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As the Grammy awards marks its 53rd anniversary of celebrating the latest and greatest acts in music, BlackVoices.com wanted to take a look at the music makers who never received the prestigious honor from The Recording Academy.
Although legends like Diana Ross, Bob Marley and Nina Simone and chart-toppers such as Brian McKnight, Vanessa Williams, Cheryl Lynn and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly churned out memorable music through the years, they never won one.
And we didn't just leave this at stating facts, we actually culled notable black music industry expert David Nathan to offer perspective on why some of our favorite acts haven't one.
Music Notables Who Never Won Grammy
Although legends like Diana Ross and chart-toppers such as Brian McKnight, Vanessa Williams, and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly churned out memorable music through the years, they never won a coveted Grammy Award. Longtime black music industry expert David Nathan offers insight into why.
Music Notables Who Never Won Grammy
Artist: Diana Ross
Genre: R&B, Pop
Notable Recordings: 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough,' 'Endless Love,' 'I'm Coming Out'
Expert Opinion: "Perhaps the most shocking omission from the list of past Grammy recipients is the 'Boss' (sorry, Bruce!) It's a complete mystery why Diana's peers, Aretha and Dionne, are both Grammy winners. In spite of numerous great recordings, she's been completely ignored. No Grammy, no Hall Of Fame, nada. Maybe it's time for her Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and time for fans to start a petition!"
Music Notables Who Never Won Grammy
Artist: Nina Simone
Genre: Jazz, Pop, Classical
Notable Recordings: 'Young, Gifted & Black,' 'Feeling Good,' 'A Little Sugar In My Bowl'
Expert Opinion: "A true freedom fighter, Simone was likely considered too controversial or militant for a Recording Academy that was way vanilla during her heyday. Her music has been sampled and used consistently time and time again in movies, commercials, etc. It is a complete travesty that her peers (Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan) have all been acknowledged and Simone, a musical giant, is still not recognized for her impressive and influential body of work. She's way past due for a lifetime achievement award, although her 1959 hit 'I Loves You Porgy' was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2000."
Music Notables Who Never Won Grammy
Artist: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
Genre: R&B
Notable Recordings: 'Joy And Pain,' 'Happy Feelings'
Expert Opinion: "Even on a bad day, Frankie and the guys can sell out any concert to loyal steadfast black audiences! Maze had hit after hit and constant gold albums throughout the '70s and '80s but never crossed to mainstream audiences. That's the only explanation for why neither has been Grammy awarded."
Music Notables Who Never Won Grammy
Artist: Brian McKnight
Genre: R&B, Pop
Notable Recordings: 'One Last Cry,' 'Anytime,' 'You Should Be Mine'
Expert Opinion: "This is a mystery. Brian's had crossover success as a solo artist -- and with Vanessa Williams ('Love Is'). Other soul crooners/balladeers (Peabo Bryson, James Ingram) have gotten Grammy nods -- so what gives? The same could be said of Will Downing, although his lack of mainstream recognition may be the reason he's been ignored."
Music Notables Who Never Won Grammy
Artist: Fantasia Barrino
Genre: R&B
Notable Recordings: 'I Believe,' 'Free Yourself,' 'Baby Mama'
Expert Opinion: "It just hasn't been Fantasia's Grammy year, yet but it's not too late. She's still relatively new, and all she needs is a brilliant new album and she'll get hers! "
Music Notables Who Never Won Grammy
Artist: Grace Jones
Genre: Funk, Disco, R&B
Notable Songs: 'Pull Up To The Bumper,' 'Slave To The Rhythm'
Expert Opinion: "Times maybe a-changin', but the androgynous Ms. Grace was obviously too much for the more conservative wing of the Recording Academy."
Music Notables Who Never Won Grammy
Artist: Cheryl Lynn
Genre: R&B, Disco
Notable Recordings: 'Got To Be Real,' 'Encore'
Expert Opinion: "'Got To Be Real' was probably Cheryl's best bet for getting a Grammy and that was in 1979! Unfortunately, the lack of more hits diminished her chances for winning one after that."
Music Notables Who Never Won Grammy
Artist: Angie Stone
Genre: R&B
Notable Recordings: 'No More Rain (In This Cloud),' 'I Wish I Didn't Miss You,' 'Baby'
Expert Opinion: Well, Angie's never exactly been the darling of the inner sanctum of the music biz and sometimes comes across with a little 'tude. While the Grammys are about artistic merit, a little friendliness to music biz peeps might not hurt. The late and greatly talented Esther Phillips had the same problem!"
Music Notables Who Never Won Grammy
Artist: Millie Jackson
Genre: R&B
Notable Recordings: 'All The Way Lover,' 'Ask Me What You Want' 'Act of War' (with Elton John)
Expert Opinion: "Anyone who records the 'Phuck You Symphony' would never have exactly win favors with the play-it-safe Grammy folks of the '70s and '80s when Millie ruled. Not that she cared. Millie's always been making real music for real people."
Comments: (37)
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By: RJ on 2/09/2011 7:07PM
Surpised about B. McKnight...very surprised.
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By: L. Jones on 2/12/2011 1:21PM
Not only should Maze featuring " FRANKIE BEVERLY"
receive a Grammy- He should be and should have been placed in the ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME... He and his band has been performing SMOOTH, Love provoking, Honest, substantive, rich & overall AWESOME music for over 30 yrs.
The big question is why haven't ESSENCE, EBONY, SOUL TRAIN or BET recognized this most deserved and underappreciated group- especially since they generally perform for their music festivals each year - but never is granted a spot to perform or rewarded by them on their music award shows.
In fact, the group MAZE- featuring FRANKIE BEVERLY most definitely deserve a LIFE TIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD by all of the African American Entertainment Establishments.
When you pop in those classic songs by MAZE- I guarantee you will be AMAZED !!!!
GO FRANKIE - WE LOVE YA !!!!!
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By: shaquell on 2/09/2011 10:13PM
The problem is they're handing out Grammy's now to just about anybody, it makes no sense that artists who are not even as talented or established as the ones mentioned in the article win ten to twenty Grammy's each year.
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By: Lopez on 2/09/2011 10:43PM
En Vogue has never recieved a Grammy either, and heaven knows they are extremely talented and was successful in their time.
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By: jimmie on 2/10/2011 10:55PM
AMEN TO THAT!! En Vogue never having won a Grammy is as much a tragedy as Diana never winning, IMO.
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By: Grammy smammy! on 2/10/2011 9:17AM
Who really give a rats ass about the Grammys now a days. It use to be a prestigious award at one time, but now they give Grammys to anyone who is popular and has large record sales. This doesn’t mean that the music is not good , It just who the record companies wont to win. They buy Grammys award today through extensive advertisements and radio pay, everybody’s getting kick backs today. Dj’s, record industry people( bonuses & entree to awards show, parties, gifts) , magazines ( high sales when you put a pop artist on the cover for free), talk shows ( will gain good rating by having that pop artist appear for free). This is how they make pop stars today. They encourage industry people to vote for the record company’s particular artist. I’m willing to bet that Justin Bieber kid will win lots of Grammys this year just because he is popular right now! It not always about the music any more it’s about popularity. Who really remembered who won Grammys last year? Just take a look at the telecast, it a scrambled mess trying to match these suck-ass new artist with the legendary ones. A mess! I’m really tired of seeing the same people perform year after year. These artist that never won Grammys probably don’t even care anymore because there is no real honor behind the awards today. They know how the game is played.
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By: Hilda Caldwell on 2/15/2011 10:36AM
If they would play the music and let the people decide. But they tell the people what to like and some people have no minds of their own.
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By: mrsmommy on 2/11/2011 9:06PM
Talk was that Berry Gordy and Diana Ross weren't only pushy and rude to the other acts at Motown, but were pushy and rude to the people of Hollywood as Berry tried to propel Diana into the movie business.
Everybody wasn't down with their ghetto fabulous behavior. The music business, music greats (shout out to the songwriters and producers), and Hollywood system and legend were well in place before Berry and Diana made the scene.
She also wasn't asked to take over the helm of Motown before it got sold to foreigners. Once you've had a taste of Miss Ross, you don't want another go round. She is known as the Queen of Nastiness. If it weren't for the Motown writers, singers, and musicians, there would be no Diana Ross.
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By: mzjanuary205 on 2/12/2011 2:03PM
The Grammys have become a joke. They will just give them to anyone now. It's not about quality anymore, which was the reason WHY the Grammys were instituted in the late 1950s in the first place - it's so commercialized that they give them out to whoever is the most popular at the moment, who sold the most CDs, who looked the best in a music video (even though I know it's not about videos, but it IS all about a look nowadays) and who can shock you into listening to them. It doesn't matter if these people have talent or not. It's just another BS award ceremony.
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By: calvin ford on 2/10/2011 11:58AM
It's about time someone told it the way really is thank you for keeping it real.
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