For Immediate Release
San Francisco Arts Commission passes unanimously a resolution to request the National Academy of Arts and Sciences (NARAS) to reinstate the 31 categories of music that were dropped for GRAMMY consideration on April 6, 2011
These
categories include: Latin Jazz, Gospel, Cajun/Zydeco, Hawaiian, various
Blues and R&B categories and other significant genres that make up
the American Songbook.
SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Monday, November 7, 2011
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FULL ARTS COMMISSION
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
San Francisco, November 16, 2011 - On Monday, November 7th, 2011 at the San Francisco Executive Arts Commission Meeting
the resolution, spearheaded by Commissioner John Calloway was proposed
to the board commissioners asking them to issue a formal request to the
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to immediately reinstate
the 31 categories of music genres that were dropped from GRAMMY
consideration on April 6, 2011. Members of the community who attended
and spoke were musician and previous NARAS governor Sandy Cressman,
Recording Artist and 2x GRAMMY Nominee Mark Levine, KPFA Radio Producer
Clayton Leander and producer and writer Stephanie Dalton, who presented the public petition that now has over 5,400 signatures.
Today,
November 16, 2011 the Arts Commission heard from Recording Artist and
5x GRAMMY Nominee John Santos and San Jose Jazz Festival Board President
Arturo Riera spoke on the importance of this resolution, where upon the
commissioner board unanimously voted to send the resolution to NARAS' National Board Chair George Flanigen, Board Secretary Glenn Lorbecki, and President Neil Portnow.
The resolution will be presented to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and
to the San Francisco Mayor's office and there will be a request for the
public to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting when announced.
For up to date information please visit: www.grammywatch.org or please contact Stephanie Dalton at stephanie@urbanmusicpresents.com or Clayton Leander at latinjazzmecca@gmail.com.
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
WHEREAS,
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.
# # #
Press inquiries
Stephanie Dalton, Urban Music Presents
415.796.2319 / 415.503.8207
stephanie@urbanmusicpresents.com
www.urbanmusicpresents.com
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