Alumni Collect Five Grammy Awards

Eleven alumni received nominations for Grammy Awards this year.
February 4, 2000

Perhaps the best testament to 1983 alumna Diana Krall's growing impact on the musical universe was her Grammy nomination this year for Best Album, pitting her against the likes of TLC, Backstreet Boys, and eventual winner Santana. But her victory in the Jazz Vocal Performance category directly acknowledges Krall's growth as a musician. It also places her in the company of the greatest jazz singers of all time. Previous winners of the award include Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

Krall, who accompanied herself on piano, performed "I Can't Give You Anything but Love" during the Grammy television show with guitarist George Benson and singer Erykah Badu. Krall, who had received two prior nominations for Jazz Vocal Performance, told the Los Angeles Times that one of the highlights of Grammy week was getting to perform for Elton John.

Berklee's Executive Vice President Gary Burton was in Los Angeles for the ceremony and won his fifth Grammy, this time for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group. Burton shares the award with Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Roy Haynes, and Dave Holland, each of whom also performed on the album Like Minds. For more background on the recording, read Burton's liner notes for the record.

Natalie Maines '95 is the lead singer of Dixie Chicks, who won Best Country Album for the second year in a row. The Chicks also won a Grammy in the category of Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, for "Ready to Run."

In the category for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals, 1969 alumnus Alan Broadbent won his first Grammy for an arrangement of "Lonely Town," for Charlie Haden's Quartet West and Shirley Horn.

Eleven alumni received nominations for Grammy Awards this year.