MSC: Grammy connections

Congrats for Emmy nominations to the following:

Los Lonely Boys -- i didn't discover these guys (if that's even a viable claim by anyone) but i did catch them in a concert for about 25 people and knew instantly they were something special. I told everyone i knew who was into music, posted notes and a review on my website (now expanded to include two concerts and their CD). Within a year they had their first album, and now that semi-debut album is nominated for the Grammy's biggest prize -- Record of the Year. They also were nominated as Best New Artist and for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, and Best Rock Instrumental Performance for their Santanish Onda. Great stuff for a bunch of humble, hyper-talented kids from San Angelo.

Lyle Lovett -- Lyle earned about his tenth Grammy nom for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for the shyly introspective In My Own Mind which boasts a stunning video as well. And what a powerful lineup to be included with: Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash (and . . . well, um . . . Keith Urban and Tim McGraw)

Ramon Ayala -- whose father was one of the Norteno/Conjunto greats and who recorded for my father's record company was nominated for Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album with the reconstituted Sus (Los) Bravos del Norte.

Johnny Winter -- the Rio Vista alum was nominated for his I'm a Bluesman for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Sam Bush -- Lyle's mandolinist, with a thriving virtuoso career of his own, was nominated for Best Country Instrumental Performance for his Puppies & Knapsacks.

Allison Krauss -- who has a fine voice, and is the sister of Viktor, Lyle's bass player, was nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Sting's You Will Be My Ain True Love from the movie Cold Mountain. This same song was also nominated for Sting for Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media.

Townes Van Zandt -- the late great one (with a Rio Vista connection) was represented with another version of Pancho & Lefty by Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Toby Keith, nominated for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals. Allison Krauss shows up again in this category for her duet with Shania Twain on another retread, Coat of Many Colors.

Black Eagle -- last year's Grammy-award winners, and performers at this year's Austin Pow-wow are up again for Best Native American Music Album, as are my favorite drum (and the usual winners) Black Lodge Singers.

A fine lineup of Texas artists was also included: some are Willie, Asleep at the Wheel, The Dixie Chicks, Steve Earle, Vince Gill and Rodney Crowell as the Notorious Cherry Bombs, Intocable, David Lee Garza, Emilio Navaira, Eliza Gilkyson, Patty Griffin, Brave Combo, Trout Fishing in America (and i'm sure i missed some others).

And how about Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance with Ryan Adams, Melissa Etheridge, Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits. What a category, what a lineup.

And, in this year when everyone seems to be a Ray fan, it was good to see Ray Charles rack up several posthumous nominations.