I was raised on Aretha Franklin, my mother would always play…. Perry trails off.
Im having a little trouble saying this.
Tell me what I need to do.
Cliff Lipson/CBS
Ehrlich is sitting at a makeshift production table facing the stage.
His primary focus: keeping things on schedule and making any last-minute modifications needed prior to showtime.
(Perry didnt require much of the latter; he nailed his intro on the next take.)
Cliff Lipson/CBS
A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul(airing this Sunday at 9 p.m.
ET on CBS) look like.
By then, if the shows not in good shape then theres not a whole lot you could do.
Also making appearances are Franklins close collaborators and friends, Smokey Robinson and Clive Davis.
(I know how important this [show] was to [Clive], says Ehrlich.
Perry, too, had a personal relationship with Franklin.
I got a call from her one day saying, This is Aretha Franklin.
Im like, Youve got to be kidding,' recalls Perry.
Thats the kind of generous person that she was.
She would call you up and encourage you.
Another challenge: figuring out which song will be covered by which artist.
Though some acts come in committed to playing a favorite single, others are open to suggestions.
Jennifer Hudson pretty much came ready-made, says Ehrlich.
As rehearsals come to a close, Ehrlich and the rest of the lineup retreat backstage.
But everyone is in good spirits, and adjustments are minimal.
When youre honoring a legend, things sometimes just fall into place.
A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soulairs this Sunday at 9 p.m.
