Grammy Outrage Revisited

This year's Grammy® Award nominations were announced on Wednesday, but there was a bit of controversy surrounding the event even before the Academy trotted out its dog and pony show. At issue is the decision by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, which awards the Grammies, to cut the number of eligible categories this year from 109 to 78 awards. As reported by the The Independent newspaper website in the U.K. a number of former Grammy® winners like Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, and Herbie Hancock have criticized the cutbacks.

Some see the elimination of categories as somewhat racist, even if unintentionally, as the cuts occurred disproportionately to musical styles dominated by African-American and Latino musicians. Blues music, near and dear to the Reverend's heart, has gone from two categories - traditional and contemporary blues - to a single award, shutting out a lot of deserving musicians. Latin music has been reduced from seven categories to four, with Latin jazz eliminated altogether, and Cajun, Hawaiian, and Native American music has been combined into one "regional roots" award.

The 54th annual Grammy® Awards show will be broadcast by CBS on February 12, 2012. This year's "Best Blues Album" nominations include works from Gregg Allman, Marcia Ball, Warren Haynes, Keb' Mo', and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. As I've ranted about before, considering the importance and influence of the blues on modern music, there should be several blues categories awarded, not just one. The commercial juggernaut that is pop music has five exclusive categories and, to be honest, typically dominates the "Album of the Year" and "Record of the Year" awards. Gospel/CCR music also has five categories, jazz has four, even dance music has two awards...really, people, Deadmau5 and Skrillex are more important to American culture than the blues?

There is a groundswell of populist support to reinstate the former categories, however, so if you'd like your voice to be heard on this issue, get on over to the Grammy® Watch website and sign their petition.

2011 Blues Grammy® Nominees:
Gregg Allman - Low Country Blues CD review
Marcia Ball - Roadside Attractions CD review
Warren Haynes - Man In Motion CD review
Keb' Mo' - The Reflection CD review
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator CD review

Photo of Gregg Allman's Low Country Blues courtesy Rounder Records