Musicians rally to restore Grammy category cuts

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Musicians rally to restore Grammy category cuts

Demonstrators rallied outside a National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences board meeting, demanding the restoration of more than 30 categories cut from the Grammy Awards. They say the cuts unfairly targeted ethnic music.

Oscar Hernandez, right, two-time Grammy winner for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2005 and 2011, talks with Pete Escovedo during a demonstration outside a meeting of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences board in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday, May 26, 2011. The group is demanding restoration of more than 30 categories cut from the Grammy Awards. They say the reductions unfairly target ethnic music and were done without the input of the academy's thousands of members.

Jimmy Dichirico, left, and Gaston Rene join musicians and others demonstrating outside a NARAS board meeting, demanding restoration of more than 30 categories cut from the Grammy Awards.

Musician and producer Gaston Rene joins musicians and others demonstrators to demand the cut Grammy categories be re-instated.

Ismael Carlo, center, listens as Gary Eisenberg, left, and Latin jazz bandleader Bob Desena play music during a demonstration demanding the restoration of some categories cut from the Grammy Awards.

Pepper Mashay, also known as Sista Jean, holds a sign saying "31 categories must be re-instated," referring to the reductions that demonstrators say unfairly target ethnic music.

Bandleader Bobby Matos plays percussion, right, as Jimmy Gomez plays harmonica and others demonstrate outside a meeting of the board of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Two-time Grammy winner Oscar Hernandez, right, holds a "respect diversity" sign while he speaks with another demonstrator.

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Oscar Hernandez, right, two-time Grammy winner for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2005 and 2011, talks with Pete Escovedo during a demonstration outside a meeting of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences board in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday, May 26, 2011. The group is demanding restoration of more than 30 categories cut from the Grammy Awards. They say the reductions unfairly target ethnic music and were done without the input of the academy's thousands of members.