Many of the winners in the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy — including those in the recently renamed and expanded American Roots Music field — were announced online prior to televised ceremonies on January 31 from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Citing the increasing growth of traditional music, the Academy’s board of trustees voted last year to split the category Best Contemporary Folk/Americana into two categories: Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Americana Album. In addition, the Folk Field was renamed American Roots Music and now also includes the Best Traditional Blues Album, Best Contemporary Blues Album and Best Bluegrass Album categories, along with Best Traditional Folk Album, Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album, Best Native American Album and Best Hawaiian Album.
Winners in the American Roots Music Field include:
Best Americana Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
Electric Dirt
Levon Helm [Dirt Farmer Music/Vanguard Music]
Best Bluegrass Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
The Crow / New Songs For The Five-String Banjo
Steve Martin [Rounder]
Best Traditional Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
A Stranger Here
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott [ANTI]
Best Contemporary Blues Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
Already Free
The Derek Trucks Band [Victor Records]
Best Traditional Folk Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project
Loudon Wainwright III [2nd Story Sound Records]
Best Contemporary Folk Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
Townes
Steve Earle [New West Records]
Best Hawaiian Music Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2 (Various Artists)
Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Jr., Paul Konwiser & Wayne Wong, producers
[Daniel Ho Creations]
Best Native American Music Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
Spirit Wind North
Bill Miller [Cool Springs Music Group]
Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album (Vocal or Instrumental)
Lay Your Burden Down
Buckwheat Zydeco [Alligator]
In addition, awards were presented for:
Best Traditional World Music Album
Douga Mansa
Mamadou Diabate [World Village]
Best Contemporary World Music Album
Throw Down Your Heart: Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3 – Africa Sessions
Bela Fleck [Rounder]
Best Tejano Music Album
Bordera Y Bailes
Los Texmaniacs [Smithsonian Folkways]
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 (1963-1972)
[Reprise]
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