Although the mainstream is celebrating the "sweep" of wins from out-of-rehab songstress Amy Winehouse, some other major wins during last night's Grammy Awards are going virtually unnoticed.Not if I have anything to do with it.
Kudos to Herbie Hancock for winning the coveted "Album of the Year" award for his remarkable homage to the musical tapestry of folk singer Joni Mitchell. The win marks the first time in 43 years since a jazz project walked away with the night's biggest award.
Elsewhere, groundbreaking gospel quartet The Clark Sisters were honored for the first time by the Recording Academy.
And what an honor it was: the Detroit native sanctified soul singing siblings (comprised of Karen Clark Sheard, Dorinda Clark Cole, Jacky Clark-Chisholm and Twinkie Clark (not shown)) won three awards; Best Gospel Performance, Best Gospel Song and Best Traditional Gospel Album for their latest #1 CD 'Live – One Last Time.'
Clark-Sheard, a vocal acrobat, was the lead writer on the group's current hit single 'Blessed & Highly Favored,' which won two of the awards.
The gospel pioneers -- whose 1979 song 'You Brought the Sunshine' was one of the first gospel to cross over to secular radio stations -- capped off the evening with a joy-jumping, foot-stomping performance with Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, BeBe Winans, Trinitee 5:7 and Israel and New Breed.
Bishop T.D. Jakes, who is releasing a new Clark Sisters project via the Dexterity Records/Rhino label tomorrow, issued a statement congratulating the group on the first ever Grammy wins of their 35-year professional recording career.
"I was thrilled to hear that the Clark sisters won 3 Grammy awards tonight. But I was not surprised. They continue to provide the music that uplifts the soul and blesses the hearts of millions!"
Patti Austin also finally was honored in a way that is momentous to her tremendous vocal talent.
The powerhouse chanteuse -- who will blow Winehouse into a wine house with one good belt – won the Best Jazz Vocal Album award for her sublime collection, 'Avant Gershwin. It was her ninth time being nominated in the category and the first time winning.
"I was sitting there and when they said Avant. I thought 'who is that?,' she shared. "What fun to have worked for this. A conscious decision to go after it. It does not define me. I do understand that that's the way the world perceives you. I enjoyed going after it ...There is a bit of superficiality to it but it's fun."Most popular for her smooth jazz staple 'Baby Come to Me,' Austin stated: "Jazz lives and people love it ...they just need the opportunity to hear it. They will pay for it...it just needs to be made important on a media level and the Grammy's certainly help that along."
Singer/songwriter Siedah Garrett also won her first Grammy Award for the stirring soul track 'Love You I Do,' which Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson belted out in the 'Dreamgirls' film (and on the soundtrack).
Garrett, a former singer with The Brand New Heavies, previously collaborated with Michael Jackson on 'Man in the Mirror' and 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You,' and also Temptations front-an Dennis Edwards on the 1984 smash 'Don't Look Any Further.'
"Anybody that knows me will tell you that I don't do anything half way. If I'm in-I'm in," Garrett said
1. I was kinda surprised at how many Ms. Winehouse took home. Didn't think her album was THAT great.
KekeDillard at 2:30AM on Feb 12th 2008