Grammy greats

Dalai Lama grateful

NEW Delhi, India (AFP) — Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said Monday he was grateful for his first Grammy, after bagging the top music industry award for audio book, narration and storytelling.

The charismatic 90-year-old, who lives in exile in India, was announced as the winner at the Grammys ceremony in Los Angeles for his book “Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”

“I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility,” he said in a post on social media. “I don’t see it as something personal, but as a recognition of our shared universal responsibility.”

“I truly believe that peace, compassion, care for our environment, and an understanding of the oneness of humanity are essential for the collective well-being of all eight billion human beings,” he added.

“Meditation: Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama” features artists such as Rufus Wainwright, who accepted the award on behalf of the spiritual leader, and Maggie Rogers.

Spielberg scores grand slam 

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Legendary director Steven Spielberg on Sunday completed the grand slam of showbiz awards, earning so-called EGOT status by winning a Grammy in the best music film category for the documentary “Music by John Williams.”

Spielberg, 79, has now won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards throughout his storied career — a feat only accomplished by 21 other people.

That list reads like a who’s who of showbiz, from composers Richard Rodgers and Alan Menken to actresses Audrey Hepburn and Whoopi Goldberg to singers John Legend and Jennifer Hudson.

“Music by John Williams” celebrates the work of the 93-year-old composer, who collaborated with Spielberg on a host of movies including classics “Jaws” and “Schindler’s List.”

“This acknowledgment is obviously deeply meaningful to me because it validates what I have known for over 50 years: John Williams’ influence on culture and music is immeasurable and his artistry and legacy is unrivaled,” Spielberg said in a statement on the Instagram account of his Amblin Entertainment company.