In 1980, Cossette (whose son John is co-executive producer of the show now) turned to Ehrlich and director Walter Miller to help a show that was drifting into schmaltz. Ehrlich's "serious music" background helped immediately: Bob Dylan agreed to appear for the first time on the Grammys because he had worked with Ehrlich on a John Hammond tribute back in Chicago.

On that first show, Ehrlich lobbied "hot and hard" behind the scenes to create a special moment by pairing Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand on a performance of "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," a song they had first recorded individually, then in 1978 as a duet. The special tandem performances would become a trademark. Some critics, though, have wondered whether corralling Paul McCartney, Jay-Z and Linkin Park into one number, as Ehrlich did last year, is more gimmicky than golden.

Ehrlich has been thinking for months about the 50th-anniversary show, which will take place Feb. 10 -- he carries a sheet of paper in his pocket full of names and ideas. Don't bother asking for a peek: "Why would I tell?"

There are, however, some big names that could be in Ehrlich's sights. Garth Brooks, who is ramping up his career after a quasi-retirement, will be performing five shows at Staples Center less than two weeks before the Grammys are staged in the same building. Michael Jackson, meanwhile, is releasing a 25th-anniversary edition of "Thriller" just four days after the Grammys. Ehrlich tried in 2002 to book Jackson, but the discussions soured when the Gloved One insisted that he be presented with an award of some sort, which Ehrlich saw as a "lack of understanding and respect for us." The whole thing fell apart soon after.

Ehrlich has a fairly gentle personality (he describes his industry reputation as "reasonable and benign") and a habit of making glum, self-deprecating comments when the conversation lingers on him.

"Believe me, Hillary Clinton's book is not in trouble," he said. "In a way, I don't know why I did this book; I have this feeling I don't own this stuff."

The Eeyore tendency comes across in the book, but so does his impatience for industry hubris and flimsy talents. Ehrlich winces when the subject turns to "15-minute personalities," as he calls them, and he prides himself that he has turned down the overtures by Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and other stars whose legacies seems to be as fleeting as a text message.

"I spend more time focused on music and people that will be remembered in the years to come," he said.

That may be, but Ehrlich has seen "American Idol" beat the Grammys in head-to-head competition, and he has seen that talent show's glorified karaoke sensibility tilt the Grammys broadcast, which last year had an unknown singer who had been selected by fans perform with Justin Timberlake. There's also the upheaval in the recording industry. These things don't sit well with Ehrlich, but he says the music keeps him going.

On Friday, CBS aired a show called "My Grammy Moment," a two-hour retrospective that Ehrlich labored over intensely and was proud of, but instead of staying home and watching it, he and Harriet went to see James Taylor and Carole King at the Troubadour. Afterward, he was giddy.

"That is what it's all about -- just great music, timeless music, and it's the music I used to sing to my kids," Ehrlich said as he fished for his car keys. "I don't know how anybody couldn't feel it or how they couldn't love it. My job to make sure that they get a chance to see it."

geoff.boucher@latimes.com