It’s the Super Bowl of music, the ceremony with prestigious awards that will follow an artist for life.
At last weekend’s actual Super Bowl, it was “two-time Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson” who sang the national anthem.
On the postgame season debut of NBC’s “The Voice,” the judges were introduced with the number of Grammys they’ve earned (for the record, it’s three for Adam Levine and Maroon 5, three for Atlanta’s Cee Lo Green, four for Christina Aguilera and none yet for Blake Shelton, though he’s up for three tonight.
Other awards might come with a hipness factor (an MTV Video Music Award) or the history of being tied to something created by Dick Clark (an American Music Award). But when it comes to mainstream recognition and status, nothing looks more impressive in the trophy case than a glistening gramophone.
Dozens of artists will have the chance to win one when the 54th Grammy Awards air live at 8 tonight on CBS.
At this year’s ceremony, Atlanta-born Kanye West leads the nominees with seven, though it’s expected that husky-voiced British songbird Adele, up for six awards in marquee categories such as album and song of the year, will earn the bold-faced headlines for multiple wins.
In the past, Georgia has dispatched dozens of Grammy hopefuls among artists, producers and engineers with local ties.
Last year boasted more than 35 nominees ranging from R&B chanteuse Janelle Monáe to young rapper B.o.B. to country stalwart Alan Jackson.
The current crop is a bit smaller, with 23 Georgia names factoring into 18 categories. Cee Lo Green, Christian singer Chris Tomlin and Jason Aldean of Macon represent the state’s heartiest showing with three nominations each.
While the area is renowned for its hip-hop, R&B and country exports, the contemporary Christian and gospel categories are particularly ripe with Georgians — both native and transplanted — this year.
It isn’t unusual to hear God being thanked at award shows, but tonight, those thanks could frequently be coming from the South.
Augusta-born Laura Story, who received her first nomination for “Hold Me” in the best contemporary Christian music song category, moved to Atlanta after a stint in Nashville and is currently a worship leader at Perimeter Church in Johns Creek.
Musical movement
Last month at a party presented by the Atlanta chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences which produces the Grammys, Story said that part of her reason for relocating was because Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport facilitates her traveling needs.
Story also elaborated on what is becoming a common theme among Christian artists.
“Atlanta is a great town, but we came here to be part of a church, and I think a lot of musicians are doing the same thing,” she said.
Gospel singer Canton Jones hails from South Florida, but graduated from Morehouse College, so Atlanta isn’t unfamiliar terrain.
His song, “Window,” is up against tunes from Kirk Franklin, Donald Lawrence, Richard Smallwood and Mary Mary for best gospel song. A win would mark his first Grammy.
Jones, who is a member of the praise and worship crew at World Changers Church International in College Park and recently bought a home in Fayetteville, said that there is an undeniable Christian music movement swooshing through the Atlanta area.
“This is the Bible Belt. There are a lot of churches and gospel music buyers here and we represent a progressive and aggressive movement.
“There’s another generation of music that’s coming,” Jones said. “I was a fan of LaFace [L.A. Reid/Babyface] and the whole hip-hop movement, but I went the gospel and soul route. But when you mix that up with what we’re doing, it’s huge.”
Other local Christian acts hoping to score a Grammy include newcomer Jamie Grace, whose “Hold Me” will compete with Story and triple nominee Tomlin for best contemporary Christian music song.
Tomlin, a worship leader at Atlanta’s Passion City Church with Louie Giglio, who co-wrote the nominated “I Lift My Hands,” is also up for best contemporary Christian album for “And If Our God is For Us...”
Fewer categories
Although NARAS restructured the awards for this year, whittling categories from 109 to 78, Atlanta Chapter Executive Director Michele Caplinger doesn’t think the reductions affected many Georgia artists.
Instead, she thinks the smaller number of local nominees is more because “we didn’t have the volume of big artist records come out in the [eligibility period] this past year, which means next year you’ll have all of the big names with big releases again.”
Still, most veteran acts play it cool when their name makes the Grammy ballot.
“It’s not going to bust my heart if I don’t win, but I do think it’s an honor just to be nominated,” Savannah resident Gregg Allman said.
His “Low Country Blues” is up for best blues album — and interestingly, his competitors include Allman Brothers brethren Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks.
The Allman Brothers Band, who have won only a single trophy in 1995, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award tonight.
Perhaps they, too, will thank God.
About the Author
