At the Roots’ seventh annual pre-Grammy jam Saturday, Betty Wright delivered a show-stopping performance of her minor 1975 hit “Tonight is the Night” as the Philadelphia hip-hop outfit took a Hennessy-sipping audience on historical journey through soul, rock and rap at the Music Box Theater. Jimmy Fallon, who employs the Roots as his house band on his late-night TV show, opened the evening with a reprise of his imitation of Neil Young singing Willow Smith’s “Whip Your Hair.” (Unlike the version broadcast, Bruce Springsteen did not show up to sing backup.) From there, the Roots mixed their own material with classics as a string of performers came up for one song each. Chaka Khan, Chuck Brown, Taj Mahal, Booker T. Jones and Too Short were among the old-school representatives while Sara Bareilles covered the Dusty Springfield hit “Son of a Preacher Man,” Trombone Shorty joined in on a Meters jam and Estelle took on “You Got Me.” Roots guitarist Captain Kirk Douglas took the band on a wild hard-rock journey through songs by Guns ‘N Roses, Led Zeppelin, Bo Diddley and, ever so briefly, Donna Summer.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
 The Roots crew and T.V. host Jimmy Fallon (center) arrive at the seventh annual Roots Jam Session at the Music Box Theatre in Hollywood (Photo: Chelsea Lauren/WireImage) |
Click Here For .biz’s Complete Grammys Central 2011: Photos, News & More
 Estelle throwing down with Roots guitarist Captain Kirk Douglas. (Photo: Chris Weeks/WireImage) |
 Legendary soul singer Betty Wright with S-Curve Records CEO & Founder Steve Greenberg. (Photo: Chelsea Lauren/WireImage) |
 Left to right: Sara Bareilles channeling Dusty Springfield at the 7th annual Roots Jam Session. (Photo: Chris Weeks/WireImage) |