Alumni Grammy Nominees

This year, a total of 33 Berklee alumni were nominated for a combined 38 Grammy Awards in 22 categories. Nominees were recognized for outstanding contributions in a variety of styles, including pop, r&b, rock, metal, jazz, Latin jazz, blues, classical crossover, country music, and film scoring, and achievement in production and audio engineering.

John Mayer '98 was nominated for two awards for his song "Daughters" for Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. Howard Shore '69 and John Scofield '73 were each nominated for two awards as well. Shore has won previously for each of his scores for the first two Lord of the Rings movies and is nominated this time for his work on the final movie of the trilogy. Scofield is nominated in the categories Best Jazz Instrumental Solo and Best Classical Crossover Album.

Berklee offers congratulations to the alumni nominated and to others those who worked on nominated music. Special congratulations to those who won. (This issue went to print before the awards telecast on February 13.) 

Album of the Year
Genius Loves Company, Ray Charles and various artists (Pete Karam '94, engineer/mixer, among others) 
Confessions, Usher (Juan Johnny Najera '99 coproducer; Ken Lewis '91, Matt Marrin '98, Tony Maserati '86, engineers/mixers)
The College Dropout, Kanye West (Andrew Dawson '01, Michael Eleopoulos '99, Francis Graham '94, Eugene A. Toale '00, engineers/mixers, among others) 

Song of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
"Daughters," John Mayer '98, songwriter, performer 

Best New Artist and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
"She Will Be Loved," Maroon5 (James Valentine '96) 

Best Pop Instrumental Performance
"Song F," Bruce Hornsby '74

Best Pop Vocal Album
Feels Like Home, Norah Jones (Arif Mardin '61, producer)

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
"Breathe," Melissa Etheridge '80

Best Metal Performance
"The End of Heartache," Killswitch Engage (Adam Dutkiewicz '99, Joel Stroetzel '98)

Best Rock Instrumental Performance
"Whispering a Prayer," Steve Vai '79

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
"Top of the World," The Dixie Chicks (Natalie Maines '95)

Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Journey, Fourplay (Bob James '59, Harvey Mason '68)
Unspeakable, Bill Frisell '77
Strength, Roy Hargrove '89 

Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
"What's New," Alan Broadbent '69, soloist
"Bulería, Soleá y Rumba," Donny McCaslin '88, soloist
"Wee," John Scofield '73, soloist

Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual, or Group
Eternal, Branford Marsalis Quartet (Branford Marsalis '80, Jeff "Tain" Watts '81)

Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
On the Wild Side, John La Barbera Big Band (John La Barbera '69)

Best Latin Jazz Album
Soundances, Diego Urcola '90

Best Contemporary Blues Album
I'm a Bluesman, Johnny Winter (Paul Nelson '80, songwriter and guitarist)

Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Howard Shore '69, composer 

Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television, or other Visual Media
"Into The West" (from The Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King) Howard Shore '69, cowriter

Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
"Over the Rainbow," Ray Charles and Johnny Mathis (Victor Vanacore '74, arranger) 

Best Engineered Album, Nonclassical
Feels Like Home, Norah Jones (Jay Newland '84, engineer)
Genius Loves Company, Ray Charles and various artists (Pete Karam '94, engineer)

Best Classical Crossover Album
Scorched (John Scofield '73 and composer Mark-Anthony Turnage)