Give Blues A Voice

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Petition To Grammy.com

 ”Give Blues A Voice”

The Column “From The Top” About This Petition Is Reprinted Below The Petition Form On The Bottom Of This Page

By Jack Sullivan

Featured on Grammy.com website is a tab titled Nominees. When clicked, it brings you to a page with two drop down boxes titled Award Year and Award Genre. In the drop down under the title Award Genre there is no Genre listing for Blues. Listed are 35 other genres including but Jazz, Rock, Historical, Polka, Latin, and so on. But no genre listing for Blues. Instead, Blues has been listed as a category within the genre of American Roots. The only category for Blues is Best Blues Album.

What this petition wishes to accomplish quite simply is to allow Blues to have its own genre alongside Jazz, Rock, Historical, Polka, Latin, Spoken, New Age, and the remaining genres listed at Grammy.com. It asks to give Blues its due as a genre.

As noted in the column published in Blues Revue Issue 132 for Nov-Dec 2011: “To not recognize Blues as it’s own unique genre of music, with it’s rich historical background, not to mention the influence Blues has had on several other genres listed at the Grammy website, is clear evidence of their disrespect towards this purely America art form. The blues began as a voice in the darkness. A voice that ultimately captured the ears of the world. We ask you to Give Blues its voice back, give us the recognition this genre deserves. The recognition and respect that has already been paid in full to the likes of B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Howlin’ Wolf, and the tens of thousands of Blues musicians around the globe who play this music everyday.

“Give Blues a voice. Recognize Blues as a genre equal to Jazz, R&B, Soul, Gospel, Country, Rock and Roll, and Polka. This is a small request from one of America’s original art forms to one of America’s iconic companies, which we support and believe was thoughtfully created to support music.

And to further illustrate why: “Nonetheless, Blues is a genre rich in its history, traditions, music, and community that have influenced many genres on the radio today. Blues today is global with bands and fans from Nepal to Chicago and we at Blues Revue, “The World’s Blues Magazine,” service subscribers in over 50 countries. So all we’re asking for our global community is to be recognized as a genre called Blues. To be viewed as equals among the many genres blues music has influenced namely Rock and Roll, Country, Jazz and R&B to mention a few.”

 

 


The 54th GRAMMYs: Give Blues A Voice!
I’m disgusted! It is unimaginable that any foundation as prestigious as The GRAMMY’s would fail to recognize the genre of music called Blues. That’s right on the GRAMMY website, the one category where a Blues artist can be awarded a GRAMMY is listed under the American Roots genre. However, we at Blues Revue feel that the blues should viewed as its own genre on the GRAMMY website, with the equal respect afforded the other musical genres like Rock and Roll, Country, Jazz, R&B, and even Polka.
Nonetheless, Blues is a genre rich in history and traditions; Blues is an America art form built on the backs of hardworking musicians; it’s a music that has influenced many genres on the radio today. Today Blues is global with bands and fans from Nepal to Chicago; and we at Blues Revue, “The World’s Blues Magazine,” service subscribers in over 50 countries. So all we’re asking our global community is to be recognized as a genre called Blues.
Since the GRAMMYs began in 1958, Blues has never had more than two categories. Blues was simply not on the radar or radios of many Americans during the 1950s and 1960s so it is understandable that The GRAMMY’s didn’t recognize the Blues either as a genre or a category. Call it coincidence that the first category for a Blues artist didn’t appear until 1970 as the undeniable influence of the Blues on Rock and Roll was evident in the British Explosion. Was this why the category was created and named Best Ethnic Or Traditional Recording? The first GRAMMY was awarded to T-Bone Walker for Good Feeling. B.B. King won the Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance by a Male for The Thrill Is Gone that year also.
However, to not recognize Blues as it’s own unique genre of music, with it’s rich historical background, not to mention the influence Blues has had on several other genres listed at the GRAMMY website, is clear evidence of their disrespect towards this purely America art form.
The blues began as a voice in the darkness. A voice that ultimately captured the ears of the world. We ask you to Give Blues its VOICE back, give us the recognition this genre deserves. The recognition and respect that has already been paid in full to the likes of B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Koko Taylor, Howlin’ Wolf, and the tens of thousands of Blues musicians around the globe who play this music everyday.
Give Blues A VOICE. Recognize Blues as a genre equal to Jazz, R&B, Soul, Gospel, Country, Rock and Roll, and Polka. This is a small request from one of America’s original art forms to one of America’s iconic companies, which we support and believe was thoughtfully created to support music.
To that end, our publication is taking a stand and asking Blues fans around the world to join with us. Blues Revue has started a petition, which will be submitted to the GRAMMY Foundation the week of the GRAMMY’s this February 12th. You can help. Go to bluesrevue.com and sign the petition “Give Blues A Voice.” Your favorite bands will appreciate the support. In the immortal words of the iconic Blues musician Willie Dixon, “Blues is the roots, everything else is the fruits.” Give Blues Its Voice!
As our esteemed publishers always says, Good Blues to Ya!

Jack Sullivan, Circulation Manager