Esperanza Spalding - Billboard Interview

Esperanza Spalding gives us a very interesting look at her background, how she got to the level she is now, and her feelings about her Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

Esperanza Spalding started playing music when she was five years old. She then played violin for ten years, and when she turned fifteen she discovered the bass. Through this instrument she discovered jazz and started to explore and improvise music.

Later on she moved to Boston and went to Berkley, which is where she started signing and playing. She then had amazing mentors such as Patty Austin, Prince, and Stevie Wonder.

She explains who well Prince and her clicked musically and became friends. Esperanza also shares how Stevie Wonder discovered her music and how it led her to perform at the White House.

This year, Esperanza is going on two major US tours, some European dates, and will be working on her next album "Radio Music Society" with Q-Tip

Barbra Streisand - To Perform at Grammy Awards

Barbra Streisand, who will be honored as person of the year at the MusiCares Evening/Concert on February 11th will also be performing at this year's Grammy Awards. Mick Jagger, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Raphael Saadiq are among other acts which are set to perform on February 13th.

During MusiCares there will be many performances given in honor of Barbra Streisand. These include the following artists: Tony Bennett, Seal, Donna Summer, Bebe Winans, Stevie Wonder, Jeff Beck, Herbie Hancock, LeAnn Rimes, Diana Krall, Barry Manilow, Kristin Chenoweth, Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Darren Criss, and Nikki Yanofsky.

Barbra Streisand, who is a multi-Grammy winning artist and current Grammy nominee for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (Love is the Answer), will close the evening with her own special performance.