Apple’s Eddy Cue accepts Grammy award honouring Steve Jobs

At this weekend’s 54th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Internet Software Eddy Cue collected a posthumous Trustee Award honouring Steve Jobs for his contribution to the music industry.

The Special Merit Award, which is voted for by the The Recording Academy’s National Trustees is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of recording (in a non-performing capacity) during their careers – which, of course, the Apple co-founder did through products such as the iPod, and services such as the iTunes Store.

This short video shows Cue accepting the award on behalf of Steve’s wife Laurene, his children, and everyone at Apple:

Transcript of the acceptance speech:

“On behalf of Steve’s wife Laurene, his children, and everyone at Apple, I’d like to thank you for honoring Steve with the Trustees Grammy Award. Steve was a visionary, a mentor, and a very close friend. I had the incredible honor of working with him for the last fifteen years.

Accepting this award means so much to me because music meant so much to him. He told us that music shaped his life, it made him who he was. Everyone that knows Steve knows the profound impact that artists like Bob Dylan and The Beatles had on him.

Steve was focused on bringing music to everyone in innovative ways. We talked about it every single day. When he introduced the iPod in 2001, people asked “Why is Apple making a music player?” His answer was simple: “We love music, and it’s always good to do something you love.”

His family and I know that this Grammy would have been very special to him, so I thank you for honoring him today.”

In a further tribute, the Recording Academy have published a piece written by one of the Apple co-founder’s friends – cellist, and 16-time Grammy award winner Yo-Yo Ma.