Yamaha Artists Garner Multiple Grammys

BUENA PARK, CA (February 09, 2004) — In a show dominated by Hip-hop and tributes, Yamaha artists and affiliated artists had an excellent showing at the 46th annual GRAMMY® Awards, held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 8, 2004.

Winners were selected by the approximately 12,000 voting members of the Recording Academy®, a voting body of industry professionals with creative or technical credits on at least six albums or songs. Only materials released between October 1, 2002, and September 30, 2003 were eligible.

Coldplay walked away with the night's top honor for "Record of the Year" for "Clocks," while Justin Timberlake took "Best Male Pop vocal Performance" for the single "Cry Me a River" and "Best Pop Vocal Album" for his multi-platinum release Justified.

Long-time Yamaha artist Chick Corea received the 'Best Jazz Instrumental Solo' GRAMMY for 'Matrix,' a track from his historic Rendezvous in New York CD, while Tony Bennett took the 'Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album' category for his collaboration with k.d. lang on A Wonderful World.

Christian superstar Michael W. Smith picked up a "Best Worship/Contemporary Gospel Album" GRAMMY for his Worship Again project.

In the Jazz arena, The Caribbean Jazz Project (featuring mallet artist Dave Samuels) picked up a GRAMMY for "Best Latin Jazz Album" for Birds Of A Feather, while Randy Brecker received the award for "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" for his 34th and Lex release.

"We are extremely proud of our artists and their accomplishments," states Chris Gero, corporate director of artist affairs, Yamaha Corporation of America. "Winning – or simply being nominated by their peers for a GRAMMY – is an additional testament to those achievements."

Pianist, producer, composer and Yamaha artist Patrice Rushen served as the show's pre-telecast music director, an evening that was highlighted by live performances and interesting pairings. No stranger to the title, Rushen has also held the same position for the People's Choice Awards, BET Awards, the NAACP Image Awards and two EMMY Award broadcasts.

"The Grammys accomplished so much this year, with nineteen live performances, cross-genre collaborations and the use of technology to create something new," stated Rushen. "Rather than merely showcasing technology through music as we did in the '80s and '90s, artists are now more conscious of using these advancements to enhance the listeners' experience. As artists, we've learned that the advances in technology give us a palette of color to paint with, and help bring clarity and feeling to music. Yamaha, being the frontrunner in music technology, allows artists the freedom to create and perform with quality instruments. This year, all of the show's pre-records were created using the Yamaha Motif ES8 or S90 keyboards."

Other Yamaha artists and affiliated artists nominees included – Michael McDonald, Stacie Orrico, The Black Eyed Peas, Sarah McLaughlin, Jim Brickman, Bon Jovi, Godsmack, Spineshank, Linkin Park, Dave Koz, Lonestar, Niel DePonte, engineer Elliot Scheiner and production team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

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