Technical Grammy awards
Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of Roland Corporation, plus Dave Smith, engineer and guitarist, are this year's technical Grammy award recipients for their contributions to the development of midi (musical instrument digital interface) technology.

Japanese company Roland is also well known for its acclaimed electronic percussion products such as the V-Drum sets, the SPD-SX sampling pad, and the SPD-30 Octapad.

The other Technical Grammy Award recipient is Royer Labs, US manufacturer of handcrafted ribbon mics for professional audio recording.

Grammyy trustees awards
The Grammy trustees award honorees are songwriters Marilyn and Alan Bergman, Chess Records founders Leonard and Phil Chess, plus former Capitol Records executive Alan Livingston.

Glenn Gould
A prodigy and four-time Grammy winner, Glenn Gould became one of the best known and most celebrated classical pianists of his time with a style of playing that was deeply expressive and rhythmically precise.

Charlie Haden
A three-time Grammy winner Charlie Haden is an all-American jazz musician best known for his signature lyrical bass lines and his ability to liberate the bassist from an accompanying role. Throughout his five decade career, Haden has revolutionized the harmonic concept of bass playing and has covered such genres as free jazz, Portuguese fado and vintage country.

Lightnin' Hopkins
The career of Texas country/blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist Lightnin' Hopkins spanned more than six decades. He recorded approximately 1,000 songs, including such hits as T-Model Blues, Tim Moore's Farm and Mojo Hand. Hopkins gained recognition with his intense mournful style and his distinctive fingerstyle playing, earning him a spot on Rolling Stone's list of 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Carole King
Carole King is one of the most significant and talented singer/songwriters in the modern era. In 2010, King joined friend and fellow singer/songwriter James Taylor during the successful "Troubadour Reunion" tour. In 2012, she released her New York Times best-selling autobiography A Natural Woman.

Patti Page
Throughout her seven-decade career, Patti Page has recorded a number of hits. Her unique and smooth vocal style seamlessly blended country and pop music. Her 'Live At Carnegie Hall — The 50th Anniversary Concert' album garnered her a rammy in 1998 for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

Ravi Shankar
As one of the world's most renowned sitar players, three-time Grammy winner Ravi Shankar was a true ambassador for international music. As a performer, composer, teacher and writer, he is considered a pioneer in bringing Indian music to the West. With a performance career spanning more than 80 years, he has influenced a variety of musicians, including the Beatles, John Coltrane, Philip Glass, and Norah Jones.

The Temptations
Recognized for their slick choreography, distinct harmonies and flashy attire, the Temptations are one of the most influential R&B acts in music. A Motown staple, the Temptations pioneered their sound by focusing on songs that reflected social change, politics, love and a strong connection to their audience. In 1968, the group earned a Grammy award for their performance of the hit Cloud Nine. Additionally; their hits My Girl and Papa Was A Rollin' Stone have been inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame, with the latter recording garnering two Grammys in 1972.

The launch of midi
In 1983, Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of Roland Corporation, and Dave Smith, president of Sequential Circuits, unveiled midi. Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of midi, a standard that motivated the cooperation of an entire industry and helped move music technology into a new era. In a nearly unprecedented collaboration between competing manufacturers, what would soon prove an inescapable new technology was born when two competing manufacturers’ electronic keyboards were connected, enabling them to 'talk' to one another using a new communication standard. The announcement ultimately revolutionized the music world. Today, midi is ubiquitous in the musical equipment industry, and it is the de facto standard feature on virtually every electronic music product made by every manufacturer. Says Ikutaro Kakehashi:

"It's already been 30 years since the debut of midi protocol in 1983, but it seems to me that those years have passed so quickly. Electronic musical instruments have become very popular all over the world through this time, and it is my great pleasure that midi played a significant role in their prevalence. This year’s technical Grammy award is the result of the cooperation by the companies who worked towards the same dream — growth of electronic musical instruments. I would like to share this acknowledgement with Mr. Tadao Kikumoto, former R&D manager of Roland Corporation, the engineering staff and all who were involved in creating and designing the midi concept and system."

Neil Portnow, presi/ceo of The Recording Academy, states:

"Each year, The Academy has the distinct privilege of honoring those who have greatly contributed to our industry and cultural heritage, and this year we have a gifted and brilliant group of honorees. Their exceptional accomplishments, contributions and artistry will continue to influence and inspire generations to come."

Ceremony on tv
A special invitation-only ceremony will be held during Grammy Week on February 9, 2013, and a formal acknowledgment will be made during the 55th annual Grammy awards telecast, which will be held at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 10, 2013, and broadcast live at 8 pm ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.