Issues concerning Music and Community

NARAS / Grammy Panel Discussion - Restoring Diversity: What are the next steps? March 6 @ 4pm pst

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 08:10:04 GMT

PRESS RELEASE
March 2, 2012

For interviews and inquiries
please contact
Stephanie Dalton
For Immediate Release

415.503.8207 / 415.796.2319
urbanmusicpresents@gmail.com
www.UrbanMusicPresents.com
For Immediate Release

Urban Music Presents
NARAS / Grammy Panel Discussion - Restoring Diversity:
What are the next steps?

Tuesday March 6 @ 4pmPST - Tune into internet radio at
www.blogtalkradio.com/solutionsnowradio

Featured Panelists
Sandy Cressman, Sylvia Pfeiffenberger, Oscar Hernandez

Guest Host
Stephanie Dalton

Co-Producers
Skyler Jett and S. Denice Newton

San Francisco, CA - March 2, 2012 - On Tuesday, March 6 at 4pm PST, Urban Music Presents has been invited by Blog Talk Radio to host a discussion panel regarding National Academy Recording Arts and Science' (NARAS) closed door decision on executive leadership level, without membership awareness to eliminate 31 categories from Grammy consideration. This discussion will address the efforts to restore diversity and what are the next steps in these efforts from lawsuits filed in two states, New York and California, to studies that showcase increased disparity in gender and cultural genres because of the eliminations, and to the significant impact these cuts will and are imposing on the careers and livelihood of musicians and industry professionals who work within these eliminated categories.

To listen to discussion, please turn url dial to:
www.blogtalkradio.com/solutionsnowradio and to call in please phone 347-884-8042 on Tuesday March 6 at 4pm PST.

Joining the discussion is Sandy Cressman recording musician and educator and previous NARAS governor of San Francisco chapter for over 10 years. She provides the inside look into NARAS, and the actions www.GrammyWatch.org has taken to bring attention to the elimination of the 31 categories as well as the lawsuit to require NARAS to open the meeting minutes that they have refused to disclose, which they are required to do as a 501c3 non-profit organization. www.cressmanmusic.com

Panelist and contributing journalist to Independent Weekly, Sylvia Pfeiffenberger (http://ondacarolina.blogspot.com/) brings her analysis of the Grammy's and the observations of increased gender disparities with the cutting of the categories.

http://thethread.dukeperformances.duke.edu/2012/02/have-the-grammy-awards-lost-their-way/

Panelist, musician, composer, multi Grammy winner bandleader for Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Oscar Hernandez has been on the forefront of the Los Angeles protests and discusses from the artists point of view the damaging effects these decisions will have on musician's careers and the social justice issues surrounding elimination of all cultural relevant categories within NARAS.
www.oscarhernandezmusic.com.

Guest Host Stephanie Dalton is one of the organizing members of www.GrammyWatch.org, who started the petition efforts in April 2011, which has now to over 30,000 signatures with the support of Presente.org.

Stephanie Dalton is the founder and director of Urban Music Presents whose mission is to promote and present music of the Latin and African Diaspora through live musical performances and at the same time work with local community non-profits and small businesses to help leverage support for both the artist and the businesses that collaborate with live music. Further UMP seeks to educate through a weekly newsletter that calendars performances, interviews artists and seeks to provide community building through this music and to provide accessibility for all.
www.urbanmusicpresents.com

This show will is co-produced by Skyler Jett, Grammy winner producer, writer, vocalist and Denice Newton who is a writer and producer with a passion for sharing the REAL truth.

Skyler Jett's impressive resume includes some of the biggest recording artists of our times. His accolades include receiving a Grammy Award-embossed plaque from NARAS for singing with Celine Dion on the Grammy-winning hit song "My Heart Will Go On" from the blockbuster hit film "Titanic." This was also Record of the Year (1998) and is still the highest grossing movie theme song of all time. Skyler's other movie credits include Background Vocal arrangement on "I'm Every Woman" from the blockbuster hit film "The Body Guard", also Movie Of The Year (1992), featuring Whitney Houston; "Tap" with Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis Jr.; "A Smile Like Yours" with Greg Kinnear; Disney's "Hercules"; James Bond 007 "License To Kill"; "Big Bully" with Rick Moranis and Tom Arnold; and "Ghostdad" with Bill Cosby.

From 2003-2007 Skyler also played a pivotal role in reintroducing Sly Stone back to the World Stage for a European tour. Skyler performed with Sly in such venues as: The Montreux Jazz Festival; North Sea Jazz Festival; Cannes; Olympia, Paris; The Love Box Festival in London and the George Wallace Show, Las Vegas. www.skylerjett.com

From heartfelt poetry to a cry for change in articles and books, S. Denice Newton is an effective writer, speaker, talk show host and humanitarian. Through the ministry and various gifts that God has given her, Denice reaches the masses with her sincerity and genuine compassion for others.
www.singingwithoutsong.com

# # #
Press inquiries
Stephanie Dalton, Urban Music Presents
415.796.2319 / 415.503.8207
stephanie@urbanmusicpresents.com
www.urbanmusicpresents.com

Open Letter from John Santos: NARAS Oblivious to the Obivious - Feb. 18, 2012

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:34:41 GMT

NARAS OBLIVIOUS TO THE OBVIOUS
by John Santos

The epic and historical blunder committed last April by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences was etched into the archives last week by the conspicuous absence of the 31 categories they pulled from Grammy consideration, and the musically vacuous telecast they promoted (at $800,000 per 30 second commercial) as the best that American music has to offer. We hope that sooner than later, NARAS will understand that pretending to not know what all the fuss is about, infinite procrastination, and two tons of lip service are not solutions to their unethical practices and offensive actions. They obviously have no idea that undermining and eliminating a huge portion of the most culturally diverse and creative music in our country is a form of violence against communities that historically have had to deal with this kind of mentality for much too long.

Thanks to the ill-advised and totally disrespectful suggestions of a handful of uninformed individuals, hundreds of thousands of musicians, music industry workers of all kinds, students, teachers, and fans of the 31 eliminated categories have been negatively affected. This is far from acceptable. It would have been fairly simple for NARAS to avoid this huge problem had they handled the delicate prospect of eliminating categories in an ethical and fair manner, as opposed to the secret committee of trustees who made the short sighted recommendations. It's still a pretty easy fix if that was their intention. But they are unwilling to officially admit their mistake and saving face has become their priority. Not to mention they are so beholding to the entities that provide the big money for them, making CEO Neil Portnow's 1.4 million dollar yearly salary possible among other extravagances.

If as they claim, they were concerned about relatively low numbers of entries in certain categories, they clearly should have consulted members and non-members from within the threatened categories and the communities they represent. NARAS easily could have informed the local governors, chapters and members that decisions of such major impact were being considered, in order to get valuable input and suggestions from those for whom they supposedly advocate.

Two of the most disturbing aspects of this travesty are 1.) NARAS announced changes in policy regarding minimum entries required to have a category after dropping categories that did not meet the new requirements, and 2.) They did so in April of 2011, seven months after the beginning of the eligibility year. Those actions were either totally thoughtless, or chillingly calculated, as they dealt a severe blow to all the musicians and independent labels in the eliminated categories that released projects after September 30th, 2010, or planned to release projects through the 2011 eligibility year, and they undermined the chances of reversing the decision.

Over 23,000 signatures, most of which were gathered nationally in the last few days before the February 12, 2012 CBS telecast, were dropped off at the NARAS headquarters in Los Angeles on Thursday, February 9, 2012 and the only comment NARAS president Neil Portnow could muster was "It seems they lack general support." That bit of brilliance from the president of a non-profit organization that is supposed to honor excellence in American music and advocate for us, the membership. NARAS should lose that position and invest the 1.4 million every year into sensitivity training for administration and staff, and for outreach into the eliminated communities to truly enrich the organization and the Grammys.

This is ultimately a battle for the rights of youth as well as to honor our ancestors. It would be easy to say "Farm those mother-truckers - they've never had our backs and never had other intentions than extreme profits all along - why would I want to be associated with them at all?" But they are sending a terrible message to youth and to the world - that only the most commercial art is worth recognizing. They are aligning themselves with the worst aspects of our society, not only in that they have no tolerance, but they also have no idea what the terms diversity and mutual respect mean. As they slice off a huge chunk of non-commercial music and continue to dumb down the images and representations of music that the vast majority of Americans will see, they are applauded by the big music industry and most pop artists who through their silence on the issue are strongly complicit. Their killer capitalist instincts do not allow them to celebrate all American music of historical importance. They are on a mission to completely dominate the musical horizon, not only economically, but even in terms of recognition and honor.

This is a complex issue and it goes beyond questions of race. But neither can the racist implications of what has been done be swept under the rug as they have been traditionally. Racism is pervasive. It is firmly imbedded in the psyche of most Americans of all colors despite centuries of claims to the contrary. Most of us do not understand the subliminal power of internalized racism. Hiding racism behind profits is lesson #1 in the capitalism-gone-berzerk handbook. But the folks who perpetuate it are always in denial and actually think they are slick, not realizing that they are trying to hide an elephant behind a fire hydrant.

For example, Rap has got to be one of the industry's worst nightmares. Ten or twelve years ago, LL Cool J was one of several Rappers who boycotted the Grammys for their lack of inclusion. They knocked the door down and firmly planted Rap and Hip Hop in the Grammys and in mainstream America. The only thing worse for the folks who tried to deny them would be if Latin Jazz, Native American, Blues, Instrumental Rock, Contemporary Jazz, R&B, World Music, Zydeco, Cajun, Hawaiian, Polka, and all the categories they recently deemed unworthy, continued cutting into the mega billions pie. The fact that greed trumps racism does not negate the existence of racism.

NARAS' dastardly action is right in step with the greed that has so completely inundated and contaminated every aspect of our society. This type of thinking and movement to deny equal access is not new, but those who invent and benefit by it used to be concerned about their actions being clandestine, for fear of their obvious evil being exposed. Not any more - It's been in our faces since George W was propped up as leader of the free world, with the inability to speak in complete sentences and the clear goal to grease the wheels for only the most right wing economic and military elements. Everything from war crimes to the boldfaced rip-off of our own citizens in every way imaginable from housing to healthcare, education and social security has been exposed with hardly a slap on the wrist handed to anyone. So it is not totally surprising that in this atmosphere, this decree by NARAS raises its ugly head with unmitigated support by the folks at the top of the economic ladder and those who have been brainwashed by that power machine.

They cannot be allowed to stomp on us like this and go unchallenged, as history shows clearly that they will not stop disrespecting us until we who defend equality and human rights stop them. Let it also be clear that we stand united with all the eliminated categories and with Herbie Hancock, Eddie Palmieri, Carlos Santana, Paul Simon, the Reverend Jess Jackson, Cornel West, Bill Cosby, Chick Corea, Stanley Clark, Pete Escovedo, Larry Vuckovich, Oscar Hernandez, Dr. John Calloway, Larry Harlow, David Amram, Wayne Wallace, Bobby Sanabria, Randall Kline, Clayton Leander, Bobby Matos, Ramon and Tony Banda, Rene Camacho, Professor Dartanyan Brown, Mark Levine, Dr. Ben Lapidus, Dr. Chris Washburne, Sandy Cressman, Gary Eisenberg, San Francisco Supervisors Eric Mars and John Avalos, the San Francisco Arts Commission, Presente.org, the National Hispanic Media Coalition, the National Institute for Latino Policy, Democracy Now, Urban Music Presents, and so many other musical, academic and community leaders as well as with hundreds of thousands of musicians, fans, supporters and industry workers in opposing this disastrous decision by NARAS. We've met with them, written and re-written proposals at their request, and jumped through hoop after hoop and they've stonewalled us every time.

1000 thanks to all of you who have spread the word. Please continue to forward this urgent and viral movement to get NARAS moving once again, in the right direction. Check in regularly with GrammyWatch.org to keep abreast of what's happening, as related stories are emerging daily. Keep writing to the NARAS brass at the addresses found on GrammyWatch.org.
It is only the constant and growing public pressure and outcry that has gotten their attention and that of NARAS supporters. Know that everything works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end.

http://www.grammywatch.org for updates, addresses, and info, and please let Grammy broadcaster CBS know your thoughts directly with the link below, . . . .

CBS comment form:

http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.php

In solidarity . . . .

js 2/18/12
John Santos

Five-time Grammy nominee, educator, composer, producer, percussionist, bandleader, US Artist Fontanals Fellow, 25 year NARAS member

New Article Links on GRAMMY Protest - Democracy Now, Forbes Mag, Billboard Mag, Fox News, LA Times,

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:05:41 GMT

From Danny Schechter the Newsdissector

http://reportergary.com/2012/02/the-grammys-lack-of-inclusion/

Impremedia

http://www.impremedia.com/apps/pbcs.dll/search?Category=SEARCH

EFE

http://www.listindiario.com/entretenimiento/2012/2/7/220840/Artistas-latinos-se-manifestaran-contra-los-Grammy-por-excluir-su-musica

NPR

http://www.npr.org/programs/tell-me-more/

Billboard

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/legal-and-management/grammy-protestors-drop-off-23-000-signatures-1006148352.story

Another EFE article

http://www.larazon.es/noticia/5377-musicos-apartados-de-los-grammy-protestan-ante-la-academia-de-la-grabacion

Santa Monica Daily Press

http://www.smdp.com/hc.e.73457.lasso

Ruben Blades Talks 'Safe House,' Grammy Controversy, & Politics

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2012/02/09/ruben-blades-talks-safe-house-grammy-controversy-politics/#ixzz1m0Kj1wOi
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2012/02/09/ruben-blades-talks-safe-house-grammy-controversy-politics/

Associated Press

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19936954

FOX News Latino

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2012/02/10/grammy-awards-protested-for-dumping-latin-jazz/

Not Those Awards - All-Star Latin Jazz Jam protests the GRAMMY - Los Angeles Arts | Examiner.com

http://www.examiner.com/arts-in-los-angeles/not-those-awards-all-star-latin-jazz-jam-protests-the-grammy#ixzz1m1N5fELq

Breaking Down the Grammy Controversy -- Forbes

http://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2012/02/10/breaking-down-the-grammy-controversy/

AFP -- Agence France Press
Músico de latin jazz, Bobby Sanabria, convoca protesta antiGrammy por eliminar 31 categorías

http://www.ntn24.com/noticias/musico-de-latin-jazz-bobby-san-038611

AP Spanish Desk

http://www.primerahora.com/musicoslatinosexigenrestitucionderubroseliminadosenlosgrammy-612040.html

LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-grammy-protest-20120211,0,4325513.story

The Wrap -- Reuters

http://www.goldderby.com/music/news/2522/news-nuggets-artists-will-protest-grammys-for-cutting-ethnic-categories.html#

Cuba si.

http://www.cubasi.cu/

Cnn en espanol Cafe Cnn

http://mexico.cnn.com/videos/2012/02/09/protestas-contra-el-grammy

“Music Rights Is Our Fight!” says the flyer/invite to a protest and “alternative Grammy party” to be held on Sunday, February 12, the same day as the 54thGrammy Awards in Los Angeles. (Flyer: Presente.org)

http://univisionnews.tumblr.com/post/17492197592/grammys-latin-jazz

Billboard.biz -- 2/12 -- Day of Protest

Latin Jazz Musicians Protest Grammy Awards, L.A. Mayor Supportive Of Artists

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/genre/latin/latin-jazz-musicians-protest-grammy-awards-1006177372.story

2/12 NY Times -- Bobby Quoted

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/arts/music/grammys-are-handed-out-in-los-angeles.html?pagewanted=all

Democracy Now

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/2/13/latin_jazz_musicians_lead_protest_against

Democracy Now in Spanish

http://www.democracynow.org/es/programas/2012/2/13#latin_jazz_musicians_lead_protest_against

AFP

http://www.elcomercio.com/entretenimiento/Jazzistas-colegas-protesta-recortes-Grammy_0_644935678.html

AP Spanish Desk 2/13

http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2012/02/12/1126301/mana-pepe-aguilar-y-cachao-ganan.html

Elimination Of Various Categories Left Many Latinos And Others Out Of The GRAMMYs
HuffPo Latino - Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/14/latino-grammys-categories-eliminated_n_1276372.html

Grammys hit high and low notes -- From New York City's hometown paper -- The NY Daily News

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/grammy-highs-lows-adele-jennifer-high-maroon-5-nicki-article-1.1021799?localLinksEnabled=false

Letter from Rev. Jesse Jackson asking NARAS to restore the Cut Categories!

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:35:00 GMT

Article from SFGATE

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/27/entertainment/e084722S71.DTL

January 27, 2012

Neil Portnow
President and CEO
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Via: neil@grammy.com.

Dear Mr Portnow:

The Rainbow Push Coalition, one of our nation’s leading civil rights organizations, has been advised by some of its members and supporters in the entertainment community, including recording artists, that the National Academy of Recording Arts And Sciences has arbitrarily, and without input or a vote of its membership, decided to eliminate traditional categories in your annual awards competition.

We share their alarm at the shrinking of musical diversity at a time when our country needs to celebrate all of its cultural traditions. When the American public is not exposed to those traditions on the Grammy awards telecast, they are likely to be uninformed about them. The consequence: less tolerance and awareness of how our diverse cultures contribute to the American mosaic.

Many of us learn about each other first through our music and cultural interdependence. Needless to say, we in the civil and human rights movement, become very alarmed when decisions are made that will flatten cultural knowledge. Perhaps that’s why we agree with one of your very first Grammy winners, the great Frank Sinatra, who insisted that the Grammys must be about the music, not sales. He said, “Remember ladies and gentlemen, it’s about excellence, not popularity.”

We were shocked to learn that some of the categories dropped from the Grammys constitute the very heart of the music that nourishes and inspires minority communities. It is also the music that helps define the larger American experience. They include: Latin Jazz, Traditional R&B, Traditional and Contemporary Jazz, World Music, Native American, Cajun/Zydeco, Hawaiian, Polka, Instrumental Rock, Traditional and Contemporary Blues, Gospel, Mexican and other ethnic and instrumental categories. Your corporate decision will make it much harder for many talented artists to get attention for their work and the recognition they deserve. That’s not fair.

We are urging you to review this ill-considered decision and reverse it before it brings irreparable harm to the image, stature and respect that the Grammys justifiably enjoys. Already, there are artists protesting the decision and its ramifications. They fear that this controversy could potentially polarize the music world in the same way that our political world had been divided by often ugly but deeply felt and passionate emotions. Music should be a bridge to unity, not another irritant unraveling our culture.

We would like to meet with you urgently to express our concerns and to see if we might help resolve this conflict to insure a just and fair outcome and allow the Grammys to do what they do best. I can be reached through my chief of staff, John Mitchell, 773-256-2768.

Sincerely,

Reverend Jesse Jackson
President and Founder
Rainbow PUSH Coalition

Please Write SF Board of Supervisors to Support Musical Diversity at the Grammys

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:15:00 GMT

Greetings,

I am writing to ask you for your support of our musicians and those who work on the forefront of LIVE MUSIC to take a few minutes and write the following San Francisco Board of Supervisors asking them to pass the resolution - click here to read that SF Arts Commissioners Dr. John Calloway presented and was unanimously approved by the full commission on November 16, 2011.

The City of San Francisco is in a place that can set precedence by supporting integrity and respect for cultural expression for other cities. The NARAS chapter is very strong here in the Bay Area and I am asking for your support, whether you live here or not.

Here are the primary supervisors that need to hear from you!

Carmen Chu - District 4
Carmen.Chu@sfgov.org

Katy Tang
Legislative Aide - District 4
Katy.Tang@sfgov.org
(415) 554-7460

Cammy Blackstone
Legislative Aide - District 4
Cammy.Blackstone@sfgov.org
(415) 554-7460

Scott Wiener - District 8
Scott.Wiener@sfgov.org

Gillian E. Gillett
Legislative Aide - District 8
Gillian.Gillett@sfgov.org
(415) 554-6968

Adam Taylor
Legislative Aide - District 8
Adam.Taylor@sfgov.org
(415) 554-6968

Sean Elsbernd - District 7
Sean.Elsbernd@sfgov.org

Olivia Scanlon
Legislative Aide - District 7
Olivia.Scanlon@sfgov.org
(415) 554-6516

Alexander Volberding
Legislative Aide - District 7
Alexander.Volberding@sfgov.org
(415) 554-6516

At present time, the resolution sits before the Board of Supervisors, brought honorably to the Board by Supervisor Eric Mar after being passed by the San Francisco Arts Commission under President PJ Johnston.

Unfortunately, Supervisor Mar is receiving criticism- click here to read for presenting this matter and yesterday Supervisor Sean Elsbrend of District 7 motioned to table this resolution to next week on Tuesday January 31st.

It is imperative that the Supervisors understand that this resolution is not so much about the Grammy's, but rather about the significance of our cultural institutions being safeguarded and that the American Songbook is as diverse as the people who live here.

This is the letter I sent...

Dear Supervisors,

I am thankful that Supervisor Mar and the City of San Francisco has taken a stance to stand up for the importance of diversity in our American Songbook. While many may not care about the GRAMMY's and view them as frivolous, I will assure you the artists do not. In this era where Jazz, Latin Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Cajun/Zydeco and severa l American music forms are being dropped from record labels, radio air play and where these recordings are no longer funded by commerical means, a GRAMMY nomination still has significant meaning in the quality venues of performances, of artists pay and philanthropic grant potential.

It is imperative that we all stand up for fairness and equitable justice. What NARAS did in changing the rules and dropping the categories of these genres, happened behind closed doors, without membership awareness or approval and yet their very Mission states they exist to fairly promote the American Songbook.

At this time, artists cannot receive a grammy in Gospel, Latin Jazz, Classical, Cajun/Zydeco, Hawaiian, Native American, best male and female categories in R&B, there is now only one category for blues, yet there are 12 for country, 12 for hip hop and several for rock n'roll - where would Hip Hop and Rock n' Roll be for not the clave of Latin Jazz, the 12 bar of blues, the righteousness of Gospel, the Soulfulness of Native American music... We are all one and by not recognizing these valuable intrinsic art forms to our musical landscape we are not only hurting ourselves, we are hurting our future.

Many of the artists I work with are also educators. Without the awards process and the aspirations to reach for them, it is possible we limit the access of future artists and understanding of intrinsic cultural value.

I urge you to support this resolution and to take a stand for equality and justice and to stand and support the American Songbook and all of its cultural significance.

For more information please visit www.grammywatch.org or www.urbanmusicpresents.com/grammynarasarticles and please sign this petition that over 5,700 others have done and lastly and importantly BOYCOTT the GRAMMY TELECAST and send a message that our American Songbook is not being represented and that this needs to change now!

Sincerely,
Stephanie Dalton

Stephanie Dalton, Director
Urban Music Presents
| 2588 Mission Street, Suite 215 | San Francisco, CA 94110
o: 415-796-2319 | m: 415-503-8207 | urbanmusicpresents@gmail.com
www.urbanmusicpresents.com |
Jazz*Community*Accessibility

The Resolution Reads:

This resolution to reinstate the 31 categories of music that were dropped by the National Academy of Arts and Sciences (NARAS) for GRAMMY consideration on April 6, 2011 supports the music genres that are truly reflective of the contemporary musical landscape and cultural diversity of the United States.

WHEREAS, the City and County of San Francisco, which maintains a proud tradition as a hub of cultural and musical diversity, is home and host to valuable contributors of the American musical lexicon, including numerous GRAMMY®-nominated and -winning composers, artists and professionals; and

WHEREAS, NARAS, an influential nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization, is based in California and home to 30% of its 20,000+ members, and includes a San Francisco Chapter; and

HEREAS, the decision to drop the 31 categories from GRAMMY consideration was done by secret committee without consulting the voting membership of NARAS and without local chapters' Board of Governors' knowledge; and

WHEREAS, the eliminated categories include Latin Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Hawaiian, Cajun, Zydeco, Native American, Tejano, Classical Crossover, Instrumental Rock, along with significant reductions in awards given to the categories of Gospel, Blues and R&B; and

WHEREAS, protests and meetings have occurred in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Hawaii, Chicago, New Orleans, and other national locations to resolve this severe and extremely insensitive blow to cultural expression and recognition in our country; and

WHEREAS, respected GRAMMY-winning and -nominated artists, including Paul Simon, Herbie Hancock, Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, John Santos, John Calloway, Eddie Palmieri, Wayne Wallace, Bobby Sanabria and many others have joined NARAS members, colleagues, and past Chapter governors in writing letters and signing a petition with 5,000 cosigners urging NARAS to reverse their secret decision and reinstate the GRAMMY categories; and

WHEREAS, national and international media coverage (KTVU, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, Reuters, BBC, Wall Street Journal, etc.) has been given to the outcry against this unjust and harmful decision in over 1,200 national and international stories published and syndicated in print, broadcast, and digital formats; and

WHEREAS, NARAS has a responsibility to their voting membership to ensure that ethical decision practices are maintained because the GRAMMY is considered to be the highest award achievable for music excellence in the Unites States and therefore should strive to include genres and categories of particular creative and foundational significance; and

WHEREAS, the thousands of affected musicians, engineers, manufacturers, composers, arrangers, graphic artists, publicists, distributors, and other industry professionals who work in the eliminated categories will suffer economically from not being able to participate in the GRAMMY awards; and

WHEREAS, thousands of California consumers and patrons of these important musical traditions have also been negatively affected and disrespected by this ill-advised decision; and

WHEREAS, the NARAS leadership has acknowledged that a "mistake" was made indicates that these genres should never have been eliminated in the first place;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the San Francisco Arts Commission urges the National Academy of Arts and Sciences to immediately reinstate the eliminated categories in order to restore integrity and diversity to the GRAMMY Awards and fulfill the organization's responsibilities to its membership and as a nonprofit organization representing the interests of diverse musicians and recording professionals; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Francisco Arts Commission directs its administrative staff to send copies of this resolution to NARAS National Board Chair George Flanigen, Board Secretary Glenn Lorbecki, and President Neil Portnow.

A letter from John Santos - Occupy and Boycott the Grammy Telecast in February

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:37:21 GMT

Posted by John Santos in the Latin Jazz Yahoo Group November 3, 2011 - with aprroval of Mr. Santos I repost.

Thanks to all who sent B-day wishes thru the LJ forum and privately -
that's much appreciated.

And thank you Gary for mentioning the relevance of the Occupy
Wallstreet/Occupy Oakland/ Occupy Your Heart movement that is sweeping
our nation. The arts are crucial to the movement which is a huge
reason why there is a war on the arts among the agenda items of the
powers that be. They are quite aware that artists have always exposed
the backdoor, unethical and criminal behavior of the government/
corporation alliance. So they use their fabricated and well-thought-
out monetary crisis to dismantle the National Endowment for the Arts
and the State arts agencies, having successfully eliminated several of
those agencies, and leaving the rest to attempt survival on 15 to 25%
of the budgets they were alloted 15 years ago. They also are hyper
aware that the arts promote independent, creative thinking and
development in children and youth of all ages, and have reacted by
stripping the public school systems of arts funding and programming,
in an attempt to produce kids who are much less likely to question
their ruthless, profit-motivated policies that are so detrimental to
our communities and have caused the present state of rapid decline of
the environment and of our standard of living. Those same kids will be
much more likely to enlist as soldiers and blindly do the dirty work
of the corporations that are calling the shots. As noble as is the
concept of defending country and honor as a soldier, their patriotism
is desecrated and denigrated as those courageous kids are the fodder
for the type of destructive politics and greed that have destabilized
the entire planet.

As artists and appreciators, benefactors and supporters of the arts,
it is our duty to not fall into the trap of neutrality and apathy that
the right wing has always counted on and taken advantage of.
Unfortunately, the right wing these days is all of the republicans and
most of the Democrats, as they are all in the pockets of the
corporations with the most money. I hope that folks take off their
blindfolds and get in the street and stay in the street until the
powers that be are held accountable and brought down from their
positions of immunity so that we can say with confidence that we are
working towards real peace, justice, and dignity for ALL. The future
of our children and all children is MUCH more important than the
inconvenience of raising our voices in solidarity. Art supersedes
politics, but for us, the working class 99%, art is born of the
political reality in which we struggle. Latin Jazz is resistance and
as such, has been eliminated from Grammy consideration. The same can
be said of the vast majority of the 31 categories eliminated by NARAS
(the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) earlier this
year. Coincidence? Give me a break!

Much love, awareness and health to all of you, despite the opposition
and attacks on all three of those necessities by those that are
supposedly looking out for us. BOYCOTT THE GRAMMY TELECAST ON FEBRUARY
12TH, 2012 and join us if you can, on the picket line at the Staples
Center in Los Angeles, CA!!!!

www.grammywatch.info

Corrupt power concedes nothing without a demand - Frederick Douglass

It is no sign of good health to be well-adjusted to a sick society -
J. Krishnamurti

The artist must choose between freedom and slavery - Paul Robeson

Letter from Bobby Sanabria Re: NPR Coverage of Latin Jazz Musicians File Suit Against The Grammy's

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 03:44:20 GMT

There are several extremely important things that were not mentioned in the NPR piece that concern me...

Just for the record - the plaintiffs in this case, besides Mark Levine, are Ben Lapidus, Bobby Sanabria and Eugene Marlow. The decision by NARAS to eliminate the 31 categories was done in complete, utter SECRECY with absolutely NO transparency. The secret sub-committee that was formed and initiated this ill-advised decision was comprised of 12 individuals and met for 18 months and was immediately formed after Herbie Hancock won for Album of the Year (a CD that only sold approximately 50,000 units) back in 2008. NO ONE outside of the Board of Trustees knew of the committee's existence, it was that secret. Why wasn't Neil Portnow asked about that?

Not one of the 21,000 NARAS membership were ever asked for their opinion regarding the the possibility of these cuts in categories. Even more damning is the fact that not one of the Grammy Chapter Governors in any of the 12 Grammy Chapter cities (elected officials by NARAS members to represent us) were consulted and /or brought into the process. Mr. Portnow's comments regarding low submissions and using that as an excuse for the cuts are disingenuous. Latin Jazz, and all the other cut categories (except for two), have met the minimum submission requirements. The old rule is that there had to be a minimum of 25 submissions for any category to exist and there would be 5 nominees in that category. The new rule? Between 25 - 39 submissions, you have ONLY 3 nominees. 40 and over, 5 nominees. Latin Jazz has had on average 31 submissions each year over the last 5 years. Therefore the category (along with 28 others) should NEVER have been cut. Why wasn't
Portnow called on this in the interview?

His statement in this article is the same one he has been making since the April 11, 2011 NYC NARAS chapter meeting...

"We'll be reviewing the awards roll-out after this year's cycle and we'll be talking about the things that worked, the things that didn't, and the changes we want to make,">

But what he doesn't say is that it is reported that he admitted in a June 15 meeting in the NYC Grammy Chapter offices that they (NARAS) made a mistake but even so, WON"T change the decision!!! Why wasn't he called on that? What he doesn't say as well is that the Board of Trustees are the ONLY ones who can change the decision at this time, NOT HIM. Since he has been obfuscating for them, most people don't know this.

Which brings me to this important point. According to California law regarding member organizations w/ a 5016C status, it is our right as members to be allowed to see/read the minutes of any and all Board of Trustee and any other committee's minutes upon request by ANY NARAS member. It is illegal to deny access to WE the membership the minutes of those meetings. WHAT ARE THEY HIDING? COULD IT BE SOMETHING CALLED, THE TRUTH? Why won't they reveal who made up the ultra-secret sub-committee of 12 and why are they guarding those minutes so zealously after two LEGAL requests by NARAS members (first by yours truly, and second by John Santos, Sandy Cressman, Wayne Wallace and Roberta Donnay) to NARAS have been denied. HENCE OUR LAWSUIT filed in NYC by the aforementioned plaintiffs. THIS IS NOT NEW NEWS. It was reported in the press and here on this very forum MONTHS ago. Why was Portnow not asked about this?

More importantly, OVER 70% of the cut categories represent ethnic, racially based music genres. Last year over 51% of the Grammy nominations and winners were indie labels. The cuts effectively cut the power that independent recording companies have attained over the years. What happened when these cuts were initiated? The effectively cut of the power of indie labels, that's what happened. Why wasn't he asked about this? And then there's the Steven Stoute issue.

Again, why wasn't he asked about ANY of this?

Ache' and in solidarity,
Bobby Sanabria

NPR: by Felix Contreras: Latin Jazz Musicians File Suit Against The Grammy's

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 03:41:13 GMT

September 14, 2011

In April, the board of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), which oversees the Grammy Awards, announced that with next year's ceremony, the number of awards handed out would be cut from 109 to 78.

Categories like best R&B vocal performance by a male, by a female and by a group were merged into single award. Metal and hard rock were combined into one award. The number of Grammys that will go to Latin musicians when the awards are presented at the 54th-annual awards ceremony in February will be four, down from seven this year.

Just 17 awards were handed out at the first ever Grammy Awards ceremony, in 1957, but the number of awards ballooned over the years. Videos were added in the 1980s. The rise of hip-hop resulted in multiple additions in the 1990s. Native American, Hawaiian, and Zydeco and Cajun albums (all categories that were contracted in the new cuts) were given their own categories in the last decade.

For NARAS, the cuts have to do with a desire to return some of the luster to the awards by increasing competition.

"It's got to be the highest possible achievement and when you begin to dilute that in categories where, for example where there are few submission or very little Grammy activity or the same artists continually received the Grammy year after year because it is such a small community, then that puts a question mark on the Grammy and what is the value of a Grammy if it is so easy to get," says Neil Portnow, the CEO of NARAS.

For many of the musicians who have previously been up for the awards that were eliminated, the cuts meant that they will now compete in broader categories, often against more famous musicians.

"I can't compete with Herbie Hancock. I can't compete with Wayne Shorter," says Mark Levine, a pianist, composer and educator who has twice been nominated in the Best Latin Jazz Album category, now folded into Best Jazz Album. "Go down the list. It is very unlikely that a Latin jazz artist will be more popular."

To protest the changes, Levine renounced his NARAS membership and, along with three other Latin jazz musicians, filed a lawsuit against the organization in August. The suit claims that the cuts made by NARAS demonstrate negligence toward its members by taking away a shot at recognition musicians might use to promote themselves, thus making it harder for them to earn a living.

Then there's the simple matter of appropriate categorization.

"Latin jazz is not a subset," says bandleader Arturo O'Farrill, who won the Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album in 2009.

Robert Doyle, the CEO of Canyon Records, which has been recording and releasing Native American music for 60 years (with 30 Grammy nominations and 1 win), agrees. Best Native American Music Album has been combined with Best Hawaiian Music Album and Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album under the new category of Best Regional Roots Music Album.

"On the one hand, we did understand the rationale behind the cuts," Doyle says. "On the other hand, we were deeply disappointed. And then really what we wanted [was] to figure a way to work within the system to get the category back — What did we have to do? — and begin that process."

Portnow says that NARAS is not backing down from its decision, but he is leaving the door open just a little.

"We'll be reviewing the awards roll-out after this year's cycle and we'll be talking about the things that worked, the things that didn't, and the changes we want to make," he says.

O'Farrill sees a larger task facing NARAS and other cultural institutions as this country's cultural profile expands.

"Challenge yourself, challenge the nation, challenge all of us to look at the different flavors that are part of this world, part of this nation," he says.

News Articles covering Recording Artists NARAS Lawsuit - CNN, BBC, Reuters, MSNBC and more

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 03:25:00 GMT

Here is a list of articles that have been written regarding the NARAS decision to eliminate the 31 Categories for GRAMMY consideration.

http://www.latina.com/entertainment/music/latin-artists-band-together-sue-grammys
FYI, a web portal in Lebanon picked up our story through AFP. I saw the clip a while ago, and can't find it. Just wanted you to know that we got coverage in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and United Arab Emirates.

Agence France Press
http://www.france24.com/en/20110808-latin-jazz-players-sue-grammys-axing-award

The Strait Times out of Singapore picked up our story.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_700242.html
The Straits Times is one of the region's oldest English-language daily newspapers. It is the flagship publication of the publicly-listed Singapore Press Holdings group.
First published on July 15, 1845, The Straits Times is the most widely read newspaper in Singapore. The Sunday Times, which is produced by the same team of journalists, has a circulation of 365,800 and a readership of 1.43 million

Philippines -- MSN
http://news.ph.msn.com/entertainment/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5137141

Yahoo! New Zealand
http://nz.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/article/-/9997799/latin-jazz-players-sue-grammys-for-axing-award/

Pakistan
http://www.ittaleem.com/showthread.php?t=210208

Worldnews.com
http://article.wn.com/view/2011/08/08/Latin_Jazz_players_sue_Grammys_for_axing_award/

Arabia MSN News
http://arabia.msn.com/News/entertainment/AFP/2011/August/8190849.aspx

Malaysia -- Yahoo! News
http://my.news.yahoo.com/latin-jazz-players-sue-grammys-axing-award-173932251.html

Sky News out of Australia
http://www.skynews.com.au/showbiz/article.aspx?id=648277&vId=

Poland
http://www.poland.us/wiadomosc,12,280135.html

The Times of Malta picked up our story yesterday from AFP. They posted it on its homepage, right under the Desperate Housewives.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/sections/view/life

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110810/arts-entertainment/Latin-Jazz-players-sue-Grammys-for-axing-award.379640

Yahoo! Canada
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/latin-jazz-players-sue-grammys-axing-award-173932022.html

The LA Watts Times -- The most widely -distributed Black newspaper in LA, picked up the AP Story.
http://www.lawattstimes.com/life-and-style-mainmenu-31/arts-a-culture/2845-latin-jazz-players-file-suit-over-cut-grammy-award.html

Ghana
http://www.ghananaija.com/2011/08/03/latin-musicians-sue-over-grammys/

Central Macedonia?
http://www.historum.com/lounge/28831-latin-musicians-sue-over-grammy-changes.html

Wall Street Journal
Regarding a recent decision by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to eliminate 31 categories, including Latin jazz, he Eddie Palmieri says: "It's an insult that hurts. It's a Grammy scar. And it makes no sense."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904006104576500661069192894.html

The Province
http://www.theprovince.com/entertainment/Slashing+Grammys+racist+declares+Carlos+Santana/5254103/story.html?cid=megadrop_story
Slashing Grammys is 'racist,' declares Carlos Santana
BY JOHN P. MCLAUGHLAN, SPECIAL TO THE PROVINCE AUGUST 14, 2011 4:02 PM

Fusicology.com
http://fusicology.com/2011/08/10/latin-musicians-sue-over-the-grammys/
Fusicology News
Latin Musicians Sue Over the Grammys
Ani Yapundzhyan on August 10, 2011with 0 comments

Dawn.com
http://www.dawn.com/2011/08/09/latin-jazz-players-sue-grammys-for-axing-award.htmlLatin Jazz players sue Grammys for axing award

France24.com
http://www.france24.com/en/20110808-latin-jazz-players-sue-grammys-axing-award
Latin Jazz players sue Grammys for axing award
A trophy in front of the Grammy logo at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Four Latin Jazz musicians are suing the Grammy Awards for cutting their category from the list of awards handed out each year.

Wall Street Journal
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2011/08/08/latin-jazz-musicians-sue-grammys-over-category-elimination/
Latin Jazz Musicians Sue Grammys Over Category Elimination
By Patrick G. Lee

Digitalspy.com
http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a333149/html
Grammy Awards sued over Latin jazz category cutst
Wednesday, August 3 2011, 9:32am EDT
By Lara Martin, News Editor

About.com
http://latinmusic.about.com/b/2011/08/04/latin-music-artists-fight-against-the-grammy-organization.htm
Latin Music Artists Fight Against The Grammy Organization
By Carlos Quintana, About.com Guide August 4, 2011

Billboard.biz
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/neil-portnow-on-latin-jazz-grammy-elimination-1005304552.story
Neil Portnow on Latin Jazz Grammy Elimination: 'You Can't Make Everybody Happy...'
August 04, 2011
By Justino Aguila, Los Angeles

Colorlines.com
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/08/latin_jazz_musicians_file_class_action_suit_to_reinstate_categories.html
Latin Jazz Musicians File Class Action Against Grammy Awards

BBC.co.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14385699
Latin musicians sue over Grammy changes
Percussionist Bobby Sanabria is one of the musicians suing the academy over the changes

Entlawdigest.com
http://www.entlawdigest.com/2011/08/03/826.htm
Latin Jazz Musicians Sue Over Grammys
By CHLOEE GREAVES
MANHATTAN

NME.com
http://www.nme.com/news/carlos-santana/58420
August 3, 2011 15:20
Latin jazz musicians set to sue the Grammys
Artists aren't happy that the award show's producers have cut the number of categories

Radioandmusic.com
http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news/latin-jazz-musician-sues-grammy-awards
Latin jazz musician sues Grammy Awards
RnM Team 04 Aug 11 18:28 IST

Thecmuwebsite.com
MUMBAI: The four Latin jazz musicians will sue the Grammy Award producers for axing 'The Best Latin Jazz Album Category' from the nomination list.
http://www.thecmuwebsite.com/article/musicians-sue-over-grammy-category-merging/
Musicians sue over Grammy category merging

CNN.com
Latin jazz musicians sue over Grammy category cuts
By Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN
August 3, 2011 11:01 p.m. EDT
http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/03/latin.jazz.lawsuit/index.html

Offbeat.com
http://offbeat.com/2011/08/03/grammy-fight-gets-legal/
Grammy Fight Gets Legal
03 August 2011 — by OffBeat Staff
We’ve been reporting on the backlash against NARAS’ decision to consolidate the number of Grammy Awards offered from 109 to 78.

Digitalmusicnews.com
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/080211grammy?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+digitalmusicnews+%28Digital+Music+News%3A+Top+Stories%29

Reuters.com
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/03/us-newyork-grammysuit-idUSTRE7723NX20110803
Latin jazz artists sue Grammys for dropping their category

MSNBC.com
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43995473
Latin jazz players file suit over cut Grammy award
By DEEPTI HAJELA

Newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com
http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/New_York/News/2011/08_-_August/Latin_jazz_artists_sue_Grammys_for_dropping_their_category/
Latin jazz artists sue Grammys for dropping their category
8/2/2011 COMMENTS (0)
NEW YORK, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Four Latin jazz artists sued the organizers of the Grammy Awards on Monday, alleging that the elimination of their category from next year's competition has caused them irreparable harm.

Press Coverage Generated by the Class Action Lawsuit filed on August 1, 2011

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 01:55:00 GMT

On the GRAMMY front this week, Latin Jazz recording artists Bobby Sanabria, Mark Levine, Ben Lapidus and Eugene Marlow filled a class action law suit in New York City against the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and their Board of Trustees seeking that the Latin Jazz category be reinstated for GRAMMY award consideration. They are encouraging other musicians from other genres to do the same.

To read the in-depth Class Action Law Suit please click here.

The news of this lawsuit has captured national, international media attention as well as local comment. Below are links from BBC, Reuters, MSNBC, New York Times, Billboard Magazine and many others.

MSNBC
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43995473

NY Times
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/latin-musician-sue-over-the-grammys/

Reuters:
Homepage Under "Latest Headlines"
http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/Legal/NY/

Article Link:
http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/New_York/News/2011/08_-_August/Latin_jazz_artists_sue_Grammys_for_dropping_their_category/

Associated Press
http://online.wsj.com/article/AP255da72b7e074140941bf41cd69df932.html

Billboard
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/legal-and-management/latin-jazz-musicians-file-lawsuit-against-1005301212.story

Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/03/us-newyork-grammysuit-idUSTRE7723NX20110803

BBC
En español: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/noticias/2011/08/110803_musica_jazz_latino_grammys_demanda_lav.shtml
En inglés: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14385699

EastBay Express
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/EarBud/archives/breaking-news/

Digital Music News
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/080211grammy?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+digitalmusicnews+%28Digital+Music+News%3A+Top+Stories%29

Recording Artist and Author Mark Levine Returns GRAMMY and LARAS Nominations

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:46:57 GMT

July 20, 2011

Neil Portnow, President
National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
3030 Olympic Blvd
Santa Monica CA 90404

Dear President Portnow,

I am returning my 2003 Grammy Nomination medal
and plaque to NARAS, and my 2010 Latin Grammy
Nomination parchment to LARAS. I'm also refusing
your offer of a Life Membership. I no longer want
to be associated with your organization.

Your actions in delisting the categories that have most
contributed to American music have been racist, and go
against everything my parents taught me about America.

To quote Frank Sinatra at the original Grammies awards ceremony in 1959:
“Remember ladies and gentlemen, it's about excellence, not popularity."

Peace,

Mark Levine

From Latin Jazz Corner

From All About Jazz

From GrammyWatch

Urban Music Presents Rebuttal to NARAS July Press Release

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 23:40:00 GMT

Some of you may be asking why so much ruckus about the GRAMMY/NARAS decision, perhaps you have thought, "let it rest Stephanie...I get it already" - Well - I really can't. This week the actions of NARAS have inspired GrammyWatch.org and those of us who are seeing the actions of the NARAS leadership first hand to take even further action and to continue to draw attention to the indignation regarding their absolute insensitivity towards cultural relevant music. There is a Call to Action to BOYCOTT the CORPORATE SPONSORS of the GRAMMY'S as well as the TELECAST itself and to begin a letter writing campaign to them denouncing the NARAS position to not reinstate the disenfranchised categories that primarily represent cultural diversity in this country.

I firmly believe as long as there is segregation in all things then our society is at peril. As long as our cultural institutions are willing to castigate our valued cultural heritage and diversity into a consolidated lump of unnamed category or not even be considered at all, than you will continue to hear from me and I will continue to raise the flag of awareness!

To bring you up to speed, this week the National Academy of Recorded Arts Sciences (the entity that produces the GRAMMY Telecast and Award Ceremonies) President Neil Portnow (neil@grammy.com) and Chair of the Board of Trustees George J. Flanigen IV issued a press release announcing current NARAS Chairman George Flanigen's re-election to a second term by NARAS Trustees. The press release goes on to state "the Board reaffirmed its commitment to the recently announced restructuring of the GRAMMY Awards."

There was also a quote from the embattled NARAS President Neil Portnow saying "I look forward to working closely with this diverse and talented team of music professionals to continue steering The Academy and the GRAMMY Awards to new heights."

They further continue, "While categories were realigned as part of the awards restructuring, ALL of the genre Fields remain intact." This is simply not true - as I would like to remind you, when John Santos asked Bill Fremiuth at the Bay Area Chapter meeting where would his latest CD Filosofía Caribeña be considred - Fremiuth very matter of factly said, "Since there are vocals on the album, you can submit it to the Best Jazz Vocal category." This is preposterous at best and most certainly ignorant!

From the GrammyWatch.org website (a resource of information from contributing musicians, producers, writers and NARAS members), here is the truth behind the vote to reinstate George J. Flanigen IV...

Behind the scenes: a ranging debate

What the NARAS press release does not disclose is that the decisions to designate Flanigen as Chair and to maintain cuts to the GRAMMY Award categories were actually made on the week of May 23rd by a lame-duck session of the NARAS Board of Trustees, 1/3rd of which have termed out as of May 31st. Sources say that contrary to the external image of unity, the Trustees had a number of contentious debates and deeply split votes over the last few years, which prevented the organization from making earlier cuts to the GRAMMY Awards in May 2010, as was the original plan. During the May 2011 meeting with demonstrators out on Wilshire Boulevard outside the Beverly Hilton Hotel protesting the cuts and speaking to the media, outgoing board members again defended the cuts finally announced by Portnow on April 6, 2011.

The press release does not mention that as of June 1st, 1/3rd of the Board was replaced by 13 new Trustees from NARAS Chapters across the US, a number of who are undoubtedly not happy with inheriting the controversial decision of their predecessors. READ MORE

To be clear and to the point - THE LATIN JAZZ CATEGORY NO LONGER EXISTS! Blues, Gospel, Contemporary Jazz, Hawaiian, Cajun/Zydeco, Native American, Norteno and many other geners have been consolidated into one lump category - or melded into other genres - to be judged against one another as if they are the same, and not allowed to be recognized for their inherent cultural significance in our society. It is disheartening to think the MUSIC EXPERTS of NARAS don't even understand how these genres CANNOT be compared to one another - I am dismayed, frustrated and I really hope all of you are as well! This is just another example of the "dumbing" down of America and I will continue to write about this until we are on the right path.

In the following link, John Santos writes an eloquent response to their position and provides the reason why I am asking you to BOYCOTT the GRAMMY TELECAST and their SPONSORS. Please click here to read their statement and John Santos rebuttal and you can determine your own mind and heart as to the actions you chose to take.

If you decide to help us with this struggle, I urge you to participate in a letter writing campaign (click here for addresses) to the Corporate Sponsors denouncing NARAS and the GRAMMY's for their own acknowledged "mistake" and the refusal to do anything about rectifying their mistake and then furthering their poor judgement by defending their position. Continue to write letters to the NARAS Leadership and Board of Trustees (addresses here) Please attend the event on FACEBOOK to create an INTERNATIONAL BOYCOTT of the GRAMMY's and please encourage your friends and family to do the same. (Facebook Event Link Here)

Also, please continue to voice your support and join over 5,000 supporters who signed the petition demanding NARAS to reverse this ill-advised action:

One caveat - when I presented the first draft of this petition directly into the hands of NARAS President Neil Portnow at the Bay Area meeting in May, he immediately refuted this petition by asking me, "How many of these people are NARAS Members?" As if it only mattered if we were a voting member. I clearly stated to him, perhaps these names can become future NARAS members which at that time was 1/5 of their membership - now the signature list is over 1/4 of their membership - so please Mr. Portnow - please don't tell me this petition list cannot make a difference! It has you nervous enough to read this newsletter every week and to write absurd statements maintaining your absurd position!

Petition to Reinstate Grammy Categories
(note: Donation to "iPetitions.com" is not required to register your signature. GrammyWatch.org receives no portion of any funds given to ipetions.com)

Finally, one last thing I would like to mention. As you all know from reading this newsletter I have set out to raise funds to help Saxophonist Dayna Stephens with his medical issues. I was then emailed by Board of Trustee Leslie Ann Jones, who was the spearhead behind these decisions. She called to make me aware of MusicCares, a branch of NARAS that helps musicians deal with their medical costs when they are in need. While I am sure there have been instances of support, I can't help feel this effort to contact me was politically motivated. However, giving the benefit of the doubt, I did call and email MusicCares, neither my calls or emails have been returned.

I also would like to refer you to this other letter from John Santos written to Chariman George Flanigen, please note the last paragraph in Mr. Santos' statement that MusicCares DID NOT provide any assistance when he was in need of a hip replacement, in spite of paying membership dues for more than 25 years, and to also point out that President Neil Portnow earns annually 1.5 million. Perhaps this is why MusicCares cannot support musicians who are truly in need, as they are too burdened with paying his salary.

I again urge the Board of Trustees to look at who you have leading NARAS. Under Portnow's leadership it is costing you membership, credibility and integrity as an institution. I urge the Board of Trustees to FIRE Neil Portnow and his cronies VP of Awards and Nominations Bill Freimuth and to relieve George Flanigen, Leslie Ann Jones and the other Board members who allowed this travesty to happen!

Thank you for supporting LIVE MUSIC and the MUSICIANS who bring the music to you! Urban Music Presents believes music grows community and believes our community is only as strong as we give to it.

NARAS/GRAMMY SPONSORS - Write a letter - Boycott these Sponsors!

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 05:29:39 GMT

Delta Airlines
Richard Anderson – CEO
Edward Bastion – President
Roy J. Bostock – Vice Chairman Board of Directors
Corporate Headquarters
Delta Airlines Inc.
PO Box 20706
Atlanta, CA 30320-6001

MasterCard
Ajay Banga – President & CEO
Martina Hund-Mejean – CFO
Board Chairman
Richard Haythornhwaite
Global Headquarters
2000 Purchase Street
NY, NY 10577

Hilton Corporate Officers
9876 Wilshire Blvd
Beverley Hills CA 90210
310.274.7777
Christopher Nassetta - President & CEO
Christopher.nassetta@hilton.com

Director of Corporate Communications – CA
David Trumble
David.trumble@hilton.com

Director of Corporate Communications – NY
Mark Ricci
Mark.ricci@hilton.com

John Santos letter to NARAS Board Chairman George Flanigen

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 05:22:27 GMT

Dear brother George:

Perhaps you and a few others know who was on the committee of trustees that came up with this brilliant idea to suddenly slash 31 categories, and you may even be privy to how each of them voted, but I am an active, dues-paying NARAS member since the 80s and they are not forthcoming with that information. They have flat out said no. Perhaps you'd consider sharing that info with us (we won't say that we got it from you, if that's an issue). It would be interesting from the perspective of those of us who voted for folks like Leslie Ann Jones, Nick Phillips, and others in their efforts to become governors and work their way up to become trustees, only to stab us in the back. I'm not sure to whom you are referring when you mention the members who are already working on the issue, but I am a member currently working on the issue from within as well as from the public standpoint, and don't quite see it the same way you do.

Many of us feel that as members with a lot of experience in certain areas, if they came to us seeking to inform themselves about our music, we'd have been happy to oblige. If they came to us to let us know there was concern about what they perceived as low submission numbers, we could have helped or at least made an effort to get more info into our communities and get the numbers up.

Of course they did not do any of that, so it WAS done in a dishonest, secretive way with zero consideration for the well-being of a significant sector of its membership. I would hope that they are not that stupid to have determined over the two years they claim to have labored over the decision, that their sudden slashing of 31 categories, over 70% of them "ethnic" in nature, would be received with open arms and that all or most of the members directly affected would accept it and merrily continue as members. So was it stupidity, dishonesty, ignorance, arrogance, bigotry, classism, racism, or something else? And just because they happened to give the same unceremonious pink slips to a few categories that were not "ethnic," does not absolve the heavily racist implications of their actions that were probably derived from a combination of all the aforementioned non-desirable qualities.

But what does it matter? The results are the same and the public needs to know that there is ugliness behind the statue so that they can make an informed decision as to whether or not to support and glorify the Grammys and what they are currently representing. So now the boycott is ON. There will soon be forthcoming info as to where the public can direct their intentions in terms of advertisers, sponsors, CBS brass, etc, in addition to the NARAS brass that has been bombarded due to the exposure of this travesty and the publication of their electronic and snail mail addresses on GRAMMYWATCH.ORG

We all know that the majority of their listenership, TV audience, advertisers, and other supporters will not give a rat's ass about our plight, but I do believe that a very significant percentage of folks who work in, or are supporters of, all the wonderful music that NARAS axed and abandoned, will be sufficiently pissed, offended, and/or outraged as to pull their support of such actions by honoring the justified boycott. This unified block of people from the several affected communities will obviously include concerned Latinos, Black Americans, Creoles particularly from the South, Hawaiians, Native Americans, fans of contemporary Jazz, contemporary Classical music, Polka, and instrumental Rock, and all the international citizens who recognize the injustice and have had enough. It is a formidable cross-section of American Roots music and people.

But the protesters also include a rapidly-growing number of highly visible artists and will include some advertisers as well. Together, we will make a noticeable dent in their TV ratings and their shiny public image despite the millions spent (and that will BE spent) to present the facade of all being well. THAT is where they have brought this by not taking advantage of the opportunity to make the relatively easy fix and come out smelling like a rose, while gaining support and trust from within and outside their membership. And THAT is what will eventually bring about any change or action towards change from within. There is simply not enough concern from within at this point, but that will change or their stubbornness will turn their current black eye into a permanent public relations disaster. In terms of the boycott, by procrastinating and standing by their horrendous decision, they are clearly saying to us "bring it on!" as I and others mentioned the possibility of a boycott many times beginning with some of the earliest responses we made to their decree.

It is quite obvious that all of us in all the affected categories are considered expendable and not worth the simple courtesy that a little outreach and transparency would have established. They do not want our music and they do not want us to be part of their activities nor part of their organization.

It would take decades to attempt to change that from the inside, fighting against the non-transparency, the two-faced jargon, the hypocrisy around the mission statement and bylaws, and the weight of the big money interests - an uphill time and energy suck that I dare say most musicians cannot afford to tackle. Rewarding NARAS by responding to their callousness and racist actions by enacting a membership drive will hardly discourage them from changing course. Like you, I also re-upped for three years, but I'm having serious misgivings around that and I'm not so sure I will continue trying to be part of an organization that clearly has no ethics, respect, or regard for all that I and my colleagues represent. We deserve better. But we are now in the undesirable position of having to discredit the organization that we've done so much to support for so many years.

Aside from giving NARAS my hard-earned money every year for nearly 25 years, I've donated my time to their Grammy in the Schools program and now they've dumped me. They claim to help members with health issues and I'm sure there are examples of that, but when I needed a hip replacement and had (and still have) no insurance, they were of no help whatsoever. They're a not-for-profit organization, but CEO Portnow makes nearly 1.5 million a year from our membership dues and the fat coffers supported by the telecast and the industry big money. Their legal team represents BIG money in the industry which is only one of several apparent conflicts of interest that are being exposed through this fiasco. They are not what they represent themselves to be. I do hope you will have success changing it from whatever angles you are working, but we cannot sit on our hands and wait. The injustice must be addressed and repaired NOW.

With the utmost of respect . . john

John Santos Rebuttal to NARAS Press Release July 6, 2011

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 05:21:23 GMT

Please note: This letter is copied as it was written by John Santos. John Santos text is in blue and the NARAS / GRAMMY letter is in black.

JULY 6, 2011

AS HAS BECOME THEIR CUSTOM, NARAS HAS ONCE AGAIN INSULTED A HUGE PORTION OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND FANS BY ISSUING A STATEMENT TODAY (enclosed below) THAT UNDERLINES THEIR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OR CONCERN. THEIR CONTINUED EGOTISTICAL STUBBORNNESS IN STANDING BY THE ILL-ADVISED APRIL 2011 RECOMMENDATION OF A HANDFUL OF "TRUSTEES," TO SUDDENLY ELIMINATE 31 CATEGORIES FROM GRAMMY CONSIDERATION WITH NO OUTREACH WHATSOEVER TO THE AFFECTED MUSICAL COMMUNITIES. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY HYPOCRITICALLY CLAIM TO REPRESENT US AND THAT PARITY, INTEGRITY AND DIVERSITY WERE THEIR GUIDING PRINCIPALS. THIS, DESPITE SOME 600 INTERNATIONALLY-PUBLISHED ARTICLES CONDEMNING THE HORRENDOUS DECISION TO CUT THE CATEGORIES, THE VAST MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE "ETHNIC" BASED, AND COUNTLESS LETTERS OF OPPOSITION FROM THOUSANDS OF CONCERNED PERSONS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD INCLUDING MEMBERS AND GOVERNORS OF THEIR OWN ORGANIZATION AND HIGH PROFILE ARTISTS OF THE MUSIC AND CINEMA WORLDS. I AM OBLIGED TO RESPOND (AGAIN) TO THE GROUNDLESS DOUBLE TALK THAT IS THEIR MANTRA IN RESPONSE TO ALL THE THOUGHTFUL AND FACTUAL RESPONSES THAT WE AND MANY HAVE OFFERED THEM IN MEETINGS AND IN LETTERS. THEY SEEM TO THINK THEY ARE TOO BIG TO OFFICIALLY ADMIT THEIR MISTAKE AND RECTIFY IT DESPITE THE FACT THAT MANY OF THEIR STAFF, GOVERNORS, AND TRUSTEES HAVE DONE SO OFF THE RECORD.

MY RESPONSES ARE IN CAPS SIMPLY FOR EASE IN READING IN CONTRAST TO THE REGULAR TYPE. I AM NOT YELLING ALTHOUGH THAT IS WHAT IS WARRANTED AT THIS POINT IN THIS RIDICULOUS PREDICAMENT THAT THEY HAVE CREATED AND ARE STILL ATTEMPTING TO JUSTIFY KNOWING FULL WELL AS THEY HAVE BEEN CLEARLY INFORMED FROM SEVERAL CAMPS, THAT THEY HAVE INVITED AN INTERNATIONAL BOYCOTT OF ANY TELEVISED NARAS AND/OR GRAMMY RELATED PROGRAMMING ALONG WITH ALL ADVERTISERS AND SPONSORS. INSTEAD OF CHOOSING A RELATIVELY SIMPLE FIX THAT WOULD HAVE CREATED TRUST AND GOODWILL BY ADMITTING THE OBVIOUS AND ADDRESSING THEIR CONCERNS IN A MORE INCLUSIVE AND ETHICAL WAY, THEY CHOSE THE PERMANENT PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER BY ABANDONING US AND MADE IT PERFECTLY CLEAR THAT WE AND OUR MUSIC ARE NOT WORTH RECOGNITION AND ARE NOT WELCOME TO BE PART OF THEIR ORGANIZATION. HOW ELSE COULD THEIR INSENSITIVE, UNREASONABLE ACTIONS AND SUBSEQUENT INACTION BE INTERPRETED? 1000 THANKS FOR HELPING SPREAD THIS FAR AND WIDE.

On Jul 6, 2011, at 5:28 PM, Member Services wrote:

Dear Friends:

As an organization made up of the world's most talented and gifted music makers, one of our principal missions is to celebrate great music across all genres and styles and to recognize and reward excellence in recorded music.

A PREPOSTEROUS STATEMENT IN LIGHT OF THEIR RECENT ACTIONS IN DIRECT CONTRADICTION.

A GRAMMY Award is recognized as the pinnacle of artistic achievement, and the very definition of musical excellence. Artists who earn a GRAMMY- or who have been nominated for one - know the honor comes after having competed against the very best in the world.

Achieving this measure of excellence is a fluid process, and it requires continuous review of our awards structure. This review process - which has been in place for more than 50 years and includes input from elected, qualified voting members from The Recording Academy's 12 Chapters around the country, and a broad spectrum of music makers - takes place annually to assure that the competition is fair and consistent across all musical genres. Accordingly, The Recording Academy's Board of Trustees - who serve as your elected representatives

THIS IS MISINFORMATION - THE TRUSTEES ARE NOT ELECTED BY US THE MEMBERSHIP, BUT BY THE LOCAL BOARDS OF GOVERNORS.

- and its committees spent the last two years researching, analyzing, and discussing years worth of data before deciding to realign the GRAMMY categories. Once this extensive, detailed procedure was completed, we made every effort to be up front, transparent, and painstakingly clear about how and why this was done, and we will continue to reach out and address any questions and/or concerns about the process and these changes.

THIS IS MORE MISINFORMATION - THE ONLY COMMUNICATION CAME AFTER THE ERASING OF THE 31 CATEGORIES - HARDLY A TRANSPARENT PROCESS. THE REASONING FOR WHY THIS WAS DONE IS BAFFLING AT BEST AND MAKES NO SENSE WHATSOEVER.

Here is just one example of the philosophy behind the changes: In the past we have maintained separate categories for some subgenres of music. However, other musical subgenres (like Western Swing music, psychedelic rock, cowboy music, grunge or punk rock, neo-soul, even Christmas music and more) were not represented with their own stand-alone categories. By combining some of the more regionally based subgenres (such as Zydeco/Cajun, Hawaiian, and Native American music) into one overall category (Best Regional Roots Music Album), they are showcased in a larger way than before, creating a more inclusive, diverse category and providing greater exposure for the creators of these robust musical styles. This in turn creates a richer and more vibrant competition for music that shares regional American roots, even if they emanate from different parts of the country.

MORE MISINFORMATION, THIS TIME WITH CONDESCENDING PRAISE FOR THE CATEGORIES SO UNCEREMONIOUSLY ELIMINATED. "COMBINING" CATEGORIES DOES NOT SHOWCASE ELIMINATED CATEGORIES IN A LARGER WAY - IT BURIES THEM AMONG UNRELATED STYLES WHERE THEY DO NOT FIT AND WHERE THE VOTING MEMBERSHIP IS FORCED TO MAKE JUDGEMENTS AND DECISIONS AROUND MUSIC ABOUT WHICH THEY MAY KNOW NOTHING AT ALL. IT MOST CERTAINLY DOES NOT CREATE A RICHER, MORE VIBRANT COMPETITION, BUT GREATLY DEVALUES AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC THAT WAS ALREADY PROVEN TO BE WORTHY OF RECOGNITION MANY YEARS AGO. THIS PARAGRAPH IS ALSO EXTREMELY DECEPTIVE IN THAT IT COMPLETELY SKIRTS THE ISSUE THAT RULE CHANGES WERE MADE AND USED TO ELIMINATE MANY CATEGORIES BEFORE THOSE CHANGES WERE EVER ANNOUNCED, GIVING THE VARIOUS NEGATIVELY-AFFECTED MUSICAL COMMUNITIES NO CHANCE TO ADJUST TO THE NEW RULES - HIGHLY UNETHICAL TO SAY THE LEAST.

We are excited and proud to recognize excellence in this way. Artists in these categories who produce great music will continue to stand out among their peers, and will receive the GRAMMY recognition they richly deserve. It's the same story with many of the other categories that were realigned. Another factor that led to these changes was consistently low entries over the past several years in many categories. The reasons and motives for all of the changes are identical, and your Trustees have no agenda other than how best to advance our shared goal of celebrating great music.

WHAT A HUGE CROCK OF BS! AGAIN THEY PISS IN OUR FACE AND TELL US IT'S RAINING! THERE WAS NEVER ANY CONCERN EXPRESSED TO ANY OF US ABOUT LOW NUMBERS OF ENTIRES UNTIL AFTER THEY SECRETLY CHANGED THE RULES AND THEN ELIMINATED US FROM RECOGNITION BASED ON THOSE RULE CHANGES!

We respect the views of our members, and we will continue to listen to you with open minds.

THIS HAS BEEN MANIFEST ONLY ON PAPER - NOT IN REALITY OR THROUGH ANY ACTIONS UP TO THIS POINT.

While we expect the dialogue to be passionate and spirited, at a minimum we expect it to be fair, accurate, and respectful.

PURE HYPOCRISY! NARAS CONTINUES TO SHOW TREMENDOUS DISRESPECT, UNFAIRNESS, AND TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE WELL BEING OF MANY MUSICAL COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO NARAS AND TO AMERICAN CULTURAL/MUSICAL EXPRESSION.

It is disappointing that some individuals chose to make false, inflammatory statements suggesting that this realignment of the GRAMMY Award categories was motivated by race or ethnicity. The Recording Academy, its Trustees, and its staff have worked tirelessly and diligently on this project and as an organization that continuously strives to uphold the First Amendment, we would never tolerate any attempt to advance a racist agenda using our organization, and we were appalled when these provocative, unwarranted allegations were raised.

WHO KNOWS WHAT MOTIVATIONS COULD BE BEHIND SUCH BAD DECISION MAKING? REGARDLESS OF THE MOTIVATION, THE RESULTS HAVE CLEAR RACIST IMPLICATIONS THAT EVERYONE HAS POINTED OUT. NARAS IS MUCH MORE DEDICATED TO NOT ADMITTING THEIR BLUNDER AND NOT CONCEDING AN INCH, AND AUTOMATICALLY LENDING BLIND SUPPORT FOR A HANDFUL OF COLLEAGUES WHO WERE PARTY TO THE BAD ADVICE, THAN RE-EXAMINING THEIR METHODS. THEY KNEW FULL WELL THAT THIS KIND OF SWEEPING ELIMINATION OF AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC WOULD NOT BE RECEIVED WELL, YET WENT AHEAD WITH IT, PROVING THEIR CALLOUS, DISMISSIVE ATTITUDE AND INTENT TO PUSH US OUT OF THEIR PARTY.

GRAMMY Award categories have always been based on various genres of music - not on race or ethnicity. People of all different backgrounds and walks of life create MUSIC, and artists are not relegated to making music based on race, background or beliefs.

THEY CONTINUE TO PRETEND THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE THAT CERTAIN ETHNIC AND RACIAL COMMUNITIES STRONGLY IDENTIFY WITH CERTAIN STYLES OF ROOTS MUSIC (NATIVE AMERICAN, HAWAIIAN, POLKA, CAJUN, ZYDECO, LATIN JAZZ, BLUES, RHYTHM AND BLUES, ETC) DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE MUSIC ALSO APPEALS TO FOLKS OUTSIDE THOSE COMMUNITIES. THEY ALSO ARE ATTEMPTING TO FRAME THE ISSUE TO ONE OF RACIAL PROTEST ONLY, WHICH IT IS NOT, AS MANY OF THE UNFAIRLY ELIMINATED CATEGORIES ARE OTHER TYPES OF IMPORTANT, NON-COMMERCIAL MUSIC THAT REPRESENT SOME OF THE MOST CREATIVE FORMS OF EXPRESSION IN THE UNITED STATES SUCH AS CLASSICAL CROSSOVER, INSTRUMENTAL ROCK, AND CONTEMPORARY JAZZ.

While categories were realigned as part of the awards restructuring, ALL of the genre Fields remain intact.

THIS IS A STRAIGHT LIE, AS THEY USE THE WORDS REALIGNED AND RESTRUCTURING TO HIDE THE FACT THAT 31 CATEGORIES WERE ERASED! IN FACT, THE GENRE FIELDS DO NOT REMAIN INTACT WHEN CATEGORIES WITHIN THOSE GENRE FIELDS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED. HOW CAN THEY LOOK US IN THE EYE AND SPEW THESE LIES?

And the GRAMMY Awards still have more categories that recognize musical excellence than any other music award.

THE GRAMMYS DID NOT FULLY REPRESENT AMERICAN MUSIC BEFORE THE ELIMINATION OF THE 31 CATEGORIES. THEY SHOULD BE EXPANDING TO KEEP UP WITH THE MUSIC THAT REPRESENTS THE GROWING AMERICAN ARTISTIC LANDSCAPE AND DEMOGRAPHICS. INSTEAD, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO DO THE OPPOSITE, ALIGNING THEMSELVES WITH THE INTOLERANT VIEWS OF CERTAIN SECTORS OF OUR SOCIETY. THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A POPULARITY CONTEST LIKE AMERICAN IDOL, YET YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THIS BY LOOKING AT THEIR YEARLY BROADCAST ON CBS THAT ONLY GLORIFIES POP AND COMMERCIAL STYLES. THEY ARE ABOUT THE BIG MONEY AND ARE UNABASHEDLY INCREASING THE SERVING OF THAT COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY LOBBY AT AN ALARMING RATE WHICH IS THE ANTITHESIS OF THEIR OWN BYLAWS AND MISSION STATEMENT.

The current awards changes will remain in effect for the 54th GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012,

AS A RESULT OF THEIR SELF-SERVING RIGHTEOUSNESS, THEIR INFLEXIBILITY WHICH SERVES NO ONE, AND IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THIS TRAVESTY, THERE WILL BE AN INTERNATIONAL BOYCOTT OF THIS AND ALL RELATED TELECASTS OF THE GRAMMYS AS WELL AS OF CBS, AND ALL THE ADVERTISERS AND SPONSORS.

and we will continue to re-examine our awards process and review new proposals as we do every year. To any of you who have questions or may not yet fully understand the changes, please visit www.grammy.com/announcement for detailed information about the awards realignment, as well as resources to address your questions.

FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE NARAS COMPANY LINE AND HYPOCRITICAL JARGON, AND FOR A REALITY CHECK AND UPDATES AS TO THE INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY AGAINST THIS ABSURD DECREE, PLEASE GO TO GRAMMYWATCH.ORG AND PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD IN DEFENSE OF REAL AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC. SINCE NARAS IS OBVIOUSLY ABOUT THE MONEY, PERHAPS THEY WILL COME TO THEIR SENSES WHEN THEIR NETWORK TELECAST RATINGS GO DOWN EACH AND EVERY YEAR THAT THEY INSIST ON SUPPORTING SUCH BIZARRE AND UNPOPULAR POLICY. IN ORDER FOR THE RATINGS TO NOT GO DOWN, THEY WILL HAVE TO SPEND UNTOLD AMOUNTS OVER AND ABOVE THE NORM TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE AWARDS ARE THRIVING. IN EITHER SCENARIO, IT IS A FINANCIAL HIT WHICH IS APPARENTLY THE ONLY LANGUAGE THEY UNDERSTAND. THE GOALS ARE SIMPLE - 1.) REINSTATE THE CATEGORIES THAT WERE ELIMINATED WITH NO OUTREACH DESPITE HAVING MADE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF SUBMISSIONS AS STIPULATED BY NARAS RULES SINCE THE MID-NINETIES, AND 2.) ADOPT A MORE RESPECTFUL, TRANSPARENT AND INCLUSIVE POLICY WHEN ISSUES AND DECISIONS OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE ARE BEING DEALT WITH.

In closing, we know that we have a responsibility to keep our categories fair and representative of all kinds of music, and we strongly believe that we have done that.

IN WHAT WORLD?

We welcome your passion, your participation, and your voice in the continuing conversation about how best to recognize and celebrate excellence in recorded music, now and in the future.

WHAT GAUL! THE MEMBERSHIP AND THE WORLD HAVE SPOKEN CLEARLY AND NARAS HAS TOTALLY IGNORED EVERY WORD.

We greatly value your continued membership in The Recording Academy, and we're here to serve you. Best wishes for a wonderful summer.

YEAH, RIGHT . . .
THIS IS REALLY SMALL POTATOES IN COMPARISON TO THE CRIMINAL ACTS AGAINST HUMANITY BY OUR OWN AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS WHO ARE PERPETUATING WAR AND PRETENDING THAT THERE IS NO MONEY TO JUSTIFY THE ATTACKS ON EDUCATION, HOUSING, SOCIAL SECURITY, ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD, THE ENVIRONMENT, LIBRARIES, THE ARTS, HEALTHCARE, ETC, ETC, WHILE UNPRECEDENTED PROFITS ARE REAPED BY THE SELECT FEW EVERY YEAR.

BUT IF WE DO NOT ACT, AND WE ALLOW NARAS TO SLIDE ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT ONLY ESCALATES. THIS TYPE OF INJUSTICE AND COLONIAL MENTALITY HAS TO STOP.

Warm regards,

George J. Flanigen IV
Chair of the Board of Trustees
The Recording Academy

Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy

BOTH NEED TO RESIGN DUE TO TERMINAL OUTOFTOUCHISM.

SINCERELY,

John Santos,
Composer, Bandleader, Educator (College of San Mateo, The Jazzschool, Yale University, Stanford University, The Berklee School of Music, etc), US Artist Fontanals Fellow, Co-artistic director San Francisco Jazz Festival, Founder and Director of Machete Records (1984-present), 24 year NARAS member, Five-time Grammy nominee in three distinct categories (all of which have been recently erased by NARAS).

New York Daily News, June 1 on the Grammy's and NARAS

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:25:00 GMT

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/arts/2011/06/01/2011-06-01_drummer_bobby_sanabria_latin_jazz_musicians_protest_cutting_grammy_categories_wi.html

Letter from Membership to NARAS Board of Trustees signed by Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon, & many more

Sat, 28 May 2011 04:31:39 GMT

To: The Recording Academy Board of Trustees: George J. Flanigen IV; Chair of the Board, Doug Frank, Vice Chair; Glenn Lorbecki, Secretary/Treasurer, JimmyJam, Chair Emeritus; Christine Albert; Carlos Alvarez; Mark Bright; Darrell Brown;John Burk; Mike Clink; Maureen Crowe; Lamont Dozier; Pete Fisher; Fletcher Foster;Phil Galdston; Gregory J. Gordon; Stephen Hart; Leslie Ann Jones; Terry Jones; PaulKatz; Steve Mack; Harvey Mason Jr.; James McKinney; Gail Mitchell; Dee Dee Murray;Phil Nicolo; Alice Peacock; John Poppo; Beth Ravin; Nancy Rumbel; Glenn Schick;Eric Schilling; Karen Sherry; Cynthia Simien; Jody Stephens; Steve Sterling; Peter J.Strand; Tom Sturges; Dan Workman; Billy Zero

Dear Trustees:

Last month, President Neil Portnow announced the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences’ decision to immediately eliminate 31 musical categories from consideration for Grammy awards. This decision was made withoutany public discussion or analysis, without the participation of the Academy’s chapters around the nation, and without any outreach to the eliminated musical communities.

We are a group of national and international members of this Academy. We, and our thousands of colleagues, fans and supporters throughout the industry are outraged by this unilateral decision.

Executives of the Academy have told us that it is necessary to eraseand “consolidate” these categories because “the Grammies have become a huge collage”. The implication of this outrageous and blatantly racist justification is that it is necessary to disenfranchise Latinos, Native Americans, and other minorities fort he good of the Academy.

This is utter nonsense. The Academy was created to promote and ensure diversity and excellence in the recordings arts. The collage is our strength, not a weakness.

The leadership of NARAS owes a fiduciary duty to all the members of the Academy. We urge you to comply with this duty and take action to restore respect for the music and countless musicians and fans represented by the eliminated and “consolidated” categories by immediately restoring each of the affected 31 musical categories for consideration for Grammy Award, including Latin Jazz.

We will not be disenfranchised. If it is necessary, we intend to continue our struggle to regain and retain our voice. We will continue to reach out to our fans, to our friends in the industry, and to the sponsors of the Grammy telecast, by all means necessary to ensure that our cultural traditions and our livelihoods are not so
callously disregarded.

Ivan Acosta
David Amram

Peter Apfelbaum

Brian Auger

Jochem Becker

Cindy Blackman Santana

Bunny Brunel

Candido Camero

Stanley Clark

Jeff Cressman

Sandy Cressman

Paquito D’ Rivera

Mercedes Ellington

Brenda Feliciano

Stella Elvira Franco

Andy Garcia

Omar Hakim

Herbie Hancock

Larry Harlow

Oscar Hernández

Randy Klein

Bobby Matos

Arturo O’Farrill

Fernando OteroEddie Palmieri

Humberto Ramirez

Bobby Sanabria

Arturo Sandoval

Carlos Santana

John Santos

Alejandro Sanz

Paul Simon

Ned Sublette

Wayne Wallace

Rachel Z

Personal Thoughts on the Grammy Category Cuts by Doug Beavers

Sat, 28 May 2011 04:17:58 GMT

Personal Thoughts on the Grammy Category Cuts
by Doug Beavers on Friday, May 27, 2011 at 2:22pm
May 27, 2011 - Posted on Facebook

As a lot of you may know, I’m heavily involved in the fields of Latin Jazz and Afro-Caribbean music. Afro Caribbean music and its marriage to Jazz (most call this Latin Jazz) excites me. All of the thousands of rhythms of its great tradition are infectious to me. Afro Caribbean music gets me up in the morning. I find myself dancing its rhythms and steps in the mirror at any given time for no apparent reason.

It’s a major part of my career as a musician. I’ve studied it and made the most important friends in my life because of it. I compose it and arrange it. I teach it everyday to coming generations of musicians. I get to watch on satisfyingly as students get the hang of playing a rhythm in clave and get really excited about it. They take it home with them and create their own variations and gestations. They come back with their own melodies, based on these rhythms. Few things in life satisfy me more than that.

In addition to my own projects, I get to tour and perform with the major figures that are standing behind the current protest to the categorical cuts in the Grammy awards. In the next month alone, I will have the humble honor to perform with 9-time Grammy Winner Eddie Palmieri, Pete Escovedo and his Latin Jazz Orchestra, and the 2-time Grammy winning orchestra Spanish Harlem Orchestra, led by Oscar Hernández.

As of late, I’ve been trying to figure out just where I stand on this intensifying debate, which is currently generating a lot of awareness as a result of street protests in Los Angeles and press conferences both here in New York and my hometown, the San Francisco Bay Area. Personally, I feel that this is a tough issue - I can see parts of both sides of the coin. It wasn’t until I felt that I could see clear missteps in the decision that I decided to weigh in.

“Adding Value”

Most can see the need to add value to something. We all do it at some point or another. We refurbish our kitchens. We invest. We can thusly see the impetus to make an award an object of desire and an object to be lauded.

The way that the NARAS Board of Trustees has gone about cutting categories attacks the very fabric of this country and our greatest asset. Our diversity.

This was wrong.

It should have never been done. At the very least, voting members of NARAS had to be made aware of a such a sweeping decision as it was being made. NARAS, of which I am a part, is a democratic organization which comes to decisions about entries, nominations and awards via its voting members and its Board of Governors. The voting members of NARAS and its corresponding Board of Governors in the different cites should have been informed and been a party to this decision.

Importance of Diversity

How can cutting an award category attack the diversity of a nation? Quite simply, in its long term implications.

The Grammy award is the summit of success for most of us who are part of the process of creating music. How can generations to follow not be discouraged to create music based on the styles which represent the cut categories? The mere possibility of receiving a nomination inspires creators in these styles to create their own takes of the music which has influenced them. The result of this action will be less music created in these styles that are 100% American, by definition. We therefore lose diversity, as a nation.

We have to be clear here - the chance of a musician specializing in Cajun music or “Traditional Blues” or Latin Jazz to actually win a Grammy has been reduced to nearly 0%. In our current climate, (insert discussion of major labels vs. indies and independent musicians here) there is no way that a musician specializing in the forms representing the categories can compete against artists with more of a mainstream influence that have been folded into the same category as they have.

So why would a person influenced by these styles put it all on the line to 1) become a musician of these styles and to 2) create their own music on an album, putting most of their life resources on the line to do so? It clearly won’t be to be internationally recognized by receiving a Grammy award. For a lot of us, being recognized with a Grammy is certainly the biggest part of the dream. Even being nominated would be the most validating prize in a life of sacrifices.

The way to celebrate the great musical diversity of this country (and for that matter, the world) is to promote it. You keep these categories intact - they do not “devalue” the Grammy in any way. If any of us were to win a Grammy award outright in our area of specialization we would be ecstatic. Nothing could take away from the significance of that vaunted award.

It was difficult enough to win a Grammy before these changes went into effect. Just ask 60+ year Latin Jazz veteran Pete Escovedo:

“I was fortunate enough to be nominated in 1989 for my recording entitled “Mister E.” That nomination inspired me to work harder at my profession – to reach for the ultimate goal – A GRAMMY – which at some point in my life I hope to achieve.”

The NARAS representatives arguing for the cuts have countered with a numerical analysis on the present number of categories versus past. This is well beyond a “numbers” issue. When you deal with sacrificing the diversity of our country’s music, to merely add value to an award, you have fallen out of touch with the mission statement of NARAS and have dropped the ball when it comes to what should be its true priorities, cultural awareness and diversity being chief among them.

Where I DON’T Agree with the Protestors

There have been a couple of points and issues that have bothered me in regards to the protestors of the Grammy category cuts.

First, I think calling for the immediate resignation of President Neil Portnow and the Board of Trustees is insensitive and ill-advised. I personally know folks on the “Secret Sub-Committee” that was formed and what they have done to promote diversity before the round of categorical cuts. Some in particular are friends that I hold very dear and have readily demonstrated efforts to spread cultural awareness and diversity through the MusicCares program. Asking for their resignation in NO way sets the stage for an amicable resolution to this issue. This in fact jeopardizes the main goal of having the cut categories reinstated.

I also take issue with calling the cuts racist. To be fair, mainstream categories were cut as well, and these categories include artists that are of mixed race and musical background. True, cutting categories of musical diversity will lead to a homogenization of music in general (which is highly unfortunate), and this, in my opinion, is very much going in the wrong direction. But I just can’t see how this process is explicitly racist. Please correct me if I am wrong.

All things considered - cutting these categories will systematically result in a “cut” in desire to create this music of diversity. The music, and therefore the culture, of this country and of music followers and fans the world over will suffer tremendously from the standpoint of the stimulating rhythmical and stylistic influences that make it exciting. General awareness and inclusion of these diverse styles in music will eventually be lost as a result.

To this capacity, I stand in opposition to the categorical cuts to the Grammys made by NARAS.

Doug Beavers
Trombonist, Arranger, Composer, Educator

Program Director
Harlem School of Urban Music and Recording Arts @
Frederick Douglass Academy, Harlem NYC
harlemschool.org

Advocate of Diversity in Music
mail@dougbeavers.com

Letter to Portnow - Daria, Jazz Vocalist

Fri, 27 May 2011 00:12:01 GMT

Dear Mr. Portnow,

I've been a voting member of NARAS and was active on the events committee in the SF Chapter. I am seriously thinking of leaving NARAS because I can't continue to be a part of an organization that marginalizes whole groups of musicians who are major contributors to the cultural fabric of our society. I am shocked and dismayed that NARAS is considering eliminating Latin Jazz and 30 other categories of music. Isn't NARAS supposed to be about excellence and diversity in music? How will it be possible to cultivate understanding and realize "the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals" as stated in the NARAS mission statement, if whole segments of the music community are excluded. In fact, I am strongly of the opinion that by eliminating these categories NARAS is ignoring and doing harm to its own mission statement. More importantly, is there no future left for aspiring young Latin Jazz musicians, World musicians or players of any other style of music that isn't mainstream pop? Because if you eliminate these categories, you're taking away any possibility of success and recognition for them and saying they're not deserving of an award. You're shattering the dreams of many talented young musicians who could possibly have a shot at winning a grammy and shutting the doors on accomplished veterans who've worked hard their whole lives and deserve recognition. Please think about the repercussions. It would be tragic.

Sincerely,

DARIA
Jazz Vocalist, Songwriter, Recording/Touring Artist, Educator

National and Int'l News Picks up Grammy Protests

Thu, 26 May 2011 18:39:02 GMT

Forbes.com - http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/05/26/entertainment-us-music-grammy-changes_8485900.html ABC NEWS - http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=13693372&sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4dde6f4de7eed075%2C0 Times of India - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/article/0f0K3lddtD9M1?q=California