Recording Academy Merit Awards Ceremony

MERIT BADGES: The Recording Academy's annual Grammy-week event, the Special Merit Awards Ceremony, will be held on1/25 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. With Neil Portnow in attendance, the Academy will honor The Beatles, Clifton Chenier, The Isley Brothers, Kraftwerk, Kris Kristofferson, among others, with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ringo Starr, along with family members and associates of John Lennon and George Harrison, will represent The Beatles. The Trustees Award recognizes individuals of excellence in the industry, with the exclusion of performers, and will be presented to Rick Hall, Jim Marshall and Ennio Morricone. The Technical Grammy Award for outstanding technical contributions in the recording field will highlight Emile Berliner and Lexicon. Lastly, the Inaugural Music Educator Award will be bestowed to Kent Knappenberger. A formal announcement of the recipients will also be made at the Grammys ceremony the following day. (1/15p)