[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 82 (Wednesday, June 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               HONORING ``THE GRAMMY MAN'', JOHN BILLINGS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT McINNIS

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 13, 2001

  Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to stand before you today 
and pay tribute to the shinning star of the Western Slope of Colorado. 
That's where John Billings the Grammy Man resides. He is only the 
second man ever to create, by hand, each gold gramophone statue that is 
presented at the GRAMMYs.
  Every year since 1958, that gold gramophone has been handed to some 
of the biggest recording stars in the industry. John is the only person 
allowed by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to make 
what is arguably the industry's highest honor--the Grammy statuette. 
When John started in 1977, there were only 51 categories, today there 
are 100. John spends five months a year casting about 300 awards. ``Its 
kind of unique that in just 43 years, two of us have made them,'' John 
said. ``It's a dying art and a lost craft, and somebody's got to keep 
it alive.''
  John grew up in Van Nuys, California during the 1960's, where he used 
to hang around the garage workshop of his neighbor Bob Graves, the 
original maker of the Grammy statuette. After Bob began to lose his 
eyesight making the creation of the statues difficult, he asked John if 
he would like to become the next craftsman. He would spend the next 7 
years learning the craft. ``One of the last things he said to me was 
`Don't ever let anyone get those Grammys away from you'.'' When John 
cannot make the award any longer, he will pass the tradition to his 
son.
  For the last 25 years John has perfected its design. ``I have sat in 
the audience for so many years, and I sit there and cry. To see 
something that I have made to honor this person, and they're standing 
there holding it up in the air like it's an Olympic medal. There is 
really a lot of pride in that, and I think that's what keeps me 
going.''
  Mr. Speaker, the statue is a labor of love and a matter of pride for 
John. Los Angeles may be the real home of the Grammy Awards, but 
Ridgeway, Colorado is much bigger in the eyes of the music industry. He 
is truly one of a kind.

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