Boston MA, December 10, 2008. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences nominated 22 Berklee alumni and one faculty member for a total of 29 Grammy Awards. The nominees were recognized for their outstanding contributions across the spectrum of fields, including pop, rock, rap, alternative, jazz, Latin, country, polka, producing, engineering, arranging, and composing. To date, 58 known Berklee alumni have won a total of 168 Grammy Awards. The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 8, 2009, and broadcast on CBS at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT).
John Mayer ’98, who performed with B.B. King during the TV special «The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! – Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night,» was nominated for five awards this year, including Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, for a duet with Alicia Keys. Other multiple nominees include Andrew Dawson ’01, who was nominated for Album of the Year and Rap Album of the Year, for his work on Lil Wayne’s top-nominated album Tha Carter III; and Gary Burton ’62 who was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo and Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
Assistant Professor Dave Samuels was nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album for Afro Bop Alliance, hot on the heels of winning a Latin Grammy Award last month in the same category. Additional jazz nominees include Joe Lovano ’72 (Gary Burton Jazz Chair at Berklee), Bill Frisell ’77, Antonio Sanchez ’97, and Mike Stern ’75.
Other nominees include Mars Volta drummer Thomas Pridgen ’03 for Best Hard Rock Performance; Aimee Mann ’80 for art direction on her album @#%&*! Smilers; Bruce Hornsby ’74 for Best Country Instrumental Performance; Gavin Lurssen ’91 for his work on Raising Sand, by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; Tony Maserati ’86 for engineering Jason Mraz’s album; and Iron Man soundtrack composer Ramin Djawadi ’98.
A complete list of Berklee alumni and faculty nominees for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards follows.
Category 2 – Album Of The Year
* Tha Carter III%u2028
Lil Wayne%u2028
Andrew Dawson ’01, engineer/mixer [Universal Motown/Cash Money]
* Raising Sand%u2028
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Gavin Lurssen ’91, mastering engineer %u2028[Rounder]
Category 6 – Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
* Say%u2028
John Mayer ’98 Track from: Continuum %u2028[Columbia]
Category 8 – Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
* Lesson Learned%u2028
Alicia Keys & John Mayer ‘98%u2028 Track from: As I Am %u2028[J Records] %u2028
Category 9 – Best Pop Instrumental Performance
* Fortune Teller%u2028
Fourplay %u2028(Bob James ’59, Harvey Mason ‘ 68) Track from: Energy %u2028[Heads Up International]
Category 15- Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
* Gravity%u2028
John Mayer ‘98%u2028 Track from: Where The Light Is — Live In Los Angeles%u2028 [Columbia]
Category 17 – Best Hard Rock Performance
* Wax Simulacra%u2028
The Mars Volta (Thomas Pridgen ’03) %u2028[Universal Motown] %u2028
Category 19 – Best Rock Instrumental Performance
* Peaches En Regalia%u2028
Zappa Plays Zappa (Joe Travers ’91) %u2028[Strobosonic/Razor & Tie Entertainment]
Category 35 – Best Rap Album
* Tha Carter III%u2028
Lil Wayne %u2028
