Posted by Michael Bentele on May 8, 2008, 11:23 pm
87.79.142.137
Dear Cajun & Zydecofans
For public voting go to www.cajunweb.de/award/
50 Years Grammy and
5th European Cajun & Zydeco Award 2008
For the first time in 50 years a Zydecoband received a Grammy for their work. The category has been established after a long struggle by
Cynthia Simien. It took the ‚Recording Academy/Grammy Foundation’ almost 8 years to finally agree. There have been Grammys given to bands from Louisiana, but there was never a special Cajun/Zydeco category. The bands were listed under folk or worldmusic and therefore had to compete with music from total different genres.
Queen Ida Guillory was the first to garner a Grammy in 1982. Followed by two other zydeco artists to win Grammy’s as well: Clifton Chenier for ‚Best Ethnic Or Traditional Folk Recording’ and Rocking Sidney Simien, 1985. Beausoleil to date is still the only Cajun group to garner a Grammy for ‚Best Traditional Folk Album’ in 1997.
This years nominees included Geno Delafose, the Racines, Lisa Haley, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Pine Leaf Boys und Roddie Romero. The lucky winner was Terrance Simien. The fact that his wife was the main force getting this category started doesn’t mean a thing. Having established this Grammy, bands from the world of Cajun and Zydeco finally get their recognition.
Since 2004 the ‚European Cajun & Zydeco Award’ is presented at the ‚International Cajun & Zydecofestival’ in Raamsdonksveer. The trophy is given to the European musicians devoted to the music of South-West Louisiana. Without them the music would have not spread all over Europe in the last 20 years.
The audience votes for ‘Best Cajun Band’ and ‘Best Zydeco Band’ on the website
www.cajunweb.de/award/
Bands are encouraged to get their fans to vote for them. No audience, no concert !
Furthermore an independent European 4-piece jury from The Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom and France votes for Best Cajunaccordion, Best Zydeco Accordion, Best Cajun Fiddler, Best Cajun CD, Best Zydeco CD.
Since the European Bands don’t produce CDs yearly, the jury only gets together every second year, otherwise there wouldn’t be enough CDs to vote for. CDs have been submitted by bands and are given to the jury for close listening.
At the festival there will a Special Award given to the Best Cajun/Zydeco dancers.
Cajun and Zydeco Music is dancemusic,
so the dancers should be included.
The trophies are sponsored by "MassTech International Ltd "
All Awards will be presented at the ‚5th European Cajun & Zydeco Award’ June 6th –June 8th in Raamsdonksveer. For Internetvoting go to www.cajunweb.de/award/
Members of the Jury 2008:
-Ron Janssen (NL) Accordionbuilder and musician
-Jean-Pierre Bruneau (F) Film and CD producer
-Lynn & Steve Lane (UK) Tudor Barn Cajunclub
(now in Kent)
-Carl-Ludwig Reichert (D) musician and writer
Past accordion winners 2004-2007:
Best Cajun Accordion player
2004: Bas van der Poll (NL)
2005: Karen Munkholm (DK)
2006: Chris Hall (GB)
2007: Chris Hall (GB)
Best Zydeco Accordion player
2004: Henk de Kat (NL)
2006: Lil’ Jim (GB)
2007: Peter Mul (NL)
For all winners go to www.cajunweb.de/award/
Other important European Cajun & Zydeco Festivals 2008:
8.8. - 10.8. Saulieu (France)
29.8. - 31.8. Hainichen (Germany)
4.10. - 5.10. Köge (Denmark)
17.10. - 19.10. Bristol (UK)
13.11. - 16.11. Ravensburg, Soest, Baasem (Germany)
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