Berklee Alumni Win Seven Grammy Awards

Berklee alumni and faculty were honored with seven Grammy Awards on music’s biggest night for their outstanding contributions to some of last year’s top releases. The winners were recognized for their work in varied categories and fields, including pop songwriting, jazz, and country. With Sunday night’s wins, Berklee alumni have now won a total of 229 Grammy Awards.

Jeff Bhasker ’99 won Song of the Year for his work as a songwriter on Fun.’s hugely popular “We are Young.”

Clay Cook ’98, member of the Zac Brown Band, took home a gramophone for the group’s album Uncaged, which won Best Country Album.

In jazz, Gary Burton ’62, was awarded Best Improvised Jazz Solo for “Hot House,” which he recorded with Chick Corea.

Esperanza Spalding ’05 took home two Grammy Awards: Best Jazz Vocal Album for Radio Music Society and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists for arranging “City of Roses” with Thara Memory.

Antonio Sanchez ’97 was part of the Best Jazz Instrumental Album as a member of the Pat Metheny Unity Band, which won for their album Unity Band.

Nicky Sanders ’02, a member of the Steep Canyon Rangers, was awarded Best Bluegrass Album for the group’s Nobody Knows You.

As the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences researches the producers, engineers, and mixers who contributed to Grammy Award–winning songs and albums, the number of Berklee alumni winners is expected to grow as in years past. Visit berklee.edu for the most up-to-date information.

Liz Lupton is a publicist in Berklee's Office of Media Relations. She can be reached at llupton@berklee.edu.