Unlike the New Orleans Saints in the NFL this year, Louisiana musicians did not dominate the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards; however, many Louisiana artists were up for nominations. Buckwheat Zydeco won in the Cajun/Zydeco category. CC Adcock, who was nominated for contributions to the True Blood soundtrack, got trumped by the Slumdog Millionaire juggernaut. Two New Orleans artists who did win Grammys for jazz music releases were Irvin Mayfield and Terence Blanchard. Mayfield’s New Orleans Jazz Orchestra won for best large jazz ensemble album of 2009. And fellow New Orleans trumpeter Blanchard won in the best improvised solo category. He was a featured player on Jeff “Tain” Watts’ 2009 album Watts.
These are the winners in the major categories at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards:
Record of the Year: “Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon Album of the Year: “Fearless,” Taylor Swift Song of the Year: “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On it),” Beyonce Knowles New Artist: Zac Brown Band Pop Vocal Album: “The E.N.D.”, The Black Eyed Peas Female Pop Vocal Performance: “Halo,” Beyonce Knowles Male Pop Vocal Performance: “Make It Mine,” Jason Mraz Rock Album: “21st Century Breakdown,” Green Day Rock Song: “Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon R&B Album: “BLACK summers’night,” Maxwell R&B Song: “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” Beyonce Knowles Rap Album: “Relapse,” Eminem Rap Song: “Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: “Run This Town,” Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West Country Album: “Fearless,” Taylor Swift Female Country Vocal Performance: “White Horse,” Taylor Swift Male Country Vocal Performance: “Sweet Thing,” Keith Urban, Latin Pop Album: “Sin Frenos,” La Quinta Estacion Contemporary Jazz Album: “75,” Joe Zawinul & The Zawinul Syndicate Classical Album: “Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Adagio from Symphony No. 10” Traditional Gospel Album: “Oh Happy Day,” various artists Dance Recording: “Poker Face,” Lady Gaga Electronic Dance Album: “The Fame,” Lady Gaga Alternative Music Album: “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,” Phoenix Best Rock Instrumental Performance: “A Day In The Life,” Jeff Beck Best Metal Performance: “Dissident Aggressor,” Judas Priest Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: “Ellipse,” Imogen Heap Spoken Word Album: “Always Looking Up,” Michael J. Fox Comedy Album: “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!” Stephen Colbert Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media: “Slumdog Millionaire,” Various Artists, A.R. Rahman, producer.