IC at the Grammy Awards

By Patrick Bohn, April 8, 2022
Awards and performances highlight the evening.

Zachary James '05 (left) and Rob Grimaldi '11 shone at the Grammy awards. (James photo by AD10012020/Wikimedia Commons. Grimaldi photo submitted)

Zachary James '05 (left) and Rob Grimaldi '11 shone at the Grammy awards. (James photo by AD10012020/Wikimedia Commons. Grimaldi photo submitted)

At the 64th annual Grammy Awards ceremony, Ithaca College took home an award and took center stage — in a manner of speaking.

Zachary James ’05 won a Grammy award for Best Opera Recording for his work on “Glass: Akhnaten.” Written by composer Phillip Glass in 1983, Akhnaten is a three-act opera based on the life and religious convictions of the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. James led the cast as Amenhotep III.

Throughout his two decade-long career, James has had several iconic roles, including portraying the role of Lurch in “The Addams Family” on Broadway, as well as playing Abraham Lincoln in the world premiere Glass opera, “The Perfect American.”

James was named the Most Innovative Opera Singer of 2019 by The Classical Post and was named Verismo Magazine’s Breakout Opera Artist that same year.

Another Ithaca influence on the ceremony took place when South Korean boy band BTS performed their hit song “Butter,” in a performance that earned rave reviews.

In Case You Missed It

Missed it live? That doesn't mean you can’t see the Grammy performance of Rob Grimaldi’s "Butter."

Watch the performance here.

Butter, which was named Billboard’s “Song of the Summer” in 2021 was co-written and produced by Rob Grimaldi ’11.

Grimaldi, who also worked as a DJ in Ithaca while he was a student, was a staff member for both VIC and WICB during his time on South Hill.