed to include a spacious conference
room, several smaller meeting rooms, offices for Business Affairs,
Information Systems, Publications, Member Services, the GRAMMY Awards
Department, the GRAMMY Foundation, MusiCares and the Los Angeles
Chapter.

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow

The home offices of The Recording Academy's senior executive staff — including
President Neil Portnow, as well as the Academy's affiliated nonprofit
organizations, the GRAMMY and MusiCares Foundations — can also be
found at the Santa Monica facility.

The creation of a Member Services Department, responsible for the
consistent distribution of services to the Academy's members, was
one of the most important items on the restructuring agenda. Besides
ensuring quality services, this department would act as the coordinating
agency within the national organization, disseminating information
about events and programs among the chapters and thus invigorating
the local creative climate.

Today there are more than 16,000 Recording Academy members

Qualified executive directors, who were active participants in their
region's music community, came on board to spearhead efforts to expand
the scope and reach of The Recording Academy. Full-time administrative
assistants were hired to keep day-to-day operations running smoothly.
In keeping with The Recording Academy's commitment to arts advocacy,
coalitions with arts, civic and educational organizations were established
at the local and regional level.

More than ten years after the ratification of the new Recording Academy
constitution, the majority of the work necessary to unite the Academy
has been completed. The success of restructuring is best reflected in
the growth of facilities and membership. In the last 15 years membership
has grown from 3,200 to more than 16,000 members — representing a younger
and much more diverse demographic.

The Academy now consists of 12 chapters. The Latin Academy of Recording
Arts & Sciences, Inc., the Academy's first international expansion
effort, was launched in 1997.

Quality services are available to all members and the Recording Academy's
national agenda of educational, professional and cultural programs provide
vital music-related information to local communities throughout the United
States.

Soon, The Recording Academy will celebrate its 50th anniversary — an
amazing testimony of what is possible when people work together and take
the necessary risks to make their dream a reality.