Grammys!

[Gutbucket]

I gave up on the Grammy's long ago. I think I was changing oil in my truck that evening. Congrats to all the winners. I have always enjoyed Mr. O'Connor's music no matter what genre he plays. And there isn't many styles the guy can't play.

[CES]

Agree, Spruce, they were awesome!!

[FLATROCK HILL]

Genre's continue to evolve and then a new branch(s) emerge; it's not static. There are clear connections between today's groups and those of yesteryear; whether chord structure, musical form, instrument choice, repertoire, song topic, or region. Both Sarah and Sierra have strong roots in Bluegrass, but studied in Boston and learned classical, jazz, and expanded their comfort zones. Those influences are now found in their work... and to me, it doesn't make them any less connected to Bluegrass.

dschonbrun, While I can't argue with anything you've said, I don't think any of your points help to make the case that the music in question is 'Bluegrass'. You may however have solved the whole dilemma with your last three words. A new Grammy category... Connected to Bluegrass.

[Mandolin Cafe]

IBMA's membership nominates people that don't play bluegrass for their awards, so why should the Grammys be any different?

Who can name the folks in the voting block for the Grammy winners steeped in any kind of folk or bluegrass tradition? I wonder. Personally, all the categorization fills the need so these kind of events can be held, same for IBMA, so hard for us to get excited about someone not having a banjo player in the band, or having a banjo player that isn't doing it like Earl. For a huge part of the world, Willie and Waylon are bluegrass, so is Trampled by Turtles and Mumford & Sons or the Punch Brothers. Think it's going to change? Dream on.

There are a lot of serious problems in the music industry, mostly revolving around making a living. Poor categorization is not one of them. YMMV

[allenhopkins]

Grammies (or is it Grammys?) are bewildering: the "folk and traditional" award always goes to a songwriter -- nothing as "traditional" as last year's new songs; the "bluegrass" award goes to some vaguely country-ish acoustic band. What was "soul" or "rhythm and blues" I guess is now "urban contemporary," and where "rock" ends and "pop" begins, jeez, who knows?

If I were king, there'd be one Grammy category, for songs I like. Hey, I like Adele. I also like Gillian Welch, a lot. Give her the Grammy.

[Spruce]

Grammies (or is it Grammys?) are bewildering: the "bluegrass" award goes to some vaguely country-ish acoustic band.

For the record:

1988 Grammy Awards
Best Bluegrass Recording (Vocal Or Instrumental)
"Southern Flavor"
Bill Monroe, artist.

I would have lost a C note betting against this...

[JH Murray]

Music changes. The Grammys change as well, but not nearly as quickly as the culture does.
1958
Best Country & Western Performance: Tom Dooley by the Kingston Trio
Best Rhythm & Blues Performance: Tequila by Champs
Album Of The Year: The Music From Peter Gunn by Henry Mancini

1968
Best Country Performance: Foggy Mountain Breakdown by Flatt And Scruggs
Best Rhythm & Blues Performance: Cloud Nine by the Temptations
Album Of The Year: By The Time I Get To Phoenix by Glen Campbell

1978
Best Country Performance:Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys by Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
Best R&B Vocal Performance :All 'n All by Earth, Wind & Fire
Album Of The Year: Saturday Night Fever - Soundtrack

[mandroid]

It's the Industry ... people who work in the Business that vote among them selves..

not the Public..