Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards as they relate to Christian music are a joke. They are almost to Christian music what Dove Awards are to the Southern Gospel genre. While the phrase "Grammy Award winner" looks good in your publicity packet, it really doesn't mean much. When looking at the Grammy Awards voting process one can quickly understand how some of the winners are selected. I'm pretty sure there aren't many Southern Gospel experts on the Recording Academy roster. So, that's how you end up with some of these winners and nominations which serve only to make one scratch their head. Of course, the resulting amalgamation of Southern, Country, and Bluegrass Gospel will be a little odd. Check out this year's nominations and winner (in orange):

Category 55

Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• Amazing Grace
  Bill & Gloria Gaither And The Homecoming Friends
  [Gaither Music Group]
  
• Journey Of Joy
  Karen Peck And New River
  [Daywind Records]
  
• Everybody's Brother
  Billy Joe Shaver
  [Compadre Records/Music World Entertainment]
  
• Salt Of The Earth
  Ricky Skaggs & The Whites
  [Skaggs Family Records]
  
• Tell Someone
  Kenny & Amanda Smith Band
  [Rebel Records]
  
• I'll Fly Away: Country Hymns & Songs Of Faith
  Various Artists
  Ed Cash, producer
  [Sparrow Records]
  

Even the CCM categories can look a little odd. Look at the nominations and winner for album of the year:

Category 54

Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album
(For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.)

• The Altar And The Door
  Casting Crowns
  [Beach Street Records/Reunion Records]
  
• A Deeper Level
  Israel And New Breed
  [Integrity Music]
  
• True Beauty
  Mandisa
  [Sparrow Records]
  
• Stand
  Michael W. Smith
  [Reunion Records]
  
• Portable Sounds
  TobyMac
  [ForeFront Records]

Now, I have 4 of the 5 albums listed here. And, as much as I enjoy Mandisa and Israel & New Breed, their albums aren't anywhere close to Top 5 material. TobyMac and Casting Crowns would be legit nominations, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Smitty has become the Bill Gaither of CCM, garnering nominations based on reputation rather than the worth of his productions. I wonder what would happen if SG and CCM albums were truly judged by a recording's merit rather than being a forgotten award floating around in the Black Hole of Fields 11-whatever? Just a thought.

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