Yamaha Artists Cover the Musical Spectrum for 46th Grammy Awards

Michael McDonald

Stacie Orrico

Randy Brecker

George Pajon Jr.

Chris Martin of Coldplay

Tony Bennett

Elliot Scheiner

Chick Corea

BUENA PARK, CA (December 19, 2003) — Yamaha artists and affiliated artists nominated for the 46th annual GRAMMY® Awards represent the worlds of Pop, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Country, Contemporary Christian and Rock. Winners will be announced at the ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 8, 2004.

Long-time Yamaha artists Michael McDonald, Michael W. Smith and Chick Corea are among this year's nominees. McDonald earned a Grammy nod for "Best Pop Vocal Album" for his acclaimed Motown release and "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" for "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Corea received nominations for "Best Jazz Instrumental Album" for his historic Rendezvous in New York CD and "Best Jazz Instrumental Solo" for "Matrix." Smith picked up a "Best Worship/Contemporary Gospel Album" nomination for his Worship Together project, with Yamaha artist Stacie Orrico sharing the category for her self-titled release. Corea shares nominations with Joey DeFrancesco's "All Or Nothing At All."

In addition to the aforementioned musicians, a number of other Yamaha artists have been nominated in major categories. The Black Eyed Peas, featuring Yamaha guitar artist George Pajon, are nominated for three awards, including "Record of the Year" for "Where is the Love," from the Elephunk album, which was co-penned by Pajon and features Justin Timberlake.

Timberlake is also nominated for three Grammys, including "Album of the Year" for his smash release Justified. Coldplay is nominated for "Record of the Year" for "Clocks," while Tony Bennett is nominated in the "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" and "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals" categories for his work with k.d. lang on A Wonderful World. Sarah McLachlan is nominated in the "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" category for "Fallen," while Country superstars Lonestar received a nod for "Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal" for their single "My Front Porch Looking In."

Other Pop and Rock nominations for Yamaha artists include: Dave Koz for "Best Pop Instrumental Performance," "Honey-Dipped"; Jim Brickman, for "Best Pop Instrumental Album," Peace; Bon Jovi, for "Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group" for "Misunderstood"; Godsmack, for "Best Hard Rock Performance" for "Straight Out of Line"; Spineshank, for "Best Metal Performance" for "Smothered"; and Linkin Park, for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" for "Session."

In the Jazz and Classical arena, The Caribbean Jazz Project (featuring mallet artist Dave Samuels) garnered a nomination for "Best Latin Jazz Album" for Birds Of A Feather, while Randy Brecker received a nod for "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" for his 34th and Lex release. Marimba artist Niel DePonte was nominated for his solo work on Svoboda: Concerto For Marimba And Orchestra, Op. 148 (James DePreist, conductor) in the "Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)" category.

Yamaha-affiliated engineers and producers rounded out the nominations. Elliot Scheiner was recognized for engineering Aaron Neville's Nature Boy - The Standards Album, which received nominations for "Best Jazz Vocal Album" and "Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical." The production team of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were duly recognized in the "Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical" category for their work with Mya, Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé and others.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Artist Services, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.