Chicago - 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards: Midwest Nominees Announced!
Nominations for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards were announced last night by The Recording Academy® reflecting a year in which some artists did it all, collaborations were numerous and diverse, and breakout music makers ran the genre gamut. Midwest performers were recognized amidst top musicians in their category, receiving accolades for their work with 53 nominations, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Album, Best Rock Album and Best Alternative Music Album.
"The Midwest has produced some of America’s top musical talent over the years," said Tera Healy, East Regional Director of The Recording Academy. "We’re excited and proud that such a diverse number of wonderful musicians and talent from our region are being recognized this year by The Academy and its members."
Topping the nominations in the Midwest:
Bill Maylone: Best Engineered Album, Classical (Tinley Park, Ill.)
The Black Keys: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (Akron, Ohio)
Bob Brookmeyer: Best Instrumental Arrangement (Kansas City, Mo.)
Bon Iver: Record of the Year (Eau Claire, Wis.)
Song of the Year
Best New Artist
Best Alternative Music Album
Butch Vig: Album of the Year (Madison, Wis.)
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Clare Fischer: Best Instrumental Arrangement (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Donald Lawrence: Best Gospel Song (Chicago, Ill.)
Eddie Vedder: Best Folk Album (Evanston, Ill.)
Eighth Blackbird: Best Small Ensemble Performance (Chicago, Ill.)
El DeBarge: Best R&B Album (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Eminem: Album of the Year (Detroit, Mich.)
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Best Rap Song
Fred Hersch: Best Improvised Jazz Solo (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Howard Levy: Best Instrumental Composition (Evanston, Ill.)
Joe Lovano: Best Jazz Instrumental Album (Cleveland, Ohio)
Kanye West: Song of the Year (Chicago. Ill.)
Best Rap Performance
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
(2) Best Rap Song
(2) Best Rap Album
Karrin Allyson: Best Jazz Vocal Album (Kansas City, Mo.)
Kathy Griffin: Best Comedy Album (Oak Park, Ill.)
Ken Shipley: Best Album Notes (Chicago, Ill.)
Best Historical Album
Kid Cudi: Song of the Year (Cleveland, Ohio)
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Best Rap Song
Kurt Elling: Best Jazz Vocal Album (Chicago, Ill.)
Lupe Fiasco: Best Rap Performance (Chicago, Ill.)
Best Rap Song
Best Rap Album
Malik Yusef: Best Rap Song (Chicago, Ill.)
Matthew West: Best Contemporary Christian Music Song (Downers Grove, Ill.)
OK Go: Best Short Form Music Video (Chicago, Ill.)
Pat Metheny: Best New Age Album (Lee’s Summit, Mo.)
R. Kelly: Best Traditional R&B Performance (Chicago, Ill.)
Best R&B Album
Ralphi Rosario: Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical (Chicago, Ill.)
Rob Sevier: Best Historical Album (Chicago, Ill.)
Ron Carter: Best Improvised Jazz Solo (Ferndale, Mich.)
Skylar Grey: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (Mazomanie, Wis.)
Best Rap Song
Tierney Sutton: Best Jazz Vocal Album (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Tom Lunt: Best Historical Album (Chicago, Ill.)
Wilco: Best Rock Album (Chicago, Ill.)
GRAMMY ballots for the final round of voting will be mailed on Dec. 14 to the voting members of The Recording Academy. They are due back to the accounting firm of Deloitte by Jan. 11, 2012, when they will be tabulated and the results kept secret until the GRAMMY telecast.
"The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night,"hosted by two-time GRAMMY-winner LL COOL J, featured the announcement of nominations in several categories as well as performances by country artist Jason Aldean, five-time GRAMMY winner Lady Gaga, three-time GRAMMY winner Ludacris, GRAMMY winner Lupe Fiasco, four-TimeGRAMMY winner Rihanna, GRAMMY-winning duo Sugarland, and country music sensation the Band Perry. Presenters included R&B/rap star Nicki Minaj and pop singer/songwriter Katy Perry. The concert special marked the fourth time nominations for the annual GRAMMY Awards were announced live on primetime television. Following the one-hour live telecast, guests enjoyed an exclusive concert by the Band Perry. A portion of the proceeds from this very special evening benefited the GRAMMY Museum®.
The road to Music's Biggest Night began with "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!!" and will culminate with the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards, live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, and broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT. "The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" is produced by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. Ken Ehrlich is the executive producer. LL COOL J is producer.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/thegrammys, a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/thegrammys, and aYouTube channel subscriber at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Barb Dehgan
Lourdes López
The Recording Academy
310.392.3777
barbd@grammy.com
lourdesl@grammy.com
Tiffany Smith-Anoa'i
Kate Fisher
CBS
818.655.1587/212.975.3818
tiffany.smith@cbs.com
khfisher@cbs.com
Maureen O'Connor
Heather Lewandoski
Rogers & Cowan
310.854.8116/310.854.8147
moconnor@rogersandcowan.com
hlewandoski@rogersandcowan.com
MEDIA:A complete list of nominees is available at www.grammy.com. The deadline to apply for press credentials to cover the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards has passed, and credential applications will no longer be accepted.NO EXCEPTIONS.
PUBLICISTS:Beginning Thursday, December 1 at 7 p.m. PT, publicists requesting credentials to the Arrivals area and Media Center to escort his/her nominated orpresenting/performing artist may contact Jessica Erskine via email at jerskine@rogersandcowan.com. Please note that these credentials are good only for Arrivals area and Media Center access; they do not allow access into the pre-telecast, telecast or backstage. Publicists will begin to receive confirmation of their credential status by Wednesday, Jan. 25.