Santana Tribute, Palace Show Help Set Tone for Grammys

Going to the Grammy Awards?

Unless you’re a music industry player, you probably can’t get into the ceremonies at the Shrine Auditorium on Wednesday.

But even if you can’t go see Alanis Morissette, Hootie & the Blowfish and the other performers on the show in person, you can attend a concert tribute to Carlos Santana and a free concert headed by the Presidents of the United States of America. And Los Angeles high school music students can see a special program featuring Santana, Jon Secada, Arturo Sandoval and Monica.

Those are just three of the events that are part of the “Grammy Week” series put together by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences to raise money for its various charities and promote music in the community.

“The fact that the Grammys reach out to the community and give people a chance to look into the business and the art of making music is very important,” says Al Cafaro, chairman and CEO of A&M; Records and chair of the Los Angeles host committee for the Grammys. “There is a sense of joy and inspiration that music brings, and that’s what we communicate to people with these events.”

The Santana show on Sunday at the Universal Amphitheatre will feature guitarist Carlos Santana and his band, joined by former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, Roberta Flack, Vernon Reid, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy and Herbie Hancock and others. The event also serves as a 10th anniversary celebration of the Hollywood RockWalk.

The Presidents will perform on Tuesday at the Palace, topping a show that also includes L.A. band the Geraldine Fibbers, along with sets by four bands that won regional competitions in the last year:

San Francisco’s the Sunshine Club, New York’s-ism, Nashville’s Stone Deep and Dallas-based Doosu.

About half of the 1,200 tickets for the show will be given out by KROQ-FM radio, with the rest free on a first-come, first-served basis when the doors open at 7 p.m.

In addition to the musical performances, the “Grammy in the Schools” presentation at USC’s Town and Gown Hall on Monday will feature a panel including producers David Foster and Jimmy Jam and performers Mervyn Warren (formerly of Take 6), Skee-Lo and Steven Curtis Chapman discussing music education and careers. Other “Grammy in the Schools” concerts are scheduled for Tuesday at Franklin High School and Wednesday at Manual Arts High School.

For the seventh straight year, the Rhythm & Blues Foundation is making its annual Pioneer Awards presentation during Grammy Week.

This year’s honorees include the Isley Brothers, Bobby Womack, Johnny “Guitar” Watson and Bo Diddley (a Lifetime Achievement Award).

Tickets are available to the public for the show, which will be Thursday at the Hollywood Palladium.

* Grammy Showcase Tueday at the Palace with the Presidents of the United States of America and the Geraldine Fibbers, (800) 200-8911. Rhythm & Blues Foundation, (800) 258-3799.