Sunday, December 13, 2009

LOUIS J. HORVITZ NAMED DIRECTOR OF 52ND ANNUAL GRAMMY® AWARDS


Horvitz Joins Executive Producers Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette to Helm Music's Biggest Night®


SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Dec. 08, 2009) — Award-winning television director Louis J. Horvitz has been tapped to direct the 52nd Annual GRAMMY® Awards, it was announced today by The Recording Academy®. Horvitz joins executive producers Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette to helm the production of Music's Biggest Night®, which will be held live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, and air on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The annual GRAMMY Awards telecast is produced by John Cossette Productions and AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC.

"Lou Horvitz is one of the most accomplished and prolific directors in live television event broadcasting who continually facilitates seamless and elegant work," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "We are proud to have Lou on board, and look forward to working with him as he joins Ken and John to continue to make the GRAMMY Awards the most relevant and successful music event of the year."

"Lou is a remarkable live television event director whose resume only begins to tell the story," said Ehrlich. "He has a love of music that comes through every time he steps into the director's chair, and he was the only choice to continue in the tradition of his predecessor Walter Miller, who will continue to be involved with the GRAMMY Awards in an advisory producing capacity. Both John Cossette and I have worked with Lou often over the years, and are thrilled to have him join us on Music's Biggest Night."

About Louis J. Horvitz
In addition to directing the 2009 MusiCares® Person of the Year tribute concert honoring Neil Diamond during GRAMMY Week 2009, Horvitz has directed the annual Academy Awards telecast a record 12 times which has resulted in 10 Emmy® nominations and five wins; the Primetime Emmy Awards 14 times; "The Kennedy Center Honors" for 16 years which has resulted in an Emmy win; and the "American Film Institute Life Achievement Award" tributes a total of 18 times. In 2009 Horvitz had the historic opportunity to direct the "Kids Inaugural: We Are The Future" concert special for President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. He recently completed his 13th year as executive producer-director of "An Evening Of Stars," the annual television special benefiting the United Negro College Fund, receiving two prestigious NAACP Image Awards for his work. Horvitz has also won a Directors Guild of America Award and has received multiple nominations as well.

In a career that has spanned more than four decades, Horvitz has also directed numerous other high-profile programs including the American Music Awards, Fashion Rocks, the MTV Video Music Awards, VH1's "The Concert For New York City" benefiting survivors of Sept. 11, the Super Bowl XXXVI Halftime Show featuring U2, Paul Simon's Concert In The Park, the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels Tour, Live Aid, and the landmark musical variety series "Solid Gold." A native of Los Angeles, Horvitz earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Fine Arts at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/thegrammys, and a YouTube channel subscriber at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Barb Dehgan
The Recording Academy                                                                                  
310.392.3777                                                                                                    

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