What’s the biggest, most important musical event of the year? Opinions may differ but most would agree the Grammys are certainly up there. The annual event honors the best in music where the winners receive a gramophone-shaped award to honor their accomplishments. Have you ever wondered where these awards come from? Believe it or not, they’re manufactured in a small workshop located in Ridgway, our neighbor to the northwest.
The Grammy Awards are made by a man named John Billings and his team the old-fashioned way: through standard tools and their hands. Billings has been responsible for making the gold gramophones for more than three decades and he will once again make them for the 2018 awards show. In addition to the standard Grammy Awards, Billings is also responsible for making the Latin Grammy Awards.
Each individual Grammy takes about fifteen hours to make; it’s definitely a painstaking process! To give you an idea of what it’s made of and the labor involved, the award consists of a base, cabinet, and tone arm which holds the bell. All parts are cast from a mold, filed, and polished before they are assembled and eventually plated in 24-karat gold.
To learn more about John Billings, check out the Los Angeles Times article.
This update is provided by Twins Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs. Our Ouray Colorado lodging, full-service hotel has seven different room types including rooms for couples or families with children. Our amenities include hot springs, a free breakfast, spectacular vistas of the mountains, and much more. For additional information on our Ouray Colorado lodging location, please call 800.207.2700 or visit us at 125 3rd Avenue Ouray, Colorado 81427.
