Jack White at Grammy Honors Speech: ‘Build Bridges Instead of Walls’
During a Grammy week ceremony honoring Jack White, the musician got a touch political during his acceptance speech while being honored by the Recording Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing.
He opened his speech by cracking a joke about having Kellyanne Conway ghostwriting, but instead deciding to “wing it.” From there, White went through his development as a producer since childhood, giving special thanks to Les Paul and Bing Crosby while also quoting Michael Jackson. “You’re an antenna, and it’s all about letting God in the room,” White borrowed from Jackson while discussing his process of letting the music directing what happens in the studio.
For White, Crosby was a particular inspiration for the money he spent to “progress this entire industry” by investing in the making of analog tape machines. “That’s about building bridges and carrying on for the next generation,” he said of Crosby’s contribution. “I think we should build bridges, instead of walls, especially right now.”
White is up for three Grammys this year. He and Beyoncé are nominated together in the Best Rock Performance category for their collaboration “Don’t Hurt Yourself” off Lemonade. He is also up for Best American Roots Song for “City Lights” and as part of the singer’s Album of the Year nomination as producer. Over the course of his career, White has won 12 Grammy awards as both a solo artist and member of various bands. He took home the Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package last year for The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume Two (1928-32).