Grammy grumbles

While honouring mediocrity at times, The Grammy Awards panel has astounded many for not honouring some deserving cases, writes KEYA KINUTHIA

Come Sunday, all roads lead to the Staples Arena in Hollywood for the biggest music awards show—The Grammys.

With a credo like rewarding the best in the music business, the Grammy awards selection panel sometimes leaves a lot to be desired in their selection, and have come in for criticism.

Sinead O’Connor famously refused to accept her award citing what she termed as ‘extreme commercialisation’ of the awards. Fire-heads such as Kanye West have also ranted against the awards.

While honouring mediocrity at times like the Bahamen in 2000 — even Bill Clinton has two nods; attention will be drawn to controversy yet again for such slips. Diana Ross will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award. So will Apple co-founder, the late Steve Jobs, and the great ‘beat generation’ poet, writer and rapper Gill Scott Heron.

But is ‘the best athlete not always the winner mantra’ reason enough for the snubs below?

Or pray, what criterion was used to lock them out?

10. Buddy Holly

Buddy literally defined rock and roll, as we know it. Though his fame lasted barely a year before he died in a plane crash, his works were sampled and copied by the Beatles, beach boys, Led Zeppelin and a host of others. Ranked 13th greatest artiste of all time by Rolling Stone, he died in 1959, the year the first Grammy’s were held.

9. The Doors

They have sold over 40 million albums in the US alone. They still enjoy a cultic following to date yet only recorded and performed for eight years. A hard rock band fronted by the eccentric Morrison, they are the fathers of cryptic lyricism, ably employed later on by Led Zeppelin. They disbanded in 1973 never having been considered for a Grammy.

8. Jimi Hendrix

He is the Godfather of Rock and Roll, the rock guitar Maestro unrivalled. Despite his hectic touring schedule, he left behind over 300 unreleased recordings. He barely needs introduction, yet all he was offered was a lifetime achievement award! In 1992, Hendrix was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

7. Queen

The Guinness Book of World Records has it that Queen albums have spent a total of 1,322 weeks, or 27 years on the UK album charts, more than any other musical act, Beatles and Elvis Presley included. Need we say more? But Queen has never won a Grammy. We all remember We are the Champions, off their greatest hits album though.

6. Grateful Dead

They hold the record for cumulatively performing to the greatest number of people throughout a career. Their fans-known as ‘deadheads’, revere them.They are known as the pioneers of the ‘jam band’ phenomenon due to their fusion of rock folk, blues, reggae, country, jazz and space rock. They were ranked by Rolling Stone 57th in the greatest artistes of all time. Over 30 years of touring, recording and breaking new frontiers though, they couldn’t garner a Grammy award for this legendary band.

5. Led Zeppelin

When Stairway to Heaven was released, controversy attained new heights. Played backwards, the song had meaning, Played forward; the song had a message-satanic or word play? It was a turning point in cryptic lyricism. Led Zeppelin is regarded as one of the first heavy metal bands. The band has sold more than 300 million albums worldwide, including 111.5 million sales in the United States. They have had all of their original studio albums reach the US Billboard Top 10, with six reaching the number one spot. They are ranked 1st on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. But still not worth  a Grammy!

4. Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin died so young- just 16 days after the death of another icon, Jimi Hendrix. But it goes without saying; the title ‘queen of rock and roll’ fits her. With platinum album sales and top chart busters, she achieved a height in music reserved for a few. A legend even more so in death, she never got recognised for her contribution to the music industry, and the Grammys still see it that way, I bet.

3. Bob Marley

He single-handedly created a movement, re-energised a religious faction and re-defined reggae. He was the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the rock steady and reggae bands: The Wailers (1964 – 1974) and Bob Marley & the Wailers (1974 – 1981). Marley remains the most widely known and revered performer of reggae music, and is credited for helping spread Jamaican music to the worldwide audience.  He could only be awarded with an entry into the Grammy Hall of fame!

2. Tupac Shakur

Debate is still on, on who is the greatest between Tupac and Biggie. However, truth be told, not a single rap artiste has inspired so many, told tales with raw straightness and broke chart records with all his albums like Tupac.

In death, he is among the top ten deceased highest selling artistes. His song Dear Mama was declared an American treasure when it was added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry, which preserves audio files of cultural significance.   But still not enough for a Grammy yet Lil Wayne has enough nods to his name!

1. Diana Ross

Her name is synonymous with the word “diva”, and her group. The Supremes made way for future all-female bands by scoring an unprecedented 12 US No 1 singles. She was the front-runner in the blues then, her voice an epic contribution to the industry. Nominated 12 times for the Grammy and Oscars and over 100 million records to her name, the Grammy panel was falling over itself to give Britney Spears the nod!