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I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace) Welcome to the Cajun Zydeco Grammy page, a myspace page devoted to the efforts for a CAJUN/ZYDECO category in the Grammy awards.
NEWS:
VOTING ROUND 1 is happening right now, and votes are DUE Nov. 7, 2007. Please read the blog above for details.
The Category is here!! There were many, many people involved who deserve a big round of applause from Cajun and Zydeco musicians and fans throughout the world.
If you are visiting this page for the first time, or are unfamiliar with "the cause," Cajun and Zydeco music has been always been included in the "Folk" categories (Traditional Folk and Contemporary Folk). The major Folk categories also include Native American and Hawaiian music. With all due respect to the hard-working musicians in these genres, it's about time that the rich music of Louisiana had its own category - and thanks to the efforts of Terrance and Cynthia Simien, the Memphis Grammy Chapter, and many, many others, this category is now a reality. But it's far from "over!" We encourage all Cajun and Zydeco artists to get involved!
If you aren't already a member of the Recording Academy, become a member, whether you qualify for voting membership or not. There is plenty of membership information at www.Grammy.com .
Briefly, there are 3 tiers of membership:
VOTING: "professionals with creative or technical credits on six commercially released tracks (or their equivalent)."
ASSOCIATE: "creative and technical professionals with fewer than the required credits for Voting membership and other recording industry professionals..."
STUDENT: "college students who are pursuing a career in the music industry."
For voting members, the 6 credits must be from nationally distributed (not consignment) releases and released through "regongnized distribution channels." "Equivalent" refers to digital distribution. Work on non-nationally released projects (which refers to many indie labels) is eligible for meeting voting membership requirements; the difference is that 12 credits are necessary: "12 qualified tracks or 2 complete CDs which are available for sale to the public in a recognized online retail environment. Website promoting applicant as an artist."
While some Louisiana/Cajun/Zydeco musicians are released under the auspices of a national label, many are working with indie labels and more are self-produced. The digital "equivalent" (even though it's twice as many tracks...yeah, yeah, we know, why twice as many, we agree, but we guess it's to appease the big labels...) Digital download guidelines are at http://www.grammy.com/Recording_Academy/Member_Services/FAQs/DigitalOnlineDist.aspx The good news is that this gives us all more voting power!
For a downloadable .pdf application: https://www.grammy.com/PDFs/Members/naras_app.pdf
To apply online:
https://www.grammy.com/Recording_Academy/Member_Services/Apply/
It's a reality, and your work will be placed in a category with other Cajun and Zydeco artists, and be more likely to be evaluated and judged by other members who are familiar with Cajun and Zydeco music. So submit your work! If you don't have a project coming out in this qualifying year, plan for the future, and encourage fellow musicians to submit theirs. Call for entries go out in the early fall of each year for submissions released during that prior year.
So what do you get for this?
Membership dues are $100 a year. Even if you don't vote and don't have a project to submit, you still benefit from chances to network, Grammy-sponsored events, and member benefits such as discounts on CD duplication, PR, insurance (health insurance and instrument insurance), travel, publications, and more. And they send "surprise benefits" throughout the year via email. Last year one of those benefits was a one day pass to Folk Alliance.
In addition, the Recording Academy has a nonprofit entity to support musicians in need: MusiCares. In addition to providing help to musicians with things such as medical care, MusiCares has also been a tremendous force in offering assistance to musicians affected by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. This is a help organization that DOES THINGS, and supports musicians! For more information, visit www.Grammy.com.
VISIT this page for updates! And note that this page is not an officially Grammy/Recording Academy sponsored site, NOR IS IT RUN BY Terrance and Cynthia. It's run by friends who want to support the cause by getting the word out in another fashion. We appreciate the thanks and kudos posted in this comment section - but will also suggest that you visit Terrance's Page, Herman's Page, KRVS's page, and the Blue Moon's page and post a THANK YOU there as well. Take a look at the "Thank You" list - and say thanks to these folks; if not on myspace, with a phone call, a note, a visit to their business.
What we'll do is....we'll do our best to point you towards helpful information, give credit and thanks, and provide another place where Cajun and Zydeco musicians can find one another. It's a wonderful thing to see musicians from all over the world who love the music! We welcome friends -- musicians, fans, industry folks -- who are interested in supporting the effort!
Finally, and most importantly, we're going to quote thank-you's from Terrance Simien's website, as these people deserve a big pat on the back and many thanks:
"There are a few very special people who took a proactive role in this initiative and we could not have accomplished this without them: Marcella Simien; activist, student, artist and musician, Ray Landry; contractor, musician, Cajun French Music Association, Michelle Leder; Cajun music advocate, Vermilionville administration , Gerald Breaux; Lafayette Convention and Visitors Bureau. Gary McGoffin; Durio, McGoffin, Stagg & Ackerman Law Firm, Jon Hornyak; Sr. Executive Director of the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy, Jimmy Davis and Marvell Thomas, Memphis Chapter board. Jonathan McHugh, Los Angeles. A special thanks to KRVS-Lafayette for always giving us airtime when we asked: they never once said no like many others did. The Cravins Zydeco Show on Magic 104.7 One of the most important in this effort was Herman Fuselier entertainment editor, The Lafayette Daily Advertiser radio and TV host for always believing, for always keeping it on the radar for the community to see and for never letting the story die.
We also wish to acknowledge the following for their in kind donation of space to host an outreach or fund raising event. Blue Moon Saloon, 307 Downtown, Lafayette Economic Development Authority/Acadiana Arts Council and Whiskey River. Fund raising efforts: Bob’s Pub, Gordon and Associates, Kevin Tauzin, Attorney, Lowry’s Printing, Festival Acadien, Downtown Alive, Zydeco Extravangaza, The Zydeco Festival in Plaisance and the Lafayette Chapter Cajun French Music Association and the CFMA Awards and Festival. Finally we’d also like to thank Governor Kathleen Blanco, Lt. Gov Mitch Landreiu, Secretary, Angele Davis, Pam Breaux and Chuck Morse of the LA Office of CRT, Lafayette Parish President Joey Durel and CAO, Dee Stanley." (Source: http://www.terrancesimien.com/grammy.html Do take a moment to visit that page and read it!)
The CajunZydecoGrammy myspace page adds a big THANK YOU to Terrence and Cynthia. You brought it together and pushed. THANK YOU to the Memphis Grammy Chapter for believing in it.
And THANK YOU to all of the musicians of the past, the present, and the future for the richness, the joy, and the beauty of music that lifts the spirit and sets feet to dancing. You embody our heritage, and you keep the music alive. This category is for you, and because of you.
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