Grammy Award for Best Native American Music Album
Encyclopedia
The Grammy Award for Best Native American Music Album was an award presented at the Grammy Award
s, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the Native American music
genre. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
Following a three-year lobbying effort by Ellen Bello, founder of the Native American Music Awards
and the Native American Music Association, the Grammy award was first presented to Tom Bee
and Douglas Spotted Eagle
in 2001 as the producers
of the compilation album
Gathering of Nations Pow Wow. Previously, Native American
recordings had been placed in the folk
, world
or New Age music
categories. While some Native American artists criticized the award category for being "too narrowly defined to accommodate the breadth of today's Indian music", others took pride in its inclusion. The name of the award remained unchanged between 2001 and 2011. According to the category description guide for the 52nd Grammy Awards
, the award was presented to "vocal or instrumental Native American music albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded music", with the intent to honor recordings of a more "traditional nature".
As performing artists, Bill Miller
and Mary Youngblood
share the record for the most wins in this category, with two each. Thomas Wasinger holds the record for the most wins as a producer, with three. The group Black Lodge Singers
holds the record for the most nominations without a win, with seven. In 2011, the category Best Native American Music Album was eliminated along with thirty others due to a major overhaul by the Recording Academy. Four additional categories in the American Roots Music field were eliminated (Best Contemporary Folk Album
, Best Hawaiian Music Album
, Best Traditional Folk Album
, Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album
). Native American works will now be eligible for the Best Regional Roots Music Album
category.
Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality albums in the Native American music
Native American music
American Indian music is the music that is used, created or performed by Native North Americans, specifically traditional tribal music. In addition to the traditional music of the Native American groups, there now exist pan-tribal and inter-tribal genres as well as distinct Indian subgenres of...
genre. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
Following a three-year lobbying effort by Ellen Bello, founder of the Native American Music Awards
Native American Music Awards
The Native American Music Awards , commonly known as the Nammys, are an awards program presented annually by The Native American Music Association & Awards, which recognizes outstanding musical achievement among Native Americans...
and the Native American Music Association, the Grammy award was first presented to Tom Bee
Tom Bee
Tom Bee is the CEO and Founder of , the first Native American owned record label.Adopted at birth, Tom Bee was born and raised in the reservation border town of Gallup, New Mexico...
and Douglas Spotted Eagle
Douglas Spotted Eagle
Douglas Spotted Eagle, is a Grammy-winning musician, noted for his live and recorded performances on the traditional Native American flute, sometimes accompanied by either traditional Navajo singers and instrumentalists or a modern band...
in 2001 as the producers
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
of the compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Gathering of Nations Pow Wow. Previously, Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
recordings had been placed in the folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, world
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
or New Age music
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
categories. While some Native American artists criticized the award category for being "too narrowly defined to accommodate the breadth of today's Indian music", others took pride in its inclusion. The name of the award remained unchanged between 2001 and 2011. According to the category description guide for the 52nd Grammy Awards
52nd Grammy Awards
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year on January 29, two days prior to the Grammy telecast. Only ten of the 109 awards were received during the broadcast...
, the award was presented to "vocal or instrumental Native American music albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded music", with the intent to honor recordings of a more "traditional nature".
As performing artists, Bill Miller
Bill Miller (musician)
Bill Miller is a Native American singer/songwriter of Mohican heritage. He was born on the Stockbridge-Munsee reservation, near Shawano in northern Wisconsin....
and Mary Youngblood
Mary Youngblood
Mary Youngblood is a Northern California Native American flutist. She is half Aleut, and half Seminole. She has been awarded three Native American Music Awards, being the first woman to win "Flutist of the Year," which she won in both 1999 and 2000, as well as winning "Best Female Artist" in 2000...
share the record for the most wins in this category, with two each. Thomas Wasinger holds the record for the most wins as a producer, with three. The group Black Lodge Singers
Black Lodge Singers
The Black Lodge Singers of White Swan, Washington are a Native American northern drum group led by Kenny Scabby Robe, of the Blackfeet Nation. The Black Lodge Singers are largely drawn from his twelve sons...
holds the record for the most nominations without a win, with seven. In 2011, the category Best Native American Music Album was eliminated along with thirty others due to a major overhaul by the Recording Academy. Four additional categories in the American Roots Music field were eliminated (Best Contemporary Folk Album
Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album
The Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album was awarded from 1987 to 2011. Until 1993 the award was known as the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording. In 2007, this category was renamed Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album...
, Best Hawaiian Music Album
Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album
The Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album was an honor presented to recording artists from 2005 to 2011 for quality Hawaiian music albums. The Grammy Awards, an annual ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, are presented by the National Academy of...
, Best Traditional Folk Album
Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album
The Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album was awarded from 1987 to 2011. Until 1993 the award was known as the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Recording.An award for Best Contemporary Folk Album was also presented...
, Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album
Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album
The Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album was an honor presented to recording artists at the 50th, 51st, 52nd and 53rd Grammy Awards for quality zydeco or cajun music albums...
). Native American works will now be eligible for the Best Regional Roots Music Album
Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album
The Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album is an annual music award that will be part of the Grammy ceremony from 2012.It is a new category in which the previous Best Hawaiian Music Album, Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album and Best Native American Music Album categories have been merged...
category.
Recipients
| Year | Performing artist(s) | Work | Producer(s) | Nominees | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Various artists Compilation album A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter... |
Tom Bee Tom Bee Tom Bee is the CEO and Founder of , the first Native American owned record label.Adopted at birth, Tom Bee was born and raised in the reservation border town of Gallup, New Mexico... Douglas Spotted Eagle Douglas Spotted Eagle Douglas Spotted Eagle, is a Grammy-winning musician, noted for his live and recorded performances on the traditional Native American flute, sometimes accompanied by either traditional Navajo singers and instrumentalists or a modern band... |
|
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| 2002 | Johnny Mike and Verdell Primeaux Verdell Primeaux Verdell Primeaux is a Dakota Yankton/Ponca singer and songwriter in the Native American Church tradition of peyote songs, accompanied by rattle and water drum... |
Giuli Doyle Robert Doyle |
Black Lodge Singers The Black Lodge Singers of White Swan, Washington are a Native American northern drum group led by Kenny Scabby Robe, of the Blackfeet Nation. The Black Lodge Singers are largely drawn from his twelve sons... – Weasel Tail's Dream: The Tradition Continues |
||
| 2003 | Thomas Wasinger |
|
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| 2004 | Black Eagle | Tom Bee Tom Bee Tom Bee is the CEO and Founder of , the first Native American owned record label.Adopted at birth, Tom Bee was born and raised in the reservation border town of Gallup, New Mexico... |
Tom Bee Tom Bee is the CEO and Founder of , the first Native American owned record label.Adopted at birth, Tom Bee was born and raised in the reservation border town of Gallup, New Mexico... – Reveal His Glory Black Lodge Singers The Black Lodge Singers of White Swan, Washington are a Native American northern drum group led by Kenny Scabby Robe, of the Blackfeet Nation. The Black Lodge Singers are largely drawn from his twelve sons... – Brotherhood R. Carlos Nakai Raymond Carlos “R.” Nakai is a Native American flautist of Navajo/Ute heritage.-Biography:Born Ray Carlos Nakai, in Flagstaff, Arizona, he released his first album, Changes, in 1983... – Sanctuary |
||
| 2005 |
Black Lodge Singers The Black Lodge Singers of White Swan, Washington are a Native American northern drum group led by Kenny Scabby Robe, of the Blackfeet Nation. The Black Lodge Singers are largely drawn from his twelve sons... – Family Traditions Joanne Shenandoah Joanne Shenandoah is an Iroquois singer, composer and acoustic guitarist. She is a member of the Wolf Clan of the Oneida Nation, of the Haudenosaunee Six Nations Iroquois Confederacy. Her music is a combination of traditional songs and melodies with a blend of traditional and contemporary... – Covenant Mary Youngblood Mary Youngblood is a Northern California Native American flutist. She is half Aleut, and half Seminole. She has been awarded three Native American Music Awards, being the first woman to win "Flutist of the Year," which she won in both 1999 and 2000, as well as winning "Best Female Artist" in 2000... – Feed the Fire |
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| 2006 | Various artists Compilation album A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter... |
Jim Wilson |
Black Lodge Singers The Black Lodge Singers of White Swan, Washington are a Native American northern drum group led by Kenny Scabby Robe, of the Blackfeet Nation. The Black Lodge Singers are largely drawn from his twelve sons... – More Kids' Pow-Wow Songs |
||
| 2007 | Thomas Wasinger |
Jana (Native American singer) Jana Mashonee is a singer, songwriter and actress. She is Lumbee and Tuscarora, originally from Robeson County, North Carolina, currently residing near New York City, in Greenwich, CT... – American Indian Story |
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| 2008 50th Grammy Awards The 50th Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2008. Kanye West received the most nominations, with eight. Amy Winehouse was the big winner, winning a total of five awards. Herbie Hancock's River: The Joni Letters won Album of the Year,... |
Larry Mitchell |
Black Lodge Singers The Black Lodge Singers of White Swan, Washington are a Native American northern drum group led by Kenny Scabby Robe, of the Blackfeet Nation. The Black Lodge Singers are largely drawn from his twelve sons... – Watch This Dancer! R. Carlos Nakai Raymond Carlos “R.” Nakai is a Native American flautist of Navajo/Ute heritage.-Biography:Born Ray Carlos Nakai, in Flagstaff, Arizona, he released his first album, Changes, in 1983... , Cliff Sarde Cliff Sarde Cliff Sarde is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist and recording artist.- Biography :Jazz multi-instrumentalist Cliff Sarde began his recording career in 1983 with the release of Every Bit Better, which established his basic sound: accessible, saxophone-led jazz fusion. "Waiting" followed... , William Eaton, and Randy Wood – Reconnections |
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| 2009 51st Grammy Awards The 51st Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on February 8, 2009. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest winners of the night, jointly winning five awards including Album of the Year and Record of the Year... |
Various artists Compilation album A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter... |
Thomas Wasinger |
Bryan Akipa -References:... – Songs from the Black Hills Black Lodge Singers The Black Lodge Singers of White Swan, Washington are a Native American northern drum group led by Kenny Scabby Robe, of the Blackfeet Nation. The Black Lodge Singers are largely drawn from his twelve sons... – Spo'Mo'Kin'Nan |
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| 2010 52nd Grammy Awards The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year on January 29, two days prior to the Grammy telecast. Only ten of the 109 awards were received during the broadcast... |
Bill Miller Michael Von Muchow |
John Two-Hawks John Two-Hawks is an Oglala Lakota Native American musician who has been performing professionally in live concerts since the early 1990s. He sings and plays many instruments, but is best known as a pioneer and virtuoso player of the Native American flute... – Wind Songs: Native American Flute Solos |
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| 2011 53rd Grammy Awards The 53rd annual Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2011, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. They were broadcast on CBS with a rating of 26.6 million viewers. Barbra Streisand was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two nights prior to the telecast on February 11. Nominations were... |
Various artists Compilation album A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter... |
2010 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit's Dance | Derek Mathews Lita Mathews Melonie Mathews |
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Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.