The vintage shots, some from Woodstock, where Helm had his famous late-career "Midnight Ramble" jam sessions, are heart-crumplers. Could be it's impossible to overstate Helm's significance as a rock artist. And he was always more of an artist than a star -- the bigger compliment.
Funny that it's a diverse cast onstage, yet each player seems compatible in his or her own way with the unmistakable Levon Helm vibe. Mumford & Sons especially sound like direct descendants.
The Dream tells me he has been writing on the new Beyonce record, but they "told me to zip it," he smiles not giving more details. #GRAMMYs
We still have more acts to come, but there may be no topping this performance. Another incredible collaboration, the kind you'll only find on the GRAMMY stage. Bring it, Mavis Staples!
The Dream's new single is coming out soon and is titled "Slow It Down," he says. #GRAMMYs
We swerve to R&B next. Frank Ocean is coming up. Ocean needs no help as a performer, but good thing there's a commercial. Who would want to take the stage right after that massive display of talent?
It would've been fun to be a fly on the wall during rehearsals for that performance. Did Brittany Howard and Mavis Staples hit it off? Who was intimidated by Sir Elton?
Don't forget we still have Album of the Year to ponder over ...
Juanes getting ready to perform
Adam Yauch: Huge loss. The In Memoriam montage is so moving.
GRAMMY Fact: This is Juanes' first time performing on the GRAMMY stage. He won a GRAMMY earlier today for Best Latin Pop Album for MTV Unplugged Deluxe Edition.
Juanes -- full name Juan Esteban Aristizábal Vásquez -- is a Colombian superstar; winner of an armful of Latin GRAMMYs. Here he is with Elton's "Your Song."
Juanes is a chart-dominator in the Spanish-speaking world, but this year he crossed over to singing in English. He's also a social activist, known for his work as a humanitarian.
… and a former metal-head! You wouldn't know it now, listening to this even-keeled acoustic number. He's broken into Spanish.
Sweet, sweet rendition, and thoughtful dedication to Elton at the opening.
Frank Ocean is with us! For a lot of music fans, this may be tonight's most anticipated performance. Ocean has generated a lot of headlines this year. "Forrest Gump" is the song, and it's off of 2012's massively successful "channel ORANGE" album. The record landed on plenty of year's best lists.
GRAMMY Fact: This is also Frank Ocean's first time on the GRAMMY stage. With his first career GRAMMY win tonight, Frank Ocean joins a select group of GRAMMY winners with aquatic-minded names:
Johnny Rivers
Mike Poole
Seal
Howard Shore
Muddy Waters
"Inventive" is the word plenty of critics have used to describe Ocean, and it fits this performance. Run, Frank, Run! Great set.
