Carter, Rollins and Blakey join other BMI jazz legends inducted in previous years, including Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Billie Holiday, Bill Evans, Stan Getz, Art Tatum, Clark Terry and Freddie Green.

Pictured (l-r) are BMI's Robbin Ahrold, Gunther Schuller, Paquito D'Rivera and Smithsonian Curator of American Music John Hasse. Hasse developed the Jazz Appreciation Month program, which is led by the Smithsonian, seven years ago. Both Hasse and the NEA's Gioia are BMI composers.

The National Endowment for the Arts saluted the importance of jazz as an American cultural art form, and supported the kickoff of Jazz Appreciation Month jazz program at their headquarters in Washington DC on March 28. Keynoting at the event, organized by NEA Chairman Dana Gioia, was BMI composer Gunther Schuller, with performances by BMI Latin composer and saxophone virtuoso Paquito d'Rivera and his trio. BMI composers represent the majority of the 100 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship recipients, the highest honors that our nation bestows upon jazz musicians.

At CNN's "Crossfire" studio at George Washington University, for the media event kicking off Jazz Appreciation Month, are from left: BMI composer and Director of the Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra Dr. David Baker, National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia, BMI composer and JAM Ambassador for 2008 Ramsey Lewis, BMI's Charlie Feldman, Smithsonian Curator of American Music John Hasse

During a special ceremony on March 31, Ramsey Lewis engaged fellow musician Larry Coryell in a conversation about jazz as America’s national treasure and global export. Lewis also donated artifacts from his career to the museum’s music collections.

JAM is an annual event that pays tribute to jazz both as a historic and living American art form. Throughout the month, the Smithsonian will present numerous events, including performances, talks and family activities in venues across Washington, D.C.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia addresses the VIP luncheon and speaks about NEA's Jazz Masters program.

“Jazz is a truly American style of music that has played an important role in our heritage,” said Brent D. Glass, director of the National Museum of American History. “Through the Smithsonian’s Jazz Appreciation Month activities, we will highlight jazz and its history and how the genre has an important function in global diplomacy.”

Lewis’s donation of archival materials documenting his career consists of photographs, publicity materials, news clippings and awards. The awards include his 2007 designation as a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts and his designation as a living “Legendary Landmark of Chicago” in the same year. These items will join the museum’s collection of memorabilia from other jazz musicians, including Ella Fitzgerald, Lionel Hampton, Artie Shaw and Duke Ellington.

Charlie Feldman addresses the media and VIP audience at the JAM kickoff.

The National Museum of American History launched JAM in 2001 and it has since grown to include celebrations in all 50 states and 33 other countries. This year the Smithsonian will present a record 34 events, including performances by the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, appearances by NEA Jazz Masters Sonny Rollins, Dave Brubek, David N. Baker and Candido Camero. A complete schedule of JAM events is available at http://smithsonianjazz.org.

The 2008 JAM celebration is underwritten by generous financial support from the Herb Alpert Foundation; BMI; the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation; and NAMM, the International Music Products Association. WAMU Radio, 88.5 FM, is the media partner in the nation’s capital, providing public service announcements.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia and BMI's Charlie Feldman share the recognition of BMI's many NEA Jazz Masters at the JAM kickoff.

"BMI has a proud tradition of support for the jazz idiom and the composers and artists in the jazz community, reaching back to our beginnings in the 1940s," said BMI Vice President Charlie Feldman at the March 31 media kickoff event. “BMI made it possible for jazz composers, for the first time, to receive royalties for airplay of their work — composers and artists from Coltrane to Monk, from John Lewis to Myles Davis. As a matter of fact, BMI represents the majority of the National Endowment for the Arts ‘Jazz Masters,’ an honor that is the equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize in the world of jazz.

"Today, we salute one of those jazz masters, a composer, artist and broadcaster who has been part of the BMI family for more than 45 years, the legendary Ramsey Lewis.

BMI's Robbin Ahrold and Fred Cannon, BMI composer and JAM Ambassador for 2008 Ramsey Lewis, BMI jazz composer Larry Coryell and BMI's Charlie Feldman share a moment at the VIP kickoff luncheon for Jazz Appreciation Month at George Washington University in the nation's Capitol.

"With three Grammys and five gold records — and counting — Ramsey is one of the most prolific composer/artists in the BMI family, with more than 200 compositions in his catalog. He has achieved BMI’s highest honors, beginning in 1966 with his BMI Award for ‘Wade in the Water,’ one of the most-performed songs on U.S. radio that year, to just last year when we joined the industry in Nashville as Ramsey won the 2007 Stellar Award for Best Gospel Instrumental Album.

"Ramsey is an absolute natural to be the standard bearer this year for Jazz Appreciation Month — he is, after all, the voice of jazz to millions of Americans through his nationally syndicated radio shows and his stunning new public television series, ‘Legends of Jazz.’ His passion and commitment to the next generation of jazz fans is also legendary, through his many youth education initiatives, and through his important work at the Ramsey Lewis Foundation."

In commemorating JAM 2008, the museum collaborated with a diverse group of 31 organizations, institutions, associations and federal agencies that have provided financial and in-kind support and organized programs and outreach of their own. This year the museum is welcoming the American Federation of Teachers, The U.S. Conference of Mayors and XM Radio to the group.

Mind, we’re not talking about a record 10 years in the making. But it has been about a decade since nelo (rhymes with “hello”) founder and principal songwriter Matt Ragland first picked up an acoustic guitar in high school and started writing songs and occasionally jamming with school friends and fellow Dallas natives Stephen Goodson (electric guitar), Chris Hill (drums) and David Long (saxophone). A couple of years later, while in college, Ragland was refining his songwriting and performing around Austin with singer Reid Umstattd while Goodson, Hill and Long were perfecting their own chops studying jazz at the University of North Texas in Denton. By 2002, they all reconvened — along with another UNT alum, bassist Mike St. Clair — and nelo was born.

Well, unofficially, at least. According to Ragland, nelo didn’t officially take off until August of ’05 — the month he and the rest of the band left Texas for Athens, Ga. “That was really the defining moment,” he says, “when I called everyone and said, ‘OK, I’m ready to really do this. If you want to do it, too, come and join me.’

“I’d been to Athens a number of times already, and I just felt like it was a great place to start a band,” he continues. “It’s a relatively small town, but there’s so much respect in that part of the country for the music that goes on there. I’d heard the music there and thought we would really fit in. And, I really wanted to get out of Austin at the time, because I’d been playing with these guys for so long that I wanted there to be that unifying moment where we all packed our bags and moved somewhere with one goal in mind. It was time to get serious.”

The fact that it was Ragland, who opted to major in philosophy and psychology while most of his band mates went to a music school, who issued that fateful “time to get serious” call to arms underscores just how much nelo owes its existence to his own clear vision. But Ragland is quick to credit everyone else in the band for helping him bring that vision to life, and one other musician of note for awakening his vision in the first place: Dave Matthews.

“Without going too long on it, it’s just one of those situations where I feel like I owe the guy something, because without Dave Matthews, I don’t think I would have this inspiration to write like I do now and put a band together” he explains. “I was just a kid in high school when I first heard his music, but there was something about it that really helped me understand me a little bit. I know that sounds kind of clichéd, but it’s true. That was the first time I was exposed to the idea that music and lyrics and songs can really help you figure out what you’re about … and what you want out of life.”

Along with Matthews, Ragland also cites Stevie Wonder and Sting as major songwriting heroes. Clearly, in order to do those influences — and his own melodic instincts — justice, Ragland knew his songs were going to require a degree of musicianship beyond both his own self-taught chops and your everyday garage band. Luckily, the first guys he started playing with (Goodson, Long and Hill) all came with similarly demanding influences, ranging from John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and Steve Jordan to Bill Frisell, Jimmy Page and Duane Allman. Bassist St. Clair, the last of the instrumentalists to join the fold, came with a Master’s degree in jazz studies and formidable real world experience: prior to joining nelo, he toured with the Glen Miller Orchestra and played trombone in Dallas’ acclaimed The Polyphonic Spree.

Even before St. Clair joined the band, Ragland knew he had the makings of the perfect ensemble in place. All he lacked was a proper singer. Enter Umstattd — the proverbial “X” factor. The funny thing is, Ragland had known him longer than anyone else in the band. He just didn’t know that Reid — soon to become his best friend — could sing. “Reid and I had been going to camp together for many, many years — from third grade all the way up to college,” he says. The summer before their senior year of high school, they were back at the same camp in Colorado, training to be counselors, when somebody pulled out a guitar and started to strum the opening chords to Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr. Bojangles.”

“I open my mouth to sing the first verse to myself,” recalls Ragland, “and I am literally frozen by another voice coming from directly behind me.” He spun around and saw it was Umstattd. “There was something about Reid’s voice that completely blew me away. I knew this was the real thing immediately. There was some kind of organic or spiritual connection between Reid’s voice and my dream. Only it wasn’t just a dream anymore — I knew I had what I needed.”

Fast forward a few years, and nelo was well on its way toward firmly establishing itself on the Athens music scene. But an early, homemade demo was stirring up quite a buzz back home in Texas, too — so much so that nelo was soon playing shows to crowds of up to 400 fans in both states. Among those drawn to the buzz on the Texas side was producer and studio owner Freddy Fletcher, who took in a nelo show at Austin’s Momo’s last December and became an instant convert.

“That was the first time I ever saw them live,” says Fletcher. “I kept hearing, ‘You really need to hear this band!’ And when I got down to Momo’s, there were people lined up around the door to get in and see them. I thought, ‘Hmm, this is interesting.’ So I just started watching them, and I really liked what I heard.” Fletcher and nelo hit it off right off the bat, striking the deal that quickly led to Ragland and Co. moving back to Austin and heading straight into the studio to begin work on their Fletcher-produced debut. The album will be released on Pedernales Records, the label owned by Fletcher and his uncle — none other than the legendary Willie Nelson.

“It may be their first record,” says Fletcher, “but these guys in the studio — they’re so damn good. They’re all accomplished musicians, the songs are really well written and I love the arrangements. And Reid, the singer, is just phenomenal. Their style is definitely not something you hear every day — it’s new to me. But I like what they’re doing, and I like everyone in the band, too.”

Ragland makes it clear that the feeling of admiration is mutual. “Freddy, for whatever reason, seems to really understand the music as I was hoping that it would be received,” he says. “The thing I love about a good album is when you get a general vibe from the entire record — almost like the whole album is one tone, one feeling. And listening to the roughs we have so far, I think that’s starting to develop. I can’t describe it or give it an adjective yet, but I will say that we’re getting there.”

Come February, nelo will have fully arrived.

www.nelomusic.com www.myspace.com/nelomusic

Roach, a BMI affiliate since 1961, was born Jan. 10, 1924 in New Land, N.C., but later moved to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn where he began playing drums at the age of 10. As a teenager, Roach worked with composer Duke Ellington and jammed with saxophonist Charlie Parker, which led to his contribution to bebop, a jagged and unpredictable jazz styling. Roach recorded over 70 albums, paired with such legends as Dinah Washington, Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Rollins. Money Jungle, with Mingus and Ellington, is regarded as one of the finest trio albums recorded.

In 1952, Roach co-founded Debut Records and released Jazz at Massey Hall, and the bass-and-drum improvisation Percussion Discussion. Roach’s advocacy for civil rights was heard through his music with We Insist! - Freedom Now and a recorded duet including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s, “I Have a Dream” oration. He received eight honorary doctoral degrees and a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant, cited as a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in France. He also served as a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts.

Roach is survived by five children: sons Daryl and Raoul, and daughters Maxine, Ayl and Dara.

A number of jazz masters were honored in various categories: Sonny Rollins (Tenor Saxophonist), Keith Jarrett (Pianist), Wayne Shorter (Soprano Saxophonist), Roy Haynes (Drummer), Joe Zawinul (Electric Keyboard & Synthesizer Player), Bobby Hutcherson (Vibist), James Moody (Flutist) and Toots Thielemans (Miscellaneous Instrumentalist). B.B. King was also honored as Blues Artist/Group of the Year.

Many of the most accomplished young lions received honors: Kurt Elling (Male Vocalist), Poncho Sanchez (Percussionist), Dave Douglas (Trumpeter), Steve Turre (Trombonist), Gary Smulyan (Baritone Saxophonist), Don Byron (Clarinetist), Joey DeFrancesco (Organist). The innovative blues performer Otis Taylor won Blues Album of the Year for Definition of a Circle.

For complete coverage of the awards, consult downbeat.com.

The event’s top honoree was pianist Andrew Hill, who passed away on April 20 of this year. He received the Lifetime Achievement in Jazz, Composer of the Year and Pianist of the Year, with his widow, Joanne Robinson Hill, accepting the awards in his name. Marc Ostrow, President of Boosey & Hawkes and the publisher of Hill’s compositions, was present for the recognition. Hill wrote and recorded a number of extraordinary albums for Blue Note Records between 1963 and 1969 that are known for their challenging compositions and compelling improvisational energy. Some of the most noted musicians of the time participated, including Eric Dolphy, Joe Henderson and Freddie Hubbard, and critics consider the work amongst the best of the decade. Hill later became a teacher at Portland State University in Oregon, and returned triumphantly to the New York scene in the 1990s. His 2000 release, Dusk, was named Album of the Year by Down Beat and Jazz Times.

Other instrumental winners at the ceremony include the legendary Sonny Rollins for Tenor Saxophonist of the Year and multi-award winner Dave Douglas for Trumpeter of the Year. Dave Liebman was honored as Soprano Saxophonist of the Year, and Gary Smulyan as Baritone Saxophonist of the Year. Frank Wess won as Flutist of the Year, while Scott Robinson’s expertise on a multitude of reeds brought him the Player of the Year of Instruments Rare in Jazz award.

Other instrumental award-winners include celebrated BMI jazz composers: Pat Metheny for Guitarist of the Year; Dave Holland for Acoustic Bassist of the Year; Steve Swallow for Electric Bassist of the Year; Bobby Hutcherson for Mallets Player of the Year; Roy Haynes for Drummer of the Year; and Cyro Baptista for Percussionist of the Year.

Both of the vocalist awards went to BMI songwriters: Kurt Elling for Male Singer of the Year and Roberta Gambarini for Female Singer of the Year. The Large Ensemble of the Year was won by the Charles Tolliver Big Band, and the Latin Jazz Album of the Year by Brian Lynch & Eddie Palmieri’s Simpatico.

The work of celebrated BMI jazz masters was recognized in the reissue categories as well. The Single CD Reissue of the Year went to Charles Mingus’s Music Written for Monterey 1965 Not Heard: At UCLA 1965 and The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings of Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane.

Finally, one of the A Team Awards, which recognize extraordinary efforts by individuals in support of jazz, went to BMI composer Donald Harrison in his role as the artistic director of the New Orleans-based Tipitina’s Foundation.

The Jazz Journalists Association is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing news and views of jazz to the general public. They sponsor panel discussions at festivals and conventions and organize workshops and mentoring programs. Information on the organization can be found at www.Jazzhouse.org in addition to their quarterly journal “Jazz Notes.”

A complete list of the BMI winners of the Jazz Journalists Association 2007 Jazz Awards follows:

Andrew Hill
Lifetime Achievement in Jazz
Composer of the Year
Pianist of the Year

Reissue of the Year, single CD
Charles Mingus, Music Written for Monterey 1965 Not Hear: At UCLA 1965

Reissue of the Year, boxed set
Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane, The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings

Male Singer of the Year
Kurt Elling

Female Singer of the Year
Robert Gambarini

Latin Jazz Album of the Year
Brian Lynch & Eddie Palmieri: Simpatico

Large Ensemble of the Year:
Charles Tolliver Big Band

Trumpeter of the Year
Dave Douglas

Player of the Year of Instruments Rare in Jazz
Scott Robinson

Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
Sonny Rollins

Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
Dave Liebman

Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
Gary Smulyan

Flutist of the Year
Frank Wess

Guitarist of the Year
Pat Metheny

Acoustic Bassist of the Year
Dave Holland

Electric Bassist of the Year
Steve Swallow

Mallets Player of the Year
Bobby Hutcherson

Percussionist of the Year
Cyro Baptista

Drummer of the Year
Roy Haynes

For a complete list of the awards, consult www.Jazzhouse.org

BMI’s Phil Graham (l) and Charlie Feldman (r) congratulate Polar Prize winners Steve Reich and Sonny Rollins. Photo by Catarina Astrom

Steve Reich celebrated his 70th birthday in 2006, and has been honored both here and abroad with numerous performances of his music. He founded his own ensemble, Steve Reich and Musicians, in 1966. He emerged upon the concert music scene with Drumming (1971). Reich won a 1990 Best Contemporary Composition Grammy Award for Different Trains and another in 1999 for Music for 18 Musicians. Reich has received numerous other commendations, including election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1994 and the William Schuman Prize from Columbia University in 2000.

The Royal Academy commented that Reich has “transferred questions of faith, society and philosophy into hypnotic sounding music that has inspired musicians and composers of all genres.”

Sonny Rollins is one of the preeminent soloists and composers in jazz. He has release more than 100 recordings, among which are the classics Saxophone Colossus (1956), Freedom Suite (1966) and the soundtrack to the film Alfie (1966). In 2005, he released his first studio album in five years, Sonny, Please, and inaugurated his own label, Doxy Records. He received a Grammy in 2005 for the Jazz Instrumental solo “Why Was I Born?” featured on Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert, and another in 2001 for the CD This Is What I Do. Rollins has inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame in 1973, the NEA Jazz Masters in 1983, and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.

The Royal Academy called Rollins, “one of the most powerful and personal voices in jazz for more than 50 years,” for raising “the accompanied solo to the highest artistic level - all characterized by a distinctive and powerful sound, irresistible swing and an individual sense of humor.”

Reich and Rollins will each receive the $143,000 prize from Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf at a ceremony in Stockholm on May 21.

Sonny Rollins	Wayne Shorter	B.B. King

Sonny Rollins and Wayne Shorter both lead the gaggle of BMI winners with two awards apiece. Rollins earned the 2006 Jazz Artist of the Year and Tenor Saxophone Musician of the Year trophies, while the Wayne Shorter Quartet was declared Jazz Group of the Year; Shorter himself landed the Soprano Saxophone Player of the Year title.

Jackie McLean	Jamie Cullum	Thelonious Monk

The iconic B.B. King was recognized as Blues Artist of the Year, while saxophonist Jackie McLean was inducted into Downbeat's Hall of Fame.

Best Jazz Album went to Andrew Hill for Time Lines, his first original album since the 90s. Thelonious Monk won a posthumous award for Best Historical Album for his collaboration with John Coltrane.

BMI also dominated categories designated for the jazz community's brightest up-and-comers, as worldwide phenomenon Jamie Cullum was named Rising Star Male Vocalist and Luciana Souza earned the Rising Star Female Vocalist title. SFJAZZ Collective nabbed Rising Star Jazz Group honors as well, while Derek Trucks was honored as Rising Star Blues Artist.

BMI's Downbeat Critics Poll Winners:

Jackie McLean
Hall of Fame

Sonny Rollins
Jazz Artist
Tenor Saxophone

Wayne Shorter Quartet
Jazz Group

Wayne Shorter
Soprano Saxophone

Andrew Hill
Jazz Album

Thelonious Monk/John Coltrane
Historical Album

SFJAZZ Collective
Rising Star Jazz Group

Dave Douglas
Trumpet

Steve Turre
Trombone

Joe Zawinul
Electric Keyboard/Synthesizer

Uri Caine
Rising Star Electric Keyboard/Synthesizer

Dave Holland
Bass

Jack DeJohnette
Drums

Ray Barretto
Percussion

Hamid Drake
Rising Star Percussion

Bobby Hutcherson
Vibes

Kurt Elling
Male Vocalist

Jamie Cullum (PRS)
Rising Star Male Vocalist

Luciana Souza
Rising Star Female Vocalist

Toots Thielemans
Harmonica

B.B. King
Blues Artist/Group

Derek Trucks
Rising Star Blues Artist

Phil Woods
Alto Saxophone

Miguel Zenón
Rising Star Alto Saxophone

James Carter
Baritone Saxophone

Don Byron
Clarinet

Chris Speed
Rising Star Clarinet

James Moody
Flute

Nicole Mitchell
Rising Star Flute

Bill Frisell
Guitar

Keith Jarrett
Acoustic Piano

Ry Cooder
Beyond Album
]]> 2006-07-17T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334680 Artists, Adams, Yolanda, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Audio Adrenaline, Black Eyed Peas, Bolcom, William, Boyd, Bobby E., Carey, Mariah, Casting Crowns, Cerf, Christopher, Childs, Billy, Chirino, Willy, De La Soul, Del McCoury Band, The, Du Prez, John, Fatman Scoop, Foxx, Jamie, Franklin, Aretha, Gil, Gilberto, Gorillaz, Hanna, Jeff, Hill, Faith, Holland, Dave, Hummon, Marcus, Idle, Eric, King, B.B., Krauss, Alison, Legend, John, Linkin Park, Little Joe y La Familia, Maroon 5, McClinton, Delbert, McClurkin, Donnie, McGraw, Tim, Metheny, Pat, Miguel, Luis, Palmieri, Eddie, Prine, John, Rollins, Sonny, Shakira, Shorter, Wayne, Sturr, Jimmy, System of a Down, Turtle Island String Quartet, Urban, Keith, Valdés, Bebo, Vega, Louie, West, Kanye, White Stripes, The, Winans, CeCe, Winter, Paul, Awards, Industry Awards, Grammy Awards 48th Annual Grammy Awards, held February 8 at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Mariah Carey	Alison Krauss

Adding to BMI's 53% take of the night's awards, triple winners Mariah Carey, Alison Krauss, John Legend and Kanye West led the list with the most trophies, dominating the r&b, rap and country categories.

John Legend	Kanye West

Carey, whose comeback release The Emancipation of Mimi was named Best Contemporary R&B Album, also took home Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for the album's smash hit "We Belong Together."

CeCe Winans	Black Eyed Peas

Bluegrass fiddler Alison Krauss and her band Union Station added Best Country Album (Lonely Runs Both Ways), Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Restless") and Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Unionhouse Branch") to an impressive career Grammy haul that now totals 20.

Shakira	Gorillaz

The coveted Best New Artist Grammy went to neo-soul artist John Legend, who also picked up Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for the moving "Ordinary People" and Best R&B Album for his debut entitled Get Lifted.

Tim McGraw	Linkin Park

Kanye West cleaned up in the rap field, winning Best Rap Solo Performance for the Jamie Foxx duet "Gold Digger," Best Rap Song for "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" and Best Rap Album for his sophomore effort Late Registration. The BMI Award-winning rapper also won three awards at last year's ceremony.

Aretha Franklin	Maroon5

Earning two Grammys apiece were pianist Billy Childs for Best Instrumental Composition ("Into The Light") and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists ("What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?"), and gospel singer CeCe Winans for Best Gospel Performance ("Pray") and Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album (Purified).

Keith Urban	System of a Down

Other big BMI winners included the Black Eyed Peas, Gorillaz, Shakira, Audio Adrenaline, Keith Urban, Gilberto Gil, Bobby Boyd, William Bolcom, Aretha Franklin, Maroon5, Linkin Park, Tim McGraw, System of a Down, the White Stripes and Luis Miguel.

BMI's 2006 Grammy Award Winners:

Yolanda Adams
Best Gospel Song
"Be Blessed"

Audio Adrenaline
Best Rock Gospel Album
Until My Heart Caves In

Black Eyed Peas
Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group
"Don't Phunk With My Heart"

William Bolcom
Best Classical Contemporary Composition
"Bolcom: Songs of Innocence and of Experience"

Bobby Boyd
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Mariah Carey
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
"We Belong Together"
Best R&B Song
"We Belong Together"
Best Contemporary R&B Album
The Emancipation of Mimi

Billy Childs
Best Instrumental Composition
"Into The Light"
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists
"What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?"

Casting Crowns
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
Lifesong

Christopher Cerf
Best Spoken Word Album for Children
Marlo Thomas & Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long

Willy Chirino
Best Salsa/Merengue Album
Son Del Alma

John Du Prez (PRS)
Best Musical Show Album
Monty Python's Spamalot

Aretha Franklin
Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
"A House Is Not A Home"

Gilberto Gil
Best Contemporary World Music Album
Eletrac?stico

Gorillaz (PRS) featuring De La Soul
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
"Feel Good Inc."

Jeff Hanna
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Faith Hill
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
"Like We Never Loved At All"

Dave Holland Big Band
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
Overtime

Marcus Hummon
Best Country Song
"Bless the Broken Road"

Eric Idle (PRS)
Best Musical Show Album
Monty Python's Spamalot

B.B. King
Best Traditional Blues Album
80

Alison Krauss and Union Station
Best Country Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
"Restless"
Best Country Instrumental Performance
"Unionhouse Branch"
Best Country Album
Lonely Runs Both Ways

John Legend
Best New Artist
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
"Ordinary People"
Best R&B Album
Get Lifted

Linkin Park
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
"Numb/Encore"

Little Joe y La Familia
Best Tejano Album
Chicanisimo

Maroon5
Best Pop Performance by Duo or Group with Vocal
"This Love"

Delbert McClinton
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Cost Of Living

Donnie McClurkin
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album
Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs

The Del McCoury Band
Best Bluegrass Album
The Company We Keep

Tim McGraw
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals
"Like We Never Loved At All"

Pat Metheny Group
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
The Way Up

Luis Miguel
Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album
México En La Piel

Eddie Palmieri
Best Latin Jazz Album
Listen Here!

John Prine
Best Contemporary Folk Album
Fair & Square

Sonny Rollins
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
Why Was I Born?

Fat Man Scoop
Best Short Form Music Video
"Lose Control"

Shakira
Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album
Fijación Oral Vol. 1

Wayne Shorter Quartet
Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group
Beyond The Sound Barrier

Jimmy Sturr
Best Polka Album
Shake, Rattle And Polka!

System of a Down
Best Hard Rock Performance
B.Y.O.B.

Turtle Island String Quartet
Best Classical Crossover Album
4 + Four

Keith Urban
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
"You'll Think Of Me"

Bebo Valdés
Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album
Bebo De Cuba

Louie Vega
Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
"Superfly (Louie Vega EOL Mix)"

Kanye West
Best Rap Solo Performance
"Gold Digger"
Best Rap Song
"Diamonds From Sierra Leone"
Best Rap Album
Late Registration

The White Stripes
Best Alternative Album
Get Behind Me Satan

CeCe Winans
Best Gospel Performance
"Pray"
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album
Purified

Paul Winter Consort
Best New Age Album
Silver Solstice]]> 2006-02-08T17:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334631 Artists, Adams, William, Adams, Yolanda, Aguilera, Christina, Audio Adrenaline, Audioslave, Austin, Dallas, Ayala, Ramon, Ball, Marcia, Barretto, Ray, Big & Rich, Black Eyed Peas, Blanchard, Terence, Blue Highway, Bolcom, William, Boyer, Peter, Brooks & Dunn, Bush, Sam, Carey, Mariah, Carr, Kurt, Casting Crowns, Cerf, Christopher, Chapman, Steven Curtis, Cherryholmes, Childs, Billy, Chirino, Willy, Clapton, Eric, Clark-Cole, Dorinda, Common, Cooder, Ry, Copeland, Stewart, Crow, Sheryl, Cunliffe, Bill, D'Rivera, Paquito, Daft Punk, Daniels, Charlie, De La Soul, Death Cab For Cutie, Del McCoury Band, The, DiFranco, Ani, Dixie Chicks, Douglas, Dave, Douglas, Jerry, Du Prez, John, Elfman, Danny, Eminem, Fall Out Boy, Floetry, Foo Fighters, Foster, David, Foxx, Jamie, Franklin, Aretha, Franklin, Kirk, Game, The, Gatlin, Larry, Gil, Gilberto, Gill, Vince, Golijov, Osvaldo, Gorillaz, Guy, Buddy, Haggard, Merle, Hancock, Herbie, Hanna, Jeff, Hill, Faith, Holland, Dave, Houghton, Israel, Hummon, Marcus, Hunt, Van, Idle, Eric, Intocable, Jamiroquai, Jars of Clay, Jerkins, Rodney, Jones, Norah, Keane, Kee, John P., Keith, Toby, Kelly, R., King, B.B., Krauss, Alison, La Tropa F, LaBelle, Patti, Lawrence, Donald, Legend, John, Linkin Park, Los Lonely Boys, Maroon 5, McBride, Martina, McClinton, Delbert, McClurkin, Donnie, McGehee, Vicky, McGraw, Tim, McLachlan, Sarah, Metheny, Pat, Miguel, Luis, Mo, Keb, Molotov, Mos Def, Munizzi, Martha, Murphy, Walter, Nelson, Willie, Neptunes, The, Nickelback, Orishas, Palmieri, Eddie, Prine, John, Queens of the Stone Age, Rascal Flatts, Redman, Joshua, Rollins, Sonny, Seal, Shakira, Shorter, Wayne, Souza, Luciana, Sturr, Jimmy, Sugarland, System of a Down, Turtle Island String Quartet, Urban, Keith, Vega, Louie, Vincent, Rhonda, West, Kanye, White Stripes, The, Williams, John, Wilson, Brian, Winans, Bebe, Winans, CeCe, Winter, Paul, Yazbek, David, Ying Yang Twins 48th Annual Grammy Awards with eight nods each when contenders were announced at a star-studded press conference held December 8 at Gotham Hall in New York City. Their three-way tie pushed the total number of BMI-nominated songwriters and artists to an astounding 70% in the general fields.

Mariah Carey	Kanye West	John Legend

Mariah Carey's multi-platinum comeback album, The Emancipation of Mimi, and its smash single "We Belong Together," helped the pop singer score three of the most coveted Grammy nominations: Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The hit ballad also picked up mentions for Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, while Mimi added Best Contemporary R&B Album to Carey's haul.

Presenters for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards nominations included BMI songwriter/artists John Legend, CeCe Winans, Mariah Carey, Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and Patti LaBelle. Photo by S. Lovekin/WireImage

Rapper Kanye West continued his red hot streak, also earning nominations in the Album and Record of the Year categories with his sophomore release Late Registration and the hit "Gold Digger," respectively. He will compete against himself for the Album of the Year title as a producer on Carey's disc. As a songwriter, West will battle for the Best Rap Song crown with his "Diamonds from Sierra Leone," as well as Best R&B Song as a co-writer on the Alicia Keys track "Unbreakable."

Black Eyed Peas	Brooks & Dunn

Soul singer John Legend is up for Best New Artist, Best R&B Album for his debut Get Lifted, and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Song of the Year for "Ordinary People," which he also co-wrote. Legend joins his mentor Kanye West and rapper Common on the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ticket with "They Say."

Casting Crowns	Common

Coming in with six nominations was Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas who, as a songwriter, has a shot at Song of the Year and Best R&B Song as co-writer of Legend's "Ordinary People" and Best Rap Song for the Peas' hit "Don't Phunk with My Heart." The band is also up for Best Rap and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Death Cab for Cutie	Foo Fighters

In addition to Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Common earned three other mentions, including Best Rap Album for Be. Four nods also went to Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Billy Childs and BMI producer/songwriters the Neptunes, who have production credits on two Album of the Year nominees -- Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi and Gwen Stefani's Love. Angel. Music. Baby.

The Game	Gorillaz	John Williams

Earning three nominations apiece were Sheryl Crow, with Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Good is Good"), Best Pop Vocal Album (Wildflower) and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for the single "Building Bridges," featuring Brooks & Dunn and Vince Gill; Eminem (Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rap Album); and film composer John Williams, up for Best Score for Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, as well as for Best Instrumental Composition for both "Anakin's Betrayal" (from Revenge of the Sith) and "The Ferry Scene" (from the War of the Worlds soundtrack).

Maroon 5	Norah Jones	Sheryl Crow

Double nominees included rappers The Game and T.I., songwriter Marcus Hummon, singer Norah Jones and gospel diva CeCe Winans.

Other BMI songwriters and artists collecting Grammy nominations were Christina Aguilera, Dallas Austin, Casting Crowns, Eric Clapton (PRS), Death Cab for Cutie, Paquito D'Rivera, Danny Elfman, Fall Out Boy, Osvaldo Golijov, Dave Holland Big Band, Intocable, Keane (PRS), Maroon 5, Sugarland, Ying Yang Twins, and BMI Icons Charlie Daniels and Brian Wilson.

Sugarland		T.I.

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 8.

BMI's 2006 Grammy Award Nominees:

8 NOMINATIONS
Mariah Carey
John Legend
Kanye West

6 NOMINATIONS
William Adams

4 NOMINATIONS
Billy Childs
Common
Foo Fighters
Gorillaz (PRS)
The Neptunes

3 NOMINATIONS
Yolanda Adams
The Black Eyed Peas
Sheryl Crow
De La Soul
Eminem
Herbie Hancock
Faith Hill
Alison Krauss & Union Station
John Williams

2 NOMINATIONS
Bobby Boyd
Brooks & Dunn
Andrew Coleman
Andrew Dawson
Dixie Chicks
The Game
Michael Giacchino
Jeff Hanna
Marcus Hummon
Norah Jones
Delbert McClinton
Donnie McClurkin
Joel Moss
Willie Nelson
Al Schmitt
Fat Man Scoop
T.I.
The White Stripes
CeCe Winans

MORE NOMINEES
Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill
Christina Aguilera
Trey Anastasio
Audio Adrenaline
Audioslave
John August
Dallas Austin
Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte
Marcia Ball
Ray Barretto
Steve Berkowitz
Big & Rich
Terence Blanchard
Eddie Blazonczyk's Versatones
Blue Highway
Printz Board
William Bolcom
Peter Boyer
Solomon Burke
Burning Spear (PRS)
Sam Bush
Gary Calamar
Caribbean Jazz Project featuring Dave Samuels Orishas (SACEM)
Kurt Carr
Casting Crowns
Christopher Cerf
Steven Curtis Chapman
Cherryholmes
The Chieftains (IMRO)
Willy Chirino
Eric Clapton (PRS)
Dorinda Clark-Cole
Conjunto Progreso
Ry Cooder
Stewart Copeland
The Crabb Family
Robert Cray
Bill Cunliffe
Rivers Cuomo
Daft Punk (PRS)
Charlie Daniels
Day of Fire
Death Cab for Cutie
Deep Dish
Mos Def
Jack De Johnette
The Del McCoury Band
Ani DiFranco
Jerry Douglas
Dave Douglas
Paquito D'Rivera
John Du Prez (PRS)
Jerry Duplessis
Nokie Edwards
Danny Elfman
Ahmet Ertegun
Bill Evans
Fall Out Boy
Sammy Figueroa
Béla Fleck
Floetry
David Foster
Jamie Foxx
Aretha Franklin
Kirk Franklin
Carlos Franzetti
Larry Gatlin
Joachim Garraud (SACEM)
Gilberto Gil
Vince Gill
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Osvaldo Golijov
The Grascals
Grits
Buddy Guy
Merle Haggard
John Hammond
Raiatea Helm
Dave Holland Big Band
Israel Houghton
Van Hunt
Eric Idle (PRS)
Intocable
Jamiroquai (PRS)
Jars of Clay
The Jazz Chamber Trio
Rodney Jerkins
Eric Johnson
George Jones
The Jordanaires
Ledward Ka'apana
Keane (PRS)
John P. Kee
Garison Keillor
Toby Keith
R. Kelly
B.B. King
Kitaro
Kraftwerk (GEMA)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo (SAMRO)
Las 3 Divas
La Secta Allstar
The Last Poets
La Tropa F
Donald Lawrence
Ricky Lewis
The Light Crust Doughboys
Lil Wayne
Harold Lily
Aaron Lindsey
Linkin Park
Little Joe
Los Lonely Boys
Los Pleneros de la 21
Andre Lyon
Maroon 5
Joeworn Martin
Martina McBride
Delbert McClinton
Vicky McGehee
Tim McGraw
Sarah McLachlan (SOCAN)
Meat Beat Manifesto
Pat Metheny Group
Luis Miguel
Mingus Big Band
Ministry
Keb Mo
Molotov
Rick Moranis (SOCAN)
Mudvayne
Martha Munizzi
Walter Murphy
Meshell Ndegeocello
North Mississippi Allstars
The Oak Ridge Boys
Claus Ogerman (GEMA)
Walter Ostanek (SOCAN)
George Pajon, Jr.
Eddie Palmieri
John Prine
Queens of the Stone Age
Rascal Flatts
Joshua Redman Elastic Band
Sonny Rollins
The Royal Jesters
Eddie Santiago
Marvin Sapp
Seal (PRS)
José Serebrier
Shakira
Wayne Shorter Quartet
Ron Sluga
Omar Sosa
Luciana Souza
Jimmy Sturr
Sugarland
Tierney Sutton
System of a Down
Ali Farka Touré (BUMDA)
Tiempo Libre
Turtle Island String Quartet
Keith Urban
Bebo Valdés
Marcello Valenzano
Louie Vega
Rhonda Vincent & the Rage
Brian Wilson
BeBe Winans
George Winston
Paul Winter Consort
Hugh Wolff
David Yazbek
Ying Yang Twins

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