I go for a stroll on Figueroa Street. Lots of tourists roam
around. A tidy looking homeless man stands quietly at a corner with a paper cup
in his hand. I know him. I run into him often. He is old and I always make it a
point to give him some money. Then I continue with my walk. And I have done
this path for a while now, but today I notice an African American lady with her
rambunctious boy purchasing tickets at a window. Curious, I want to know more
about the tickets. Then I see a sign that says “Grammy Museum.” How could I have
missed it in all this time? Don’t know, but I buy a ticket. I am told that no pictures
are allowed and that I’m to start on the 4th floor and work myself down.
I take the elevator up and go through a rectangular room which
has various artists singing on two big screens. In the center of the room are
five Grammy Award displays starting from 1958 to present. At the Mike Curb Gallery, there are glasses, Jackets, Records, Guitars and etc. of various
artists such as Michael Jackson and groups such as Cheap Trick. At first I feel
like I am at the Hard Rock café, but soon that feeling ends as I walk into a special
exhibit highlighting the LA Opera and Plácido Domingo, his awards, time period costumes,
his photo with the Pope and a film. A little further, I notice a headset just
in case I want to listen to the music of John Fogerty.
The 3rd floor is about how to create music. Tina Turner sings in the background.
There are hands on instruments. The little boy I saw with his mom earlier bangs
away on the drums while his mom chats on her cell phone. There’s a large display
of Jenni Rivera’s shoes, awards and clothes. In another area there are photos
and walls of info about how music was created including Thomas Edison’s
invention of tinfoil phonograph. I see a Graphophone/“Talking Machine,” read
the instructions and try it out. It’s a machine similar to the one used in the
1900s. I talk into it; it records and plays back. A few steps later, there are
several recording studios where I get a chance to create music.
Second floor houses the Clive Davis Theater. I walk in. There
are a handful of people in there. The lights are dim. The Beatles are singing
on the screen. I sit there, enjoying the music before stopping by a small gift
shop. After walking through the shop, I realize I can’t part with a particular black
mug. It’s plain really, but I like it as I pay the girl behind the register. I’ve
been making my red Dandelion tea in there ever since.
Another set of stairs leads me back to the first floor where I
started. Here I can knock myself out and take some photos. So I do exactly that
before I continue with my walk on Figueroa. I’m planning to go back to the
Grammy Museum to learn more.
