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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: Straus Davis on 2/16/2011 3:26PM
I cannot believe Diana Ross, has never won a Grammy, but it is true. She has 18 number one's including her time with The Supremes, and countless top 10 songs. There must more to it than just being overlooked. This is a very talented lady, and with all the other awards she has won, I think the Grammy has fallen short here. This is something that needs to be retified. This lady deserves a Grammy Award....A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Adcademy will be remissed if they do not rememdy this oversight.
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By: mzjanuary205 on 2/12/2011 1:54PM
They'll wait until she's dead before they'll award her a Grammy...they did the same thing with Gerald Levert, who never won a Grammy when he was alive. Lord knows that man deserved to win so many times. His songs were so powerful and heartfelt. But he got no love from the Academy until after he died. He got one for "In My Songs" in 2007.
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By: ooozzzzz on 2/10/2011 7:49PM
Straus Davis, Read what I wrote again. I never said that Diana Ross was a one hit wonder. I stated that that's it's a mystery that she never won a Grammy for all the hits, group and solo, that she had.
But maybe she will get one...You never know.
And my reasoning is not lame because you have to consider the past elements of separation in radio stations airplay and specific music played for certain races and the racism that was in full affect during the early days (the 40' and 50's) of Nina Simone and Billie Holiday and the late 60's and 70's).
And considering Curtis Mayfield after he went solo when he was with The Impressions and after he went solo, his songs were mainly black power anthems, pro-Black and Civil Rights Movement....Songs like "Movin' On Up, "People Get Ready, "Keep on Pushing," "We're a Winner". Curtis Mayfield's lyrics consisted of hard-hitting commentary on the state of affairs in black, urban ghettos at the time and for Grammy judges during that time, his music was to racial and radical but in today's society and it's present climate, a Lifetime Achievement Grammy may not be too far off.
Those Black artists and acts made a lot of money for the pockets of White music corporations executives but consideration for Grammy awards were not a real consideration.
And for your clarification, Smokey Robinson received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002 and was also elected in 1987, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. However, for unknown reasons which I consider a controversy, the other original members of the Miracles – Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin, and Claudette Robinson were not inducted and I also think that is also an injustice and a shame.
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By: joed on 2/11/2011 1:30PM
maze don't need no white validation on who they are or what they have contributed to the industry. if all thes pollyannie mofo can get one or more than for sure they should have one. but that's the lay of the land if it ain't white it aint right. meaning if they don't mainstream it then it's not going to get accepted.
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By: Ron on 2/11/2011 9:53PM
Let's Get Real!
How does God get the glory out of these awards? It's idol worship-like American Idol.It's really a blessing for many not to get his glory by receiving an idol god.-Money and awards cannot buy salvation.The focus is vanity in hollywood and selfishness.
"What does it profit a man to gain the whoe world and loose his soul?".-Mark 8:36
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By: Brian on 2/12/2011 12:36AM
Are you sure Diana Ross and the Supremes never won a Grammy Award? That's not right. That can't be.
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By: mzjanuary205 on 2/12/2011 1:46PM
Nope, Diana and Supremes never won. The first Motown act to win a Grammy was the Temptations for "Cloud Nine" (1969)".
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By: music lover on 2/12/2011 3:58PM
It's really a disgrace to the Grammys and it diminishes the importance of the award when you see all of the artists that should have won but didn't. It makes the Grammys look bogus and fake.
Some of those artists mentioned should have won a long time ago. But I am sooo glad to come from a community where we tell it like it is and really appreciate the artists who cater to our tastes, and tell our stories to music, instead of selling out so that they can go ahead and get them a Grammy. You know that each and every one of these artists had that choice put in front of them at some point in their careers, and they chose to be true to themselves and the people they come from.
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By: leslie.2007 on 2/12/2011 9:25AM
I can understand why Brian McKnight and Vanessa Williams never won one. They're only popular in the Afro-American community. In order to win a grammy, white folks gotta approve of you. What black folks think doesn't matter. But as for Diana Ross and Maze, both of them should have won at least one by now. I'm just shocked at that. But I bet you a million dollars that Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj is gonna win just to name a few.
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By: Arthur on 2/12/2011 4:24PM
DIANA ROSS! Not even one Grammy simply means that the so-called "Academy" has no VALIDITY or CREDIBILITY what so ever!!! Her dozens of world renowned hits/classics over 5 decades speak for themselves! The Grammy's mean Nothing anymore! Her omission is absolute proof of this! I'm Disgusted by this obviously blatant deliberate exclusion!
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