HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (Dec. 21, 2006) — Yamaha Drummers had a banner year in the music industry, and their efforts were clearly recognized when the 49th Annual GRAMMY® Award nominations were announced this month. Yamaha Drummers were nominated or supported many high-profile records and artists.
"On behalf of Yamaha Drums I would like to congratulate all of our exceptional musicians whose talents have so greatly impacted the music industry this year. We are thrilled that our artists' talents can be heard and seen on many of the top records this past year," comments Joe Testa, international artist relations manager for
Yamaha Drums.
Yamaha artist
Steve Jordan was recognized not only for his talents as a drummer but also a producer. He is nominated as a producer for Album of the Year for his work on John Mayer's
Continuum, on which he also played drums. Jordan played drums on Mayer's singles "Waiting on the World to Change" and "Route 66," which were nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance respectively. The Jordan-produced
Continuum is nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album as well. The John Mayer Trio, which Jordan is a member, is nominated for Best Rock Album for
Try!
The Best Latin Jazz Album category is filled with Yamaha Drummers' releases.
Ignacio Berroa is nominated for
Codes,
Dafnis Prieto is nominated for
Absolute Quintet, and
Antonio Sanchez is nominated for his work on
Viva. Also notable in the Jazz category, the legendary
Roy Haynes was nominated for "Hippidy Hop," a track from the album
Whereas, in the Best Jazz Instrumental Solo category. Yamaha drummers
Dave Weckl and
Kim Thompson played on
Mike Stern's Best Contemporary Jazz Album nomination,
Who Let The Cats Out? And finally in the Jazz category,
Steve Gadd and
Tom Brechtlein played on
Chick Corea's
The Ultimate Adventure, which was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.
Yamaha Drummer
Chris Vrenna is in the band Gnarls Barkley, which was nominated for several awards, including: Record of the Year and Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the hit single "Crazy" and Album of the Year and Best Alternative Music Album for
St. Elsewhere.
Yamaha's
Sam Agard has been on the road with the new UK sensation Corinne Bailey Rae. Rae was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Put Your Records On" and also Best New Artist.
?uestlove, who plays Yamaha drums, is a member of alternative hip-hop band The Roots. They were nominated for Best Rap Album for
Game Theory and Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for the single "Don't Feel Right."
The Fray have rocketed to success this past year with
Ben Wysocki playing Yamaha Drums. The band was nominated for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Over My Head" and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "How To Save A Live."
Yamaha Drummer
Mike Shapiro regularly performs and records with Latin superstar Sergio Mendes. Shapiro lent his skills to "That Heat," Mendes' nomination for Best Urban/Alternative Performance, and "Mas Que Nada" also nominated in the same category.
SwissChris is a member of three-time GRAMMY-winner
John Legend's band. Legend is nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
R&B crooner Lionel Richie is back on the music scene, and Yamaha's
Oscar Seaton fills the drum chair in his band. Richie was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "I Call It Love" and Best R&B Album for
Coming Home.
Beyoncé's new all-female band has not one but two Yamaha Drummers – Kim Thompson and
Nikki Glaspie. Beyoncé was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best Contemporary R&B Album, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Not to be left out of the Grammy nominations is the multiple award-winning band U2, featuring drummer
Larry Mullen Jr. The rock supergroup is nominated in two categories: Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals and Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.
In the world of country music Yamaha Drummer
Andy Hubbard is backing Little Big Town. The band was nominated for Best Country Album for
The Road to Here and Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Boondocks."
Other Yamaha Drummers that worked on Grammy nominated songs and albums include:
Keane's
Richard Hughes – Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Coldplay's
Will Champion – Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Buckcherry's
Xavier Murriel – Best Hard Rock Performance
George Strait's
Eddie Bayers and
Mike Kennedy – Best Male Country Vocal Performance
The Wrecker's
Charlie Drayton – Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
