Norah Jones to Receive Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award at Grammy Museum’s Hall of Fame Gala
Norah Jones, photo by Joelle Grace Taylor
Norah Jones has been selected as the second recipient of the Recording Academy’s Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award. Honoring Charles’ indelible legacy as a performer, pianist, and cultural force and the artists achieving a parallel impact on the music industry today, the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award will be presented at the Grammy Museum’s Hall of Fame Gala alongside the 52nd class of recordings inducted into the venerable institution.
“I’m so honored to receive the Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award,” said Jones. “Ray Charles was my musical hero, and he changed the way so many of us hear and feel music. To be recognized in connection with his legacy, and as part of a night that also celebrates such important recorded works, is special for me.”
Jones’ recognition follows Jon Batiste’s selection as the award’s inaugural recipient at the 2025 Grammy Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Like the icon for whom the prize is named, Jones has earned esteem as a vocalist, pianist, songwriter and producer and champion of new generations of artists through decades of recordings across a vast spectrum of genres and styles.
“Norah Jones represents the kind of artistry that leaves a lasting imprint on music and culture,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Her work reflects a deep musicality, emotional honesty and a spirit of exploration that echoes the legacy of Ray Charles himself. We are honored to celebrate Norah, this year’s Grammy Hall Of Fame recordings and Warner Records as part of an evening dedicated to the enduring impact of great music.”
The Ray Charles Architect of Sound Award will be shared with Jones as part of the programming for the Grammy Museum’s Hall of Fame Gala, staging at Los Angeles’ Beverly Hilton on May 8. This year’s class of Hall of Fame recordings includes Radiohead’s OK Computer, 2Pac’s All Eyez On Me, Lucinda Williams’ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain, Nick Drake’s Pink Moon, Alice Coltrane’s Journey in Satchidananda, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 and more from Bertha “Chippie” Hill, Ella Jenkins, Eric B. & Rakim, Heart, The Rouse Brothers, Selena, and The Soul Stirrers.
Learn more about the Grammy Museum’s Hall of Fame Gala here.
