After a six-year campaign by Cajun/Zydeco musicians and fans — spearheaded by Terrance and Cynthia Simien — the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has announced that next year’s Grammy Awards will (finally!) include a separate category for Cajun/Zydeco music.
This is huge news; until now, Cajun/Zydeco artists have been lumped into the folk category, competing with Dylan and Springsteen. Even then, four Cajun/Zydeco musicians have won Grammys: Queen Ida in 1982, Clifton Chenier in 1983, Rockin’ Sidney in 1985 and BeauSoleil in 1997. With the recent influx of young, talented Cajun musicians, this should be a great showcase for Cajun/Zydeco music (and a competitive category) for years to come.
2 Comments:
i was wondering when would the grammys for zydeco music would take place? and how can a band get involved to make it to the grammys?
by rosemary on June 28th, 2007
Next year’s Grammys will take place on February 10, 2008; nominations will be announced on December 6, 2007. Any album released between October 2006 and September 2007 is eligible.
I’m actually not really sure how you suggest an album to be nominated. You might want to ask Terrance and Cynthia Simien — they led the Cajun/Zydeco Grammy effort and, I believe, are members of the NARAS (the organization that votes on the awards).
by Chris on June 28th, 2007