Gary Clark Jr. Recruits the Roots for Scorching ‘This Land’ at the 2020 Grammys
Gary Clark Jr. recruited the Roots for an updated rendition of the guitarist’s politically charged “This Land” at the 2020 Grammys.
In front of a gothic backdrop and performing next to a bonfire, the electrically talented guitarist delivered a smoldering performance. While the Roots, featuring the always distinctive Questlove on drums, backed up Clark Jr., the band’s frontman Black Thought didn’t make an appearance.
Prior to the Grammy performance, Clark Jr. and the Roots initially debuted their collaborative version of “This Land” when the guitarist visited The Tonight Show on December 11th, 2019. That remixed rendition was recently re-released as a single with Black Thought entering the studio to re-record his verse for the track.
Clark Jr., who won a Grammy in 2014 for Traditional R&B Performance, is up for four more awards at the 2020 Grammys: Best Contemporary Blues Album (This Land) and Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance and Best Music Video (“This Land”).
The guitarist was also tapped to participate in both MusiCares’ tribute to Aerosmith and the Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince special.